R2019-181 Resolution Approving and Adopting the 2019-2021 Strategic Priorities

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PRIORITY GOAL #6: COLLABORATE WITH OTHER STAKEHOLDERS SO THAT THE MANAGEMENT OF LAKE DECATUR, AND ADjOINING PUBLIC OPEN SPACES, IS INTEGRATED INTO A COORDINATED PLAN Summary of Goal #6: The city has a long-term obligation to manage Lake Decatur so that it is a safe, clean and resilient water supply for citizens and industry for the rest of the 21St Century. This means the city will need to take steps to more proactively manage the Upper Sangamon River watershed to reduce silt, sediment and nitrates flowing into Lake Decatur, engage in a program of shoreline protection, and regulate recreational uses of Lake Decatur so that they do not undermine water quality and watershed management objectives of the city. But these goals and objectives can also be integrated with efforts to: 1) maximize use of adjacent and adjoining assets, including those owned and operated by the Decatur Park District,the city, and others; 2) create future non-motorized transportation corridors; 3) establish and market other destinations (e.g.,the marina, campgrounds,amphitheater, parks, zoo, grasslands and other amenities) that are unique to Decatur. Discussion. The city and the Park District have collaborated in the past to develop a long-range plan for improvements in the Lake Decatur/Nelson Park/Scovill Park& Big Creek areas, and river-front zones below the dam. These documents need to be updated to reflect changed conditions, new projects added in recent years,and revised strategic directions so that this concentration of special assets and quality- of-life enhancements are taken to the next level. Strategies. Specifically,this is likely to include the following projects: 1. Improve appearance, services and efficiency in the marina area by outsourcing dock, fuel and marina-related services to a qualified partner in ways that will enhance the city's larger lake management plans and be compatible with open space plans of the city and the Park District. 2. Develop and adopt a plan to connect existing and planned lake-related services to Nelson Park, Scovill Park/Children's Museum, downtown, existing off-road trails on the west side of the city in a way that both enhances bicycle and pedestrian networks,but also establishes viable non-motorized transportation corridors connecting key parts of the city. 3. Create a multi-year plan to balance the costs of lake maintenance and patrol with revenues derived from users of the lake, and move all of these costs and revenues to the Water Fund. 4. Implement the recommendations of a Lake Management Plan so that the quantity of sediment, silt and nitrates entering Lake Decatur is significantly reduced, and adopt other strategies designed to assure good water and watershed stewardship practices for the long-term future.