THE VISIONING PROCESS 

The City Council and staff desired to create a vision for the future of our city.  It was determined that regular council meetings did not allow enough time to complete this important task, therefore a special workshop meeting was conducted on Saturday, March 5, 2005.  The eight-hour workshop produced this preliminary document.  It includes a brief vision statement, a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) and a set of vision/goal setting statements.  It is anticipated that this preliminary document will be approved by the Council and then made available for public review and input.  Following this public review the Council plans to formally adopt the document as the city’s vision for the future.

VISION STATEMENT

The City of Hughson is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life by recognizing our agricultural heritage and maintaining our small town atmosphere. The City is also committed to providing a high level of public services, maintaining economic vitality and retaining the distinctiveness of our community.


S. W. O. T.
Strengths - Weaknesses - Opportunities - Threats

A SWOT analysis is an objective, systematic scan of your community. Hopefully this process will give you a better understanding of what and who you are as a community and assist you in developing realistic policy actions.

Some examples:

• Strengths are assets or factors that give a community its character/culture and make the area attractive. These strengths should be promoted.
• Weaknesses are factors or trends that are obstacles or constraints. Weaknesses can take on several forms; they can be geographical, social, physical, financial, regulatory, and etc. These must be acknowledged and fixed if possible.
• Opportunities are conditions that make it easier or possible to develop and achieve desired outcomes. You should take advantage of them.
• Threats are unfavorable trends or developments that make it more difficult to achieve desired outcomes. You should avoid or overcome them.
  
  Note: Some factors are neutral. They are neither strengths nor weaknesses, however, they should be considered, evaluated and appropriately identified.

CITY OF HUGHSON S. W. O. T. ANALYSIS

Listed below are the Council's assessments of the City's Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The public is invited to review and critique the Council's assessments.

Strengths:

• The people
• Small town feel 
• Agriculturally based 
• Quality of schools 
• Proactive city staff 
• Commitment to improve 
• Ability to do focused development 
• Volunteerism 
• Location 
• Local ambulance Service

Weaknesses:

• Lack of Employment
• Fear of growth
• Location
• Antiquated infrastructure
• Lack of a niche, Lack of an identity
• Lack of revenue sources
• Railroad track (Neutral)
• Different mind sets of established and more recent residents
• Downtown condition - unattractiveness
• Lack a sense of marketing opportunities
• Lack of community cohesiveness (Sometimes contentious and divisive)
• Lack  of open space for parks in under served areas of the City

Opportunities:

• To form and maintain partnerships (e.g. League of California Cities, the Mayor’s Regional Growth Management Forum, the Turlock Ground Water Basin Association, Hughson Unified School District and Hughson Fire District.
• The opportunity to establish our infrastructure standards
• To clarify community needs
• To provide incentives to businesses
• Communication / cultivate relations with Hughson Alliance and Schools for common vision and goals (JPA, share resources, corp. yard, etc.)
• To showcase local products
• Open land, unblocked boundaries, able to control development
• To establish urban boundaries
• To showcase Hughson Avenue
• To engage in proactive Planning

Threats:

• Encroaching Communities
• Outside Influences:
  • Regional, State, National Issues, Statutes and Demographic Trends
• Negative/Positive Perceptions of Growth
• Economic Leakage
  

CITY OF HUGHSON GOALS AND ACTION STATEMENTS

• Update, maintain and review General Plan annually as required by State law.
• The General Plan will be the primary public policy guiding land use decisions.
• The City will actively work with the Development Community and each Project Proponent to address issues of community; place and identify through the thoughtful placement of neighborhoods, open spaces, streets and land use in accordance with the Design Principals established within the adopted Design Expectations of the City

• The City is committed to develop an effective working relationship with the Hughson Alliance, downtown and other local businesses to accomplish the economic goals of the City.
• The City recognizes that opportunities exist for a tourist destination attraction highlighting the region’s major products and natural resources.
• The City will promote expansion of other economic sectors which are compatible with agriculture.
• The City of Hughson supports the preservation of farming, food processing and agricultural business services and the ongoing research and analysis of the agriculture industry in order to sustain it as a major economic engine and source of employment.
• The City will work to establish a method for business attraction and business retention.
• The City will consider business incentives for businesses which promote community goals. 

• Recognize the need to address and incorporate a design for all modes of transportation.
• Encourage enhancement of an intra and inter city transit system.
• Access all available funds for the purpose of maintaining and improving existing streets and support the development of a self help capability that will improve the City’s ability to access State and Federal monies.
• Develop public parking in the downtown area to encourage business activity.
• Work with the County, StanCog and other appropriate agencies to address, on a regional basis, the development of solutions to local traffic issues. 

• The City of Hughson recognizes that future delivery of fire service needs immediate attention.
• The City of Hughson will continue to provide a high level of police service to the community.
• The City of Hughson will make all efforts to comply with Homeland Security Rules and Requirements.

• The use of technology will be encouraged to engage citizens more actively in public issues and to improve inter-agency communication.
• Coordinate existing recreation activities to provide access for all residents.
• Review existing services & consider appropriate fees for providing these services.
• Consider development of a community enhancement fee for new residential developments.
• City of Hughson will continue to provide a high level of safe drinking water.
• Continue to provide for adequate treatment of wastewater by compliance with Federal and State regulations and adopt an allocation policy to ensure that future capability is applied in a manner that is consistent with the General Plan.
• Continue to monitor staffing and training levels to ensure that quality public services are provided.
• Explore grant opportunities, develop a tracking methodology and provide regular reporting to the City Council.
• Review and consider enhancing noticing and posting requirements for changes in land use

• The City will develop a Facility Master Plan to provide adequate facilities to house staff, conduct operations and serve the public.
• Consider shared facilities, where appropriate, with other public and private entities.
• The City will develop a method to prioritize replacing existing infrastructure in accordance with the Master Plans adopted in accordance with the General Plan through the development and implementation of a Capital Improvement Plan.
• Consider including in future park developments, the inclusion of features that reflect our agricultural heritage.

• City of Hughson recognizes that it must work with other organizations, public and private, to ensure coordinated delivery of services.
• City of Hughson will continue to monitor legislation, both state and federal, to ensure compliance with regulations.
• The City Council will review and establish a policy designed to monitor and possibly influence proposed State and Federal legislation.

• The City Council pledges to monitor all public funds to ensure appropriate expenditures.
• The City will maximize all potential revenue sources.