GUSTINE, CA – The Gustine City Council approved a comprehensive three-year strategic plan with a 5-0 vote on March 4. This plan, developed through collaborative Strategic Plan Workshops involving council members, staff, and community stakeholders, is aimed at fostering effective governance, financial stability, and sustainable development for the city's future.
The City of Gustine emphasized its commitment to transparent decision-making and innovative strategies that enhance the quality of life for its residents. The plan's foundation includes a Strengths, Limitations, Opportunities, and Threats (SLOT) analysis, ensuring a thorough understanding of the city's current standing and potential growth areas.
The Strategic Plan outlines six key goals designed to create a roadmap for sustainable growth and community well-being.
The first stated goal is Enhanced Community Policing. This focuses on community engagement and proactive crime prevention, this goal aims to build a safer, more connected city. Its objectives include: Increase Youth Involvement: Develop programs that engage the community's youth in positive interactions with law enforcement; Suppress Crime: Implement proactive crime prevention strategies and ensure police presence is highly visible; and Well-Equipped Law Enforcement: Provide the City's police force with modern equipment and technology to improve safety and efficiency.
The second goal outlined in the Strategic Plan is Community-Based Development. This goal seeks to improve transportation systems and the city's aesthetic appeal, which will help foster pride among residents. Its objectives include: Improve Aesthetic Appeal: Perform beautification projects in various areas around the city, especially downtown, to attract more visitors with a vibrant and polished look; Enhance the Sense of Community: Foster a sense of pride and belonging among residents, creating an appealing environment for current and future residents; Improve Downtown Walkability: Develop a pedestrian-friendly downtown area to encourage accessibility and activity; and Balance Jobs and Housing: Strive to ensure equilibrium between job opportunities and housing availability as both sectors grow.
The third stated goal revolves around economic development for this city. This includes encouraging new businesses, supporting existing enterprises, and strengthening Gustine's commercial and residential appeal. Its objectives include: Undertake Planning to Stimulate Economic Growth: Move toward the update of the General Plan to solidify the level and location of future growth for the City; Support a Dynamic Downtown: Reintroduce the approved Downtown Plan and identify opportunities for implementation; Build Upon Relationships with Businesses and Building Owners: Expand communication and provide opportunities for meaningful interactions with current and new business owners, as well as building owners; and Streamline the Process for Starting or Doing Business in Gustine: Simplify application and license renewal processes while exploring options for online applications, forms, and fee processing.
The next goal listed in the Strategic Plan was for financial and budget stability. The city seeks to maintain sustainable financial health through effective cost management and sound fiscal practices. Its objectives include: Maintain Sufficient Financial Reserves: Ensure fiscal stability by maintaining sufficient financial reserves. Assess current reserves and establish guidelines for their use; Implement Strategies Targeting Cost Recovery: Proactively recover costs from public services provided to current, new, and future community members; Diversify Revenue Streams: Create and improve multiple revenue sources to ensure sufficient diversification of the city's funds; and Live Within Our Means: Guarantee that expenditures do not exceed revenues.
The fifth goal was to have a robust infrastructure. The city wants to develop and maintain reliable infrastructure is critical to support future growth in both residential and commercial sectors. This was the one stated goal that Council members wanted to see the wording changed to “Support current as well as future residential and commercial growth.” Its objectives include: Implement a Preventative Maintenance Program: Develop and implement a proactive maintenance program for all aspects of the city's physical infrastructure, replacing infrastructure that has reached the end of its useful life; Ensure Reliable Water Supply and Distribution: Enhance the city's water infrastructure by replacing aging systems as needed, examining water flows, and establishing reliable monitoring programs; Prepare Infrastructure for Business Growth: Support business growth and improve the marketability of available properties by ensuring essential services are accessible for commercial use; and Meet the Demand of Sewer and Water Capacity: Assess and improve sewer and water capacity to meet current and future demand driven by housing and business expansion.
The last goal has to do with community services. The City wants to see investments in essential services that aim to provide accessible amenities and deepen community engagement. Its objectives include: Ensure Accessibility to Services: Guarantee that residents can easily access essential services and amenities; Maintain Current Level of Staff-Provided Public Services: Uphold high-quality public services provided by staff through effective talent attraction, retention, and development; Assess Staffing Capacity: Regularly evaluate staffing levels to meet current and future demands, ensuring adequate capacity is maintained; Source Grant Money: Diversify revenue streams by applying for grants to fund projects like walkability and infrastructure enhancements; and Actively Engage with the Community: Strengthen community engagement through programs, events, and activities to enhance residents' quality of life.
Adopting the Strategic Plan ensures resources are allocated effectively and creates a framework for regular progress evaluation and informed decision-making. The city plans to revisit and reassess the strategic goals annually to adapt to emerging needs and opportunities, reinforcing its dedication to fostering a thriving, sustainable community.
