City of Morgantown West Virginia

A Municipal Policy and Service Overview Relating to the City Manager Position

July 12, 2010

Edited March 2013

City Council of Morgantown 389 Spruce Street

Morgantown, WV 26505 Quick Summaries on Public Policy and Service Delivery

Form of Government: Council-Manager Form of Government; Charter Adopted 1977 Seven Council Members Elected in City-Wide Election for two year terms. Mayor and Deputy Mayor elected by Council; Four Mayors since 1991 One City Manger since 1992

Vision for the Work of the City: We are building an inclusive, progressive and sustainable community. Examples of Recent Policy Topics and Changes:
1. Taking steps toward implementation of a new definition of family as foundation for residential controls 2. Establishment of an R-1-A zoning classification to help protect structures in older neighborhoods 3. Partnering with the university for neighborhood revitalization 4. Facilitating the development of a metropolitan planning organization in addition to planning the expansion of transit, pedestrian infrastructure and bicycling 5. Utilizing public-private partnerships for the development of an event center 6. Sponsoring and supporting the renovation of a theatre as a downtown resource 7. Development of a Municipal Green Team, efficiency initiatives, and a green building policy 8. Reconceptualization and renewal of the municipal airport with an industrial park 9. Study and support of Police and Fire Pension Systems 10. Revisions of staff health insurance policies 11. Incorporating PUDs and TIFs in economic redevelopment strategy 12. Working to adopt a vote-by-mail system for municipal elections 13. Development of a Downtown Strategic Plan 14. Expanding the roles of parking and code enforcement personnel 15. Supporting the revitalization of neighborhood organizations

Examples of Councils Current Priorities for City Administration:

1. Respecting staff and volunteers and engendering the same respect by all for all citizens. 2. Communicating and coordinating with the civic infrastructure of the city other governments, organizations, West Virginia University, neighborhoods, business and environmental entities. 3. Fiscal planning and management including helping us to continue to move toward the construction of a new city hall, green efficiencies in street lighting and other city operations, and city infrastructure upgrades.

4. Keeping pace with public safety needs - through staff services, collaboration with other resources, and volunteer services - to be able to prevent as well as respond to critical incidents so that business persons, residents and visitors can retain a satisfying and productive relationship with the community. 5. Promoting progressive economic vitality and diversity through comprehensive planning and development support, efficiencies in permitting, state of the art airport services, wireless information services, school and university support, Main Street and CVB support, transit and parking resources, notable advancement in theatre and arts, and opportunities for businesses to be an active part of government. 6. Facilitating planning and development which considers economic development, infrastructure upgrades, diversity and efficiency in community transportation, environmental protection and sustainability, and residential integrity and public health. 7. Enhancing and enforcing codes relating to the citys home-owner and rental housing so that the communitys housing stock becomes a more viable resource for sustained economic growth and retention, supports active and livable neighborhoods as well as provides shelter and safety for persons of various incomes and abilities. 8. Making progress on transportation infrastructure improvements for motorized vehicular travel, transit, pedestrians, and bicyclists. 9. Improving air quality, protecting drinking water, and enhancing the citys tree canopy to support public health, reduce energy costs, and preserve a livable city environment. 10. Improving the solid waste system in such a way that waste and landfill use is reduced and recycling increased. 11. Supporting inclusivity and public education initiatives in relation to children and persons of all ages, business stakeholders, neighborhoods, schools, higher education, service recipients, local government, sister cities, parks and recreation, and diversity in heritage and ethnicity. 12. Facilitating growth of and access to information technology and broad band to support commercial and industrial development, residential areas throughout the city, libraries, schools and local government operations. 13. Working for home rule to allow for problem solving consistent with local needs in a state where there is a tradition of protective, centralized state decision-making.

Citizen Survey Priorities National Survey Conducted in 2006 Strengths

Sense of community Openness to diversity in people Cultural activities Recreational opportunities Job opportunities Bus/transit services Ease of bus/transit use Safety downtown day Safety neighborhoods-day

Weaknesses
Amount of public parking Ease of car travel in Morgantown Traffic enforcement Code enforcement Garbage collection Recycling Lack of affordable housing Need for increased police protection Snow removal

City Departments 255 Employees

Airport City Attorneys

City Clerk Elections, Meetings and Records, Applications for Appointments City Hall Administration, Public Information Services, Maintenance Code Enforcement Engineering Finance Fire 48 paid firefighters; 3 stations; ISO Class 3 Human Resources Information Technology Municipal Court Planning Zoning Code updated in 2007 Police 67 trained and sworn officers Public Works Including Street Department, Signs and Signals Urban Landscaping

Free Standing Departments: 322 Full-time and Part-Time Employees

BOPARC Recreation, Parks, Theatre, Trails Morgantown Utility Board Water, Sanitary Sewer, Storm Water Management Parking Authority Parking Garages, Parking Lots, On-Street Parking

Collaborative/Contracted/Supported Services (18 organizations):

Bartlett House Homeless Shelter County at al City-County Transit Authority - University Fairmont-Morgantown Housing Authority Greater Morgantown Community Trust; City Art Fund Greater Morgantown Convention and Visitors Bureau w/ County Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization County, 4 Communities Library Central library in City plus Aull Center; 4 branches outside of City with County, State Main Street Morgantown w/ County Mon River Trails Conservancy w/ County Monongalia County Animal Control Monongalia County Development Authority Monongalia