HomeMy Public PortalAbout2000_10_31_r216 Adopting a Vision StatementThe Town of
Leesburg,
rg ma
RESOLUTION NO.
2000-216
PRESENTED: October 31, 2000
ADOPTED: October 31, 2000
A RESOLUTION:
ADOPTING A VISION STATEMENT, VISION PRINCIPLES, AND
OPERATING GUDELINES FOR THE LEESBURG TOWN
COUNCIL
WHEREAS, the Town Council met in a retreat setting in July and September to discuss
the preferred future of the Town of Leesburg; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to adopt a ViSion Statement to set a positive and
inspiring picture of Leesburg's future; and
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to adopt Vision Principles for how the Council
will make decisions and act to achieve the Vision, and
WHEREAS, the Town Council desires to set Operating Guidelines for how it wishes for
relationships to work among Council members, staff and others.
THEREFORE, RESOLVED, by the Council of the Town of Leesburg in Virginia as
follows:
SECTION I. The attached Vision Statement, Vision Principles, and Operating
Guidelines are adopted as those of the Leesburg Town Council.
PASSED this3tst day o~0ct°ber, 2000.
B.J. V~bb, May&
Town of Leesburg
ATTEST:
l~erk of Council
V]:S:[ON STATEMENT FOR THE TOWN OF LEESBURG
Our Vision for the Town of Leesburg is to have a community that
is beautiful, historic, culturally diverse, affordable, safe, and well
planned with great opportunities for all of our citizens.
Beautiful
Leesburg will be a place where the beauty
of its natural and historic vistas reflects the
Town's high standards and attention to
detail for architecture, landscaping, and
preservation. Its gateways, parks,
buildings, and streets will be aesthetically
pleasing, welcoming all to enjoy the Town's
amenities.
Historic Integrity
Leesburg will preserve the Town's historical
heritage and environmental quality. Old
buildings will continue to be historically
documented and preserved. New buildings
will be designed to compliment the historic
fabric of the Town.
Diversity
Leesburg will be a Town of social and
economic opportunity that has a diverse
economy and a wide range of social,
recreational, cultural, and artistic amenities,
and services that welcome all.
Affordability
Leesburg will be a place where its residents
can live, work, and play.
The Town will promote a robust, diverse,
prosperous, and self-sustaining economy,
sufficient to meet the current needs and
future aspirations of the Town's business
and citizens. Recognizing these needs, the
Town Council will maintain affordable,
efficient services.
Leesburg will be a place combining
sustainable communities while maintaining
and improving the quality of life for
everyone.
Safe Community & Environment
Leesburg will be based on the foundation of
community participation, dedicated to the
safety, health, and well being of its citizens.
The Town will provide an abundant supply
of clean water and encourage clean air
standards, working as an advocate for our
citizens to create and implement policy
based on sound science, and a
knowledgeable and involved public.
It will create a climate that encourages
safe, free flowing, pedestrian friendly,
accessible, and well thought out
transportation services.
Well Planned
Leesburg will plan for economically
sustainable growth, which holds
neighborhoods of character as the essential
building blocks of a well-balanced
community. Future growth will be carefully
planned to preserve our sense of small town
and neighborhood.
Great Opportunities
Leesburg will have a thriving economy with
diverse retail, tourism, cottage businesses,
clean industry, and employment centers,
located in such a manner as to protect the
environment, our heritage, and residents of
the area. [t will be a Town with a wide
range of social, recreational, cultural, artistic
amenities and services.
[n the 21st Century Leesburg will be known as a community that
symbolizes the goodness of the American spirit, the ingenuity of
the American dream, and a sense of purpose shared by all. ox. 3~, 2000
Vision Principles of the Town Council of Leesburg
Beautiful
We will seek connectivity through a master plan of sidewalks and bike trails, even in
outlying neighborhoods so that people can enjoy the benefits of the town and surrounding
area,
The character of our Town entrances will be enhanced, including the rural character and
greenbelts of our entrances.
We are willing to acquire or annex land for non-residential use that accentuates the
character of our town and improves our economic opportunities.
We will not compromise our standards of quality.
We will educate our constituents to achieve their understanding that our policies promote
quality, not quantity.
Historic Integrity
We will promote the look and feel of Leesburg as a historic community and protect our
economic tax base through commercial and retail development that is consistent with this
concept.
