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Home My WebLink About2003 - 2020 Vision Progress ReportlE}(INGTQN Lexington 2020 Vision Progress Report VisioN Town of Lexington February 2003 Lexinaton 2020 Vision The Lexington 2020 Vision process, formally begun in 2000, is an ongoing town -wide effort to empower and engage residents to help determine what the town of Lexington will be like in the year 2020. The process is a comprehensive, long-range, public vi- sioning and planning effort. It is intended to provoke discussion, support dialogue, and help guide decision- making and actions throughout the community. It is not a formal planning document with a thorough list of ac- tion items to be completed. Important Questions... Challenging Answers + What choices does Lexington need to make now for a successful future? • Are you satisfied with the way in which the town is changing? + Has the 2020 [visioning and Planning process helped focus community efforts? 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. In 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. 1,VINGTON WE WANT TO HEAR WHAT YOU'RE THINKING !I Q110 V1sloN Please join us at this important Public Meeting: March 6, 2003 . 7:30 to 9:15 PM • Location: LHS 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 Idenli some goals and actions for next 3 years N �2:0 VISION Progress Report Town of Lexington 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 L Promote1'an"dFStrengthen Community Character 1. Desmon and promote community gathering places and events O 2. Develop criteria/mechanisms: preserving character of residential neighborhoods Provide housing options to promote diversity of income/ae - 4. Create incentives to maintain/expand affordable housing O 5. Inte_rate infrastructure/aesthetics w?commercial historic residential characteristics O .6. Preserve/maintain historical areas; celebrate our�lace in national history • I. Foster Educational Excellence 1. Ensure that citizens are aware of/have access to life-long education/learning O 2. Continuously update and modify all aspects of learning facilities • 3. Provide sufficient funding for educational and learning opportunities 0 4. Develo 1 implement communit rartnershirogmm with educational facilities 0 5. Develop/implement on -go. ing evaluationsrocess for Teaming -associated systems 0 'III. SustalnjEnhance Physical Character & Environment 1. Improve traffic and parking conditions in the Center O 2. Increase protected open space O 3. Preserve and enhance local air quality 0 4. Reduce environmental impact of households and businesses • 5. Limit traffic, noise, and pollution from Hanscom Field 0 _ 1. Increase alternatives to sinjle occupancy vehicles O 1V. Reinforce Connections: Residents, Civic Organizations, Town Government 1. Expand information dissemination options for civic activities 2. Provide approaches to inspire uninvolved to become involved 0 3. Increase accessibility/availability of all aspects of government 0 4. Encourage increased residentparticipation in and understanding of the fiscal process O 5. Promote use of volunteers/students• connect them with those needin _ services • V. Establish Processes:for Town Declslon-making, Planning, Conflict Resolution 1. Enhance/refine fiscal plocess to be useful/accessible _ • 0. Conduct/influence long. -range studies, Rolicies, and regulations in all areas 0 3. Initiate/participate in regional groups to resolve common problems/share services 0 4. 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, • = Boards, and committees in the course of doing business. • Identified/implemented by community groups and others in town. • Suggested by 2020 Work Groups/presented in the 2020 report. 0= '0 = Significant measurable progress has been made toward this Goal Several Actions have been taken and completed toward this Goal Some Actions are underway in support of this Goal No Actions have been taken or are underway toward this Goal N Progress Report VisioN s Efl210 Town of Lexington v: --.: f 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 O 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 caiminrr:__L ghting Options Committee. - Liberty RideLplacement of sane. Planning: library tech center, media access task force - - -- - - O School Resource Officers, Crisis Plan, 5 yr tech plan, Preschool room in new library. O New and renovated buildings but maintenance an issue 0 O Teachers workinp,on performance-based evaluation. Continue with curriculum frameworks. Parking study done. Traffic lights in the works. 0 'Land stewardship program in the works. Police bike patrols. Fire Dept did CNG demo. MMHHW, dumpster fines, mercury regclin.g, community meetings held. Pay As You Throw. O 0 'Noise by-law in progress. HATS J 6 ~ Addressed in Comprehensive Plan O »rinished networking town computers website inproess - O Tax 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-masterposition? Bud et executive summ 0 O Heavl. use ofvolunteers. Future VolunteerCoordposition? 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. Budget Process. Planning: Communications Team - O KEY to Reading the Matrix Neer -Term Plans: "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 O = 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 Comments: Progress Report Town of Lexington 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 Todd Burger Helen Cohen Peter Enrich Ellie Epp Sherry Gordon Tom Harden Bernard Harieston Alan Lazarus Fernando Quezada Jerome Smith 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:l/patriot.ci.lexington.ma.us Town Manager's Office Lexington Town Hall 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02420 TO RESIDENT Lexington, MA