City Council Goals

Adopted by City Council on January 13th, 2024

COMMUNITY VISION STATEMENT

Working together to build the best small city in the metro

The City of Windsor Heights is uniquely positioned within the Des Moines metro.  As a land-locked suburb the community must think creatively about how to attract and retain businesses, customers, and residents as growth options will be required to be innovative and likely grass-roots efforts.  In order to be proactive in learning and planning for the future, the city completed a visioning and data collection process to assist with future planning.

The visioning process was facilitated by J. Scott Raecker, Executive Director of The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University and Cassandra Halls, President of 2 THE TOP.   The visioning process included multiple steps to capture input from the community, business, partners, peers and others to help the Mayor and Council understand what direction is most important, allow for sharing of ideas and accept constructive feedback. 

COMMUNITY MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of Windsor Heights is to provide our residents, businesses, and visitors a safe environment and exceptional city services through a team-oriented and fiscally responsible approach in order to create a unique, sustainably vibrant community.

 2025 CITY COUNCIL GOALS

Goal #1 – Focus City services, resources, and cooperative partnerships on creating and maintaining a safe community for all residents, businesses and visitors.

Objective A: Recruit and train quality staff while maintaining adequate staffing levels in all departments, including 24/7 paramedic staffing. 

Objective B: Implement policies and practices leading to clean air and protection of water resources – i.e. expanding anti-smoking initiatives and membership in Central Iowa Water Trails efforts.

Objective C: Replace aging vehicles and equipment and continue the transition to fuel efficient vehicles as practical.

Objective D:  The City should work to become the employer of choice for our employees, and perspective employees, by ensuring alignment of wages, benefits, and employee support to create a positive and engaging work environment.

Goal #2 – Develop and implement processes to ensure delivery of exceptional City services.

Objective A: Pursue shared and contracted services with neighboring community partners in service delivery on recreational programming, and traffic signal operation and maintenance.

Objective B: Revise the City’s code of ordinances to address outdated regulations.

Objective C: Improve the City’s enforcement of nuisance violations in an effort to cleanup properties throughout the community.

 Goal #3 – Protect the financial future of the City through reasonable and well-thought-out fiscal policies and adherence to generally accepted government finance practices.

Objective A: Update the Equipment Revolving Program (ERP) annually.

Objective B: Update the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) annually and periodically review and adjust utility capital improvement fund rates to generate sufficient revenue to implement scheduled CIP projects

Objective C: Establish a standard budgeting process that will institute continuity that will allow multi-year analysis and decision-making.

Objective D: Receive a clean fiscal year audit report.

Objective E: Investigate and pursue new revenue streams.

 Goal #4 – Create and maintain a high-functioning City team of elected officials, professional staff and volunteer board members via regular and pertinent training and continuing education opportunities.

Objective A: Annually review and revise the Council and employee handbooks.

Objective B: Identify and allocate resources to support ongoing employee training focused upon improving customer service.

Objective C: Develop a retention and succession plan to prepare for future employee turnover.

 Goal #5 – Build a unique and sustainably vibrant community that contributes to the overall character of the Greater Des Moines region.

Objective A: Invest in art and culture opportunities unique to the region in cooperation with Bravo.

Objective B: Continue to invest in community events with community partners, including the Chamber of Commerce and provide funding to the Windsor Heights Foundation.

Objective C: Invest in community artwork. 

Objective D: Continue implementation of the Colby Park plan; make decisions regarding what to do with Lions Park; pursue new trails and bike hub facility; and initiate discussion for establishing a new northeast park amenity.

Objective E: Consider policies and programs to expand and diversify the tree canopy of Windsor Heights both on public and private property. 

 Goal #6 – Pursue a comprehensive economic development strategy that supports a healthy business sector and contributes to a better overall quality of life.

Objective A: Explore partnership opportunities with the Chamber  to attract and retain businesses aligned with feedback from the community survey. 

Objective B: Build on the existing partnership with local development partners.

Objective C: Establish a source of funding in support of property redevelopment and rehabilitation. Specifically focus resources in support of minority-owned business grants.

 Goal #7 – Plan and invest in City infrastructure to ensure the long-term viability of the community’s roadways, utilities, parks, IT infrastructure and public facilities. 

Objective A: Continue to update the Capital Improvement Plan for streets, sewers, parks, storm sewers, city facility improvements, sidewalks/trailways, flood mitigation and other large scale investments.

Objective B: Expand existing community recreation options and pursue partnerships with the schools and other community organizations.

Objective C: Complete a long-term public facilities plan.

Objective D: Implement a plan to address Walnut Creek bank stabilization.

Objective E: Focus capital resources on improving safety and availability of pedestrian facilities. 

Objective F: Research and identify green technologies that could be made available to residents and businesses as a way of addressing environmental concerns.

Goal #8 – Pursue initiatives aimed at growing Windsor Heights as a diverse and inclusive community.

Objective A: Identify new and emerging housing sector needs and develop strategies to pursue.

Objective B: Continue to plan and hold new multi-cultural special events with community partners.

Objective C: Maintain City’s commitment to unbiased policing and equal treatment of all residents regardless of age, race, sexual orientation, or physical disability.

Objective D: Pursue grant opportunities to encourage the growth of minority-owned businesses.

Goal #9 – Continually strive to better communicate with Windsor Heights residents to achieve the most transparent government and understand citizen viewpoints.

Objective A: Continue to communicate with residents through newsletters and look at other opportunities to communicate that will best serve the community. 

Objective B: Maximize the use of social media to offer multiple methods of disseminating information to the public.

Objective C: Utilize marketing initiatives to show Windsor Heights is a destination for visitors in the Des Moines Metro.

Objective D: Continuously improve the City’s website and data management processes to ensure relevant information is accessible to staff, elected officials and the public.   

Objective E: Highlight programs in the metro area that can benefit Windsor Heights’ residents; Metro Home Program, Storm Water Best Management Reimbursement Program, Neighborhood Finance Corporation, etc.