We will expand and enhance our historic overlay district, continuing our grid system with
neo-traditional development and a "pedestrian feel".
Diversity
We will provide a wide range of opportunities, amenities, and services befitting a modern
Virginia town.
Affordability
We will strive for a government that has less bureaucracy, more customer focus, more
efficiency, and more technology.
We will balance fiscal impact with quality of life impact.
Safe Community and Environment
We will insure that our recreation fields and parks have a transportation system, vehicular
and pedestrian, that makes them accessible.
Recognizing that transportation planning is long range (20 years), we will plan now to
insure that our transportation system will adequately serve our development, put good
roads in the right places, and serve our economic development and zoning plans.
We will use proactive, clear, well-communicated policies to ensure that we are able to meet
our goals for water and environmental quality.
Well-Planned
We will use growth management tools such as comprehensive planning, zoning ordinances,
acquisition, and annexation to preserve our historic character, quality of life, the sense of
community, and to enhance economic vitality.
We will promote the feel of old, established neighborhoods through planning that
emphasizes walking and access to retail and work opportunities, smaller scale
development, and interaction.
We will pursue legislative changes that enable us to modify state and local standards in
and around neighborhoods.
We will expand retail development in the historic district, keeping residences and offices on
the top and retail on the bottom.
We will provide direction to the boards and commissions that serve the community,
particularly the Economic Development Commission, to enable them to serve our vision.
We will promote tourism in Leesburg by maximizing our assets, partnering with other
resources, and insuring that our ordinances retain and enhance tourism.
Great Opportunities
We will be responsive in providing diverse cultural, recreational, and athletic activities
appropriate for our population and will facilitate neighborhood access to these activities.
We will seek educational opportunities with private institutions to improve the quality of life
and opportunities for our residents.
We will strengthen our role as the cultural center of Loudoun County by enhancing
facilities, activities, and partnerships that create new opportunities.
We recognize that the Council must promote and commit to its vision and involve others in
the vision.
Operating Guidelines for the Town Council of Leesburg
Our Operating Guidelines seek to provide Council IVlembers, staff, citizens, and our
partners with guidelines that will enable productive communication and working
relationships. Through these guidelines, the Council can build a sense of trust among
its members and among Council, the Town Manager, and the Town staff. The staff will
thus be enabled to serve the Council and the citizens with a high degree of confidence.
Council and Staff Guidelines
pursuit ora 21st Century Organization)
We endorse the Town Manager in making organizational changes that will insure
that Leesburg is a 21st Century Organization, including those that may affect
personnel and organizational structure.
2. We accept the financial obligation for making those changes.
We recognize that worthwhile change sometimes puts people outside their "comfort
zone" and agree to offer support where there are clear managerial expectations and
responsible risk-taking. The Council praises the initiative of Department Directors.
4. We seek a balance in our involvement in government that insures that we make well-
informed policy decisions, while avoiding over-involvement in the daily operation of
government.
5. We maintain the dignity of town government and respect our members, citizens, and
the staff.
6. The Council and the staff agree to share information about important issues,
avoiding surprises.
7. We respect the confidentiality of those issues that are supposed to be confidential.
8. We desire staff reports that are professional, understandable, and timely. They
should be written in layman's terms and contain options, analysis of cost/benefit
and/or pros and cons, a recommendation, and appropriate maps and contextual
information. Reports should be provided in enough time for adequate
understanding and decision-making.
9. Town Manager is responsible for the performance of staff, thus the Council has no
formal role in evaluating the performance of staff.
Town and County Relations
1. We will ensure a more open exchange of information with Loudoun County by
meeting regularly as a collective group and pursuing one-on-one communication
opportunities with their elected officials.
2. We will be proactive in learning about issues of significance to Loudoun County and
the Town of Leesburg.
Legislative Action and Relationships
1. We will prepare an early legislative package to enable each Council Member to
communicate with General Assembly members.
2. Council Members will familiarize themselves with the legislative issues and will seek
support for Leesburg's issues beyond our area representatives.
Citizen Relationships
1. We are committed to effectively communicating to citizens that the Council is
committed to change and what it is doing to prepare for the/their future.
2. We will use targeted communication to let citizens know when major issues affect
them.