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Home My WebLink About2003-02 Lexington 2020 Vision Progress Report LEXINGTON Lexington 2020 Vision Progress Report Town of Lexington February 2003 .<04D,ISIO Lexinaton 2020 Vision Important Questions The Lexington 2020 Vision process, formally begun in Challenging Answers 2000, is an ongoing town-wide effort to empower and engage residents to help determine what the town of • What choices does Lexington need to make now for a Lexington will be like in the year 2020 successful future? • The process is a comprehensive, long-range, public vi- Are you satisfied with the way in which the town is changing? sioning and planning effort. It is intended to provoke discussion, support dialogue, and help guide decision- • Has the 2020 Visioning and Planning process helped making and actions throughout the community It is not focus community efforts? a formal planning document with a thorough list of ac- tion items to be completed. Building on six months of work by hundreds of residents on a variety of topics, a "Status Report on the Planning Process"was prepared in January 2001 This report is organized into five thematic areas,with 5 or 6 Goals each for a total of 27 Goals. For each Goal,there are several potential Actions suggested. Now, two years later,it is time to update the community on the progress made toward addressing those Goals and implementing some of the Actions. This is especially important given the short-term budget issues the town faces. Re-visiting the 2020 Goals will help keep us focused and directed toward the long-term. The 2020 Implementation Committee is committed to soliciting feedback on this progress report,specific actions,and implementation efforts to-date. To that end, a public meeting will be held in March 2003 .a series of news ar- ticles will appear for several weeks in the Lexington newspaper A feedback form is also included in this flyer; please fill it out and send it back. hi this limited space, the progress report can not fully represent the variety and complexity of actions — both suc- cesses and continuing challenges-that have occurred in town over the past two years. For more in-depth written in- formation and further assessment of progress, please contact the Town Manager's Office in Town Hall, at 781-862- 0500,x.244 LEXINGTON WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE THINKING H Qo1D VISION Please join us at this important Public Meeting. March x,2003 •7.30 to 9.15 PM •Location. TBA Questions: What is your Vision for the Lexington of the future? How can we start making that Vision a reality? Have the 2020 Goals and Actions helped? The Meeting Objectives are to: Share progress on 2020 over past 3 years•Solicit public input and reaction to this progress Identify some goals and actions for next 3 years 1.flON Progress Report Town of Lexington is Vision! 2020 THEMES AND GOALS. The matrix below lists all of the 5 Themes and each of the 27 Goals from the 2001 "Status Report of the Planning Process"for Lex- ington 2020 Vision. The Themes and Goals are presented here to provide,at a glance,a progress report at two years into the 2020 Vision process. A Key for defining the terminology and interpreting the symbols is provided below 2020 THEMES AND GOALS Actions Initiated I. Promote and Strengthen Community Character 1 Design and promote community gathering places and events O 2. Develop criteria/mechanisms: preserving character of residential neighborhoods 3 Provide housing options to promote diversity of income/age - 14 Create incentives to maintain/expand affordable housing 0 5 Integrate infrastructure/aesthetics w/commercial,historic,residential characteristics O 6 Preserve/maintain historical areas;celebrate our place in national history • II. Foster Educational Excellence 1 Ensure that citizens are aware of/have access to life-long education/learning 2. Continuously update and modify all aspects of learning facilities • 3 Provide sufficient funding for educational and learning opportunities 0 14 Develop/implement community partnership program with educational facilities 0 5 Develop/implement on-going evaluation process for learning-associated systems 0 III. Sustain/Enhance Physical Character&Environment 1 Improve traffic and parking conditions in the Center 0 2. Increase protected open space 3 Preserve and enhance local air quality 14 Reduce environmental impact of households and businesses • 5 Limit traffic,noise,and pollution from Hanscom Field 0 6. Increase alternatives to single occupancy vehicles IV Reinforce Connections: Residents,Civic Organizations,Town Government 1 Expand information dissemination options for civic activities 2. Provide approaches to inspire uninvolved to become involved 3 Increase accessibility/availability of all aspects of government 14 Encourage increased resident participation in and understanding of the fiscal process 5 Promote use of volunteers/students;connect them with those needing services • tv Establish Processes for Town Decision-making, Planning,Conflict Resolution 1 Enhance/refine fiscal process to be useful/accessible • 2. Conduct/influence long-range studies,policies,and regulations in all areas 3 Initiate/participate in regional groups to resolve common problems/share services 14 Re-evaluate,with public participation,the 2020 vision and planning processes 0 5 Strengthen and support existing democratic processes for town decision-making 0 KEY to Reading the Matrix _ Actions include those Actions Initiated • Identified/implemented by town and school staff, •= Significant measurable progress has been made Boards,and committees in the course of doing toward this Goal business. O= Several Actions have been taken and completed • Identified/implemented by community groups and toward this Goal others in town. 0= Some Actions are underway in support of this Goal • Suggested by 2020 Work Groups/presented in the _ = No Actions have been taken or are underway 2020 report. toward this Goal 1 epN Progress Report Town of Lexington VISION We acknowledge in advance the limitations associated with the matrix. It presents complex information in a short-hand that invaria- bly will miss note-worthy efforts as well as some significant challenges that lie ahead. It is,however,the most efficient means for reaching the largest number of residents to communicate progress. Near-Term Plans Comments D New schools,Library Planning: senior center,skatepark Trees and noise by-laws enacted. Comprehensive Plan in place. Ongoing LexHab projects. No new action. [Accessory apartment incentives in the works. [Road work,traffic calming. Lighting Options Committee. [Liberty Ride,placement of signage. Planning: library tech center, media access task force [School Resource Officers,Crisis Plan,5 yr tech plan,Preschool room in new library New and renovated buildings but maintenance an issue O eachers working on performance-based evaluation.Continue with curriculum frameworks. [ 0 Parking study done. Traffic lights in the works. O [Land stewardship program in the works. [Police bike patrols. Fire Dept did CNG demo IMMHHW,dumpster fines,mercury recycling,community meetings held. Pay As You Throw • [Noise by-law in progress. HATS [Addressed in Comprehensive Plan Finished networking town computers,website in progress 0 rTax bill insert,citizen guide,budget executive summary What is role of TMMA in effort? o Diversity training for staff,No Place for Hate group formed. Future web-master position? Budget executive summary Heavy use of volunteers. Future Volunteer Coord position? Site Councils. Budget summits. Improved software O Comprehensive Plan.HATS 2020 Board of Health. Pay As You Throw Lexington Business Roundtable. NPFA • 2020 Budget process.Gov't Performance Measures. O Budget Process. Planning: Communications Team KEY to Reading the Matrix Near-Term Plans: Comments: "Near-Term refers to anytime from 2003—2006 • = At least one significant Action is to be initiated in 2003 toward this Goal O = A specific plan is in place for implementing at least one Action in support of this Goal 0 = Some general planning has taken place for Actions in support of this Goal - = No specific plan is in place for implementing any Actions in support of this Goal LN Progress Report Town of Lexington is VisipN About the 2020 Vision Implementation Committee The 2020 Vision Implementation Committee is the group,appointed by the Board of Selectmen in collaboration with the School Board and the Planning Board,responsible for • Ensuring that processes exist to facilitate achieving the 2001 status report goals, • Ensuring alignment between goals and measures, • Monitoring progress toward goals,and • Surveying the community to ensure that goals are still shared and valid. Residents who served on the Implementation Committee from 2001 to 2003 are. Chuck Benson Tom Harden Todd Burger Bernard Harleston Helen Cohen Alan Lazarus Peter Enrich Fernando Quezada Ellie Epp Jerome Smith Sherry Gordon Nancy Wilson The Implementation Committee is always looking for thoughtful,energetic residents who want to help ensure a better Lexington for 2020 For more information, please contact. Town Manager's Office Lexington Town Hall• 1625 Massachusetts Avenue •Lexington,MA 02420 Phone 781-862-0500,x.244•http.//patriot.cilexmgton.ma.us Town Manager's Office Lexington Town Hall 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington MA 02420 TO RESIDENT Lexington,MA