Strategic Priority: Infrastructure

Douglas County will provide for the maintenance and infrastructure necessary to meet current and future service levels for roads, facilities, County facilities and assets, sewer, water and storm water.

By implementing the following initiatives, and identifying sustainable sources of funding, effective maintenance and operation of assets, integrating infrastructure plans throughout the County and following industry best practices, the County will meet current and anticipated future infrastructure needs, including roads, facilities, County facilities and assets, sewer, water, storm water and broadband.

Initiatives

• STORMWATER MASTER PLAN: Complete the Countywide stormwater master plan including a long-term funding strategy and implement projects.
• TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN: Complete update of Transportation Master Plan to include identification of future alternative truck and through traffic routes as envisioned in the Valley Vision Plan.
• BROADBAND AVAILABILITY: Develop and implement a Dig Once policy to expand broadband availability throughout the County.
• ROAD MAINTENANCE: Working in partnership with residents and businesses, develop long term solutions to fund preventative road maintenance.
• WATER RATE STRUCTURES: Develop multi-year and equitable water rate structures for the water systems throughout the County in partnership with residents and businesses.
• SEPTIC CONVERSION: Initiate a septic systems conversion program throughout the County.  

Douglas County values its employees and develops a workforce that serves and is valued by County citizens.

By implementing initiatives, the County will attract and retain high-quality public servants dedicated to providing exceptional service and building community confidence. These practices include investing in its staff and building talent from within, reinforced through a performance evaluation and compensation system that is tied to strategic goals and is fiscally sustainable.

Initiatives:

• COMPENSATION: Design employee compensation package.
• PERFORMANCE STANDARDS: Align performance standards to strategic priorities.
• MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: Create/implement supervisory management program to develop internal talent.

Douglas County’s financial stability allows for sustainable planning and maintenance of the County’s resources.

By implementing the following initiatives, Douglas County’s finances will be recognized by staff, Board of County Commissioners and County citizens to be in a healthy state.  Contributing to the County’s financial stability will be funding priorities by leveraging funds available from grants and exploring other revenues sources.

Initiatives:

• COUNTY FACILITY PLAN: Develop facilities plan to address County’s future needs, including long-term strategy for all County offices.
• IMPACT FEES: Develop a feasibility study relating to impact fees.
• LONG-TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGIES: Develop strategies to address long-term financial stability in order to expend County resources to keep up with demand.
• PRIORITY-BASED BUDGETING: Renew efforts on Priority Based Budgeting Program for on-going useful and accountable financial and budget decision making.
• INTERNAL CONTROLS:  Become compliant with software licensing and financial internal control requirements.

Douglas County will work with partners to ensure the County’s Economic Vitality.

By implementing the following initiatives, Douglas County will become a community with diverse businesses and workforce where shopping local is second-nature. Working with the local and regional Economic Development entities the County diversifies and expands its economy by leveraging the County’s skilled and educated workforce and vibrant accessibility to core areas. The appeal of Douglas County as a place to live, work and play are enhanced by developing an educated workforce that meets industry demands, matching education curriculum and opportunities to industry demands.

Initiatives:

• AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVES: Evaluate the potential of offering affordable housing development incentives through the update of the Housing Element of the Master Plan.
• MARTIN SLOUGH TRAIL: Complete R-o-W acquisition and construct the Martin Slough Trail.
• DEVELOPMENT REVIEW PROCESS: Evaluate development review process and staff support to identify opportunities to improve process flow.
• REDEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: Reevaluate the benefits of the Redevelopment Program and if needed identify priority projects and timeline.
• PONY EXPRESS TRAIL: Align stakeholders and develop a design for the Pony Express Trail as an additional tourism opportunity.
• YEAR-ROUND CONFERENCE CENTER: Work with local partners and stakeholders to initiate the development of a year-round conference/entertainment venue at Lake Tahoe (within Douglas County).
• VACATION RENTAL ORDINANCE: Evaluate the need to update the Vacation Rental Ordinance to include changes in on-line vacation rentals (AirBnb, VRBO, etc).

Douglas County will enhance and improve the provision of public safety and related services.

By implementing the following initiatives, Douglas County citizens and visitors will feel they are part of a safe community due to low crime, safe intersections, quick response times by emergency officials and open communications with law enforcement. The County contributes to being a safe community through public-private outreach including education activities as well as ensuring County staff and citizens are emergency-response ready and keeping the County clean and well-maintained.

Initiatives

• EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN: Revise Emergency Operations Plan and develop incident response guides by incident type.
• HAZARD MITIGATION PLAN: Annual update to FEMA required Hazard Mitigation Plan.
• PUBLIC WARNING SYSTEMS & NOTIFICATION: Ensure public warning systems & notifications programs are up to date and increase citizen participation overall in programs.
• CITIZENS EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM: Continue to engage citizen participation in the Citizens Emergency Response Team program.
• BODY-WORN CAMERAS: Implement state mandated body -worn camera programs.
• NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH PROGRAM: Expand and re-energize Neighborhood Watch Program.
• RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA IMPACTS:  Prepare strategic responses throughout County for impact of recreational marijuana.

Douglas County will preserve the County's natural environment, cultural heritage and other assets to create the ideal destination for residents and visitors alike while ensuring orderly and sustainable development of the community.

By Implementing the following initiatives, Douglas County will continue to protect its rural quality of life and continues to be a viable agricultural community by preserving its parks and recreation facilities, open space access and trails, maintaining distinctive downtowns conservation easements and water management.

Initiatives

• COUNTY MASTER PLAN: Perform 20-year update to the County’s master plan.
• RECYCLING PROGRAM: Initiate a Countywide recycling program.
• USE OF LOCAL ASSETS: Advocate for the usage, understanding and support of assets including public parks, trails, local schools and local colleges in the County.
• CONSERVATION ACT: Secure passage of the Douglas County Conservation Act.