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Commission hears strategic-plan progress; staff highlights website, mobile app and neighborhood outreach
Summary
City staff updated commissioners on five strategic-plan pillars, announcing a new mobile app and website translator, progress on downtown planning and options after a recreation-trail grant denial, and near-term design work for Egan Avenue.
Jamieson, a city staff member, told the commission the city is finishing the third quarter of the year and provided two handouts that break down strategic-plan strategies and a summary of progress. "Website is being centralized as our primary means of communication," Jamieson said, noting a site translator and a newly released mobile app intended to direct residents to a single source for city information.
The strategic plan is organized around five pillars. Under the communications pillar, Jamieson said staff will request download statistics from vendor Civic Plus and expects small iterative website changes with a contract refresh later this year or early next year. He also said the city is coordinating with the privately owned MadisonSD.com to update content and use it as a community hub; the site is not city-owned but the owner has allowed city updates.
On community engagement, staff described new pop-up events (for example, a meeting at the Second Street Diner, 8–10 a.m. on the 16th) that will include elected officials to improve attendance. Jamieson also said the city plans a State of the City address by the mayor in January after the move into a new building.
The plan identifies downtown Library Park as a potential gathering space for future enhancement but contains no formal actions yet. On recreation, Jamieson reported the city’s application to build a paved trail around the fishing pond was unsuccessful for a second year. He outlined options for commissioners: reapply with a connectivity-focused project, budget for a locally built gravel trail as a first phase that could later be paved, or pause development of the site. Jamieson said the most competitive grant applications are those that connect existing trails and infrastructure.
On critical infrastructure and services, Jamieson said the Lake Area/County early-education partner (LAIC) is progressing toward selecting a site on Highland Avenue and expects related agenda actions in the coming regular meeting cycle. Design work is underway for Egan Avenue north of the highway with construction planned for 2025–26; financing options under consideration include the State Revolving Fund and potential USDA Rural Development support.
The presentation closed with workforce and internal improvements: department-head training, employee committees on engagement and safety, and a new employee portal delivering policies and benefits information through the city website and mobile app. Jamieson said the strategic plan is a living document and a new strategy to develop mission, vision and values has been added.
The commission did not take formal action on the strategic-plan items during the meeting; staff said it would bring budget estimates and potential grant proposals back during upcoming budget discussions.
