Politics & Government

City Center, Mass Transit, New Millage Envisioned in Farmington Hills Future

The city's 2020 Visioning committee reports share common elements.

Editor's note: This is the first in a series of articles on the 2020 Visioning reports.

Residents' dreams for the City of Farmington Hills eight years into the future share some common themes.

The 2020 Visioning process was undertaken this year in place of a management audit required by the city's charter, according to city manager Steve Brock. During Monday night's meeting, he said volunteers were recruited to determined "what they wanted to see Farmington Hills look like in 2020. This really has been a citizen-driven process. That's what it was always intended to be."

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Five committees have wrapped up their work in reports that city officials said they will review at an upcoming study session. The groups of volunteers, each assisted by a city staff member, started discussions early this year in these areas:

  • Activities and Citizen Retention
  • Taxes and Services
  • Education and Jobs
  • Economic Redevelopment
  • Energy and Transportation

All five presented their reports Monday, with specific recommendations that included ideas unique to each committee. Broad, common themes also emerged that included the need for developing a "city center," support for some kind of mass transit plan and an emphasis on education and maintaining the city's current high quality of life to attract new residents and businesses.

Find out what's happening in Farmington-Farmington Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Among the specific recommendations were calls for completing an aquatic center and other projects tied to the 2008 parks and recreation millage; pitching a 2.0 mill operating millage question as a "bridge" until property values rise; developing a campaign in the "Pure Michigan" vein that promotes Farmington Hills as a "destination"; making the city "entrepreneur friendly; and helping homeowners handle the initial costs of improving energy efficiency in their homes.

The complete report will be posted on the city's website.

Next: How can Farmington Hills retain its population?


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