Dear Residents of the 3rd District,
These are exciting and challenging times for the City of Franklin. Our city continues to grow at a very fast rate, yet we still lack a downtown destination and a sense of community identity. New businesses are coming to Franklin which is an important strategy for supporting our economic well being and quality of life here. This growth comes with many challenges. More services will be needed; roads, utilities, police and fire protection will all have to expand at the same time when state and federal dollars for communities are shrinking.
We need to more firmly direct how development is done so it will benefit all of us. The development of the 27th Street corridor demands greater collaboration and joint problem solving with Oak Creek. Frugality can be achieved not through stagnation, but through carefully directed growth that recognizes the limits of our city budget. Our non-profit and civic organizations should play more important roles in protecting and enhancing our quality of life while helping us achieve our strategic goals.
With a 2035 population forecast of over 50,000 Franklin residents, we must make an immediate commitment to strategic thinking and planning beyond what exists in our forthcoming Master Plan update. While this update is in progress, we need to take the following actions to help that Plan become a reality:
- Determine what the long-term vision for the City is.
- Invite participants of all interests into the shaping of several strategic directions to make this vision a reality.
- Unify the City Council and government to adopt these strategic directions.
- Establish a limited number of short-term strategic goals that can be communicated, monitored and measured for the next three years.
To make this a reality, we must strive to engage all available interests and expertise to help define the vision and achieve the strategic goals. These goals should include:
- Improve pedestrian safety and access throughout the City.
- Develop more flexible road width standards to slow traffic, reduce the costs of road maintenance and improve neighborhood beauty.
- Facilitate and simplify permit and approval processes for small businesses, to encourage their growth, development and contributions to civic diversity.
- Identify ways to lure quality restaurant, retail and service businesses that keep jobs and money in our community and foster civic pride.
- Develop planning staff expertise in forestry, landscaping and resource management to maintain and improve our community aesthetics.
- Be frugal with tax dollars.
None of this will be possible without your interest, perspectives and, most importantly, your vote on April 1, 2008.
Sincerely,
Kristen Wilhelm