Economic and Community Development Objectives of Frisco City - Coursework Example

Running Head: OF FRISCO Of Frisco Insert Insert Insert 30 November The City of Frisco The city of Frisco was started back in 1902 as a result of the settlement of the American pioneers along the old Shawnee trail. The rich fertile land that could allow crop and livestock farming, as well as the accessibility encouraged the settlers to form what would later be called city of Frisco. The availability of water for use in the construction process also contributed substantially to its establishment at the current location. It was initially called Emerson but this was shared by another city within Texas. Therefore, in 1904, it was named Frisco City after St Luis San-Francisco Railway on which it was built. The city is located in the counties of Collin and Denton of the state of Texas in the United States (Frisco website, 2010). It is a small but rapidly growing city with an area of 69.9 square miles of land and 0.2 square miles of water. The population was 332 in 1910; 736 in 1950; 1184 in 1960; 3499 in 1980; 6141 in 1990; 21,400 in January 1997; 33714 in 2000, and was expected to rise to about 100,000 in 2008. As has been witnessed, the small city has attracted more settlers and more investors and over the years, there have been goals to be met each financial year. The goals are focused on the general economic and community development. The increasing population in the city calls for an improved infrastructure. There is need to have more residential as well as business premises. Other incentives that could attract more investors have to be put in place. The city council established seven Strategic Focus Areas in the year 2003 that would provide guidance on the council’s long-term goals one economic and community development. Some of the goals have since been included as a goal to be achieved each financial year. The annual budget indicates how the goals set for that year will be achieved. The goals were in relation to financial health, Public Health and safety, infrastructure, city government, city sustainability, civic involvement as well as leisure and culture. Some of these goals concerning housing and community developments for all groups were encompassed in the 2006-2010 Consolidated Plan. This was aimed at determining how the Community Development Block Grant resources would be allocated to various programs over the five-year period. In financial health, there is need to balance the financial resources to meet the short-term and long-term needs of the residents. There is a need to have a competitive tax rate and balanced residential tax base. Diversification in the employment sector to attract even external employers that could yield more revenue to the city was also desired. There is also a need to have and maintain a fund that can be set aside for the maintenance of the infrastructure within the city. It is also desired that the charges imposed be proportional to the quality of the services provided. There is also a need to have and support the measures that would sustain the city’s finances. Concerning public health and safety, the point of concern is promoting the general wellbeing of the community. One aim here is to give maximum protection against crime and fire outbreaks. There is also the need to ensure road safety precautions are in place. There is also a need to have clean water supply as well as excellent sewage disposal system in response to the rapidly growing population. Ensuring public security by establishing a section of security panel responsible for emergency cases is also a necessity. There is also the need to promote healthy lifestyles like doing physical exercise. Concerning infrastructure, there is need to improve the roads and other utilities to meet the requirements of the increasing population. Adopting the modern technology in the development of the infrastructure is also desired. There is a need to develop the railway network throughout the city and to connect to other regions with which the city can trade. Finally, it is desired that a good plan for public transportation be drawn to ease congestion during the rush hours. In relation to the city government, there is an aim to be the leading pioneer of projects and initiatives in the region. The city government is desired to exhibit honesty, fairness, responsiveness, and integrity during all its operation. The citizens should be able to have access to the officers as well as the facilities. It is also desired that the city be rated as on of the best places to live in. In order to promote external trade, the city desired to form partnership with the neighboring communities and regional partners. There is a further need to promote the continuous development of the staff. To be a sustainable city is yet another important goal that has been set. This in turn can be achieved by promoting continued development, maintaining a strong sense of community and constructing modern residential houses with luxuries that can comfortably accommodate the population. There is need to preserve and promote the culture of Frisco and its origin. It is also desired the leadership be that which is concerned with the conservation of the environment. There is also a need to have good entertainment centers. Another aim is to promote the involvement of the public in all the required activities. There is need to promote civic groups and charities in order to benefit the public. The public is also to be encouraged to feel that sense of belonging to and owning the city of Frisco. Finally, there is a goal of providing entertainment, recreational and cultural development services to help promote a sense of community. Construction of various sports venues, provision of a wide range of entertainment and development activities, promoting the activities that bring people together as well as encouraging the cultural performing arts are some of objectives set here. The above discussed are long-term objectives and goals. However, in each financial year, specific goals and objectives are set and measures to achieve some of these are included as items in the annual budget of that financial year. For instance, according the Proposed Annual Budget for the 2011 Financial Year, one of the main goals and objectives concerning leisure and culture is to ‘provide a variety of sports venues in addition to sports fields for youth sports, regional and international tournaments’ (p20). A corresponding objective that was set in the previous year was to ‘support expansion of youth sports/entertainment venues/ teen centers’. Among the items included in the proposed budget was ‘funding of a facility space at New Frisco Discovery Center for Sci-Tech and the Black Box Theater’ (Proposed Annual Budget, 2010, p20). There are similar measures taken on issues concerning infrastructure, public health and safety, financial health, the city government as well as promoting the citizens participations and involvement in the civil activities in the city. Other measures have also been taken to ensure that the goals are achieved. The creation of Frisco Economic Development Corporation (FEDC) has been a remarkable strategy. The not-for-profit corporation was established in 1991 after the public approved a ½-cent sales tax to boost economic development. Its main role was ‘the promotion and development of new and expanded business enterprises to provide and encourage employment in furtherance of public welfare and expand the tax base of the city of Frisco’ (Economic Development Corporation, 2008, p. 2). It was formed to monitor the economic development in the city. Its role is to ensure that the funds set aside by the local government is properly used to help achieve the overall goal of the city including creation of job opportunities for the residents. Essentially, it prepares an Economic Incentive proposal based on the projected economic value of the project to the City of Frisco at that time. Its steps in analyzing a project includes; ‘Determine Project Eligibility; Submit FEDC Economic Impact Survey; Conduct Economic Impact Analysis; Develop Economic Incentive Proposal; Draft Performance Agreement; and Obtain Board Approval’ (Economic Development Corporation, 2008, p.6). As a further strategy to achieve some of its goals, there has been a kind of partnership formed between Frisco Economic Development Corporation, the Conventions and Visitors Bureau, the City of Frisco and the chamber of Commerce. This partnership will help in attracting more investors interested in settling in the city by providing the necessary incentives. Measures to ensure citizen participation have also been taken. The City council of Frisco appointed the City of Frisco Housing Trust Fund Board to serve as the Citizen Advisory Committee for the CDBG program. The board holds public meetings and hearings to enable the public give their say on the development plans. From the report on the action plan of the second year of City of Frisco FY 2006 (FY 2007) Action Plan, ‘the City held a public hearing on during the development of the FY 2006 Action Plan’ (p4). Other factors have been advantageous to the City. The city of Frisco boasts of its diverse resources. Its strategic location offers a wide range of business attraction. Its diversity can be seen in the quality of thee economic development programs it has, commitment to promoting education, various sports facilities, and well managed community. Due to its location, the cost of living is low and there is still availability of land for expansion that will enable the city to accommodate more people in the future. There have been a number of positive impacts of the above measures taken to achieve the goals and objectives. The Frisco Economic Development Corporation has had several achievements; ‘Increased sales tax revenue; Consistent high growth in tax base; Low city and school taxes; Ability to build infrastructure and municipal buildings; Excellent parks and recreation centers; Provide facilities for all age groups; Continued small town feel’ (Economic Development Corporation, 2008, p.9). In addition, the city currently has several hotels with 1153 existing rooms. Stonebriar Commons, Frisco Bridges, Hall Office Park, Sierra Frisco, Duke Bridges, Frisco Square, Frisco Market Center, World Cup Plaza, Parkway Towne Crossing, as well as Frisco Commercial Center are some of the modern facilities that have been developed in Frisco in the recent past. According to 2010 City Crimes Rate Ranking, the City of Frisco has been rated the city with forth-lowest crime rates among small cities nationally and fourteenth worldwide (p1). It also boasts of extensive educational and medical centers and is still in the spirits of achieving more. Reference List City Crimes Rate Ranking. (2010). City Crimes Rate Ranking. Retrieved November 30, 2010, from http://os.cqpress.com/citycrime/2010/City_crime_rate_2010-2011_lowtohigh.pdf. City of Frisco FY 2006 (FY 2007) Action Plan. (2006). Retrieved November 30, 2010, from http://www.ci.frisco.tx.us/projectsPrograms/Documents/City_of_Frisco_FY_2006-2007_Action_Plan.pdf. Economic Development Corporation. 2008. Frisco Economic Development Corporation. Retrieved November 30, 2010, from http://www.friscoedc.com/Portals/FriscoEDC_BC/Skins/FEDC/PDF/DUApril.pdf. Frisco website. (2010). Retrieved November 30, 2010, from http://www.friscotexas.gov/Pages/Default.aspx. The Proposed Annual Budget. (2010). City of Frisco, FY 2011. City of Frisco, Texas. Retrieved November 30, 2010, from http://www.ci.frisco.tx.us/departments/accounting/Documents/FY2011-DRAFT-08092010.pdf. Read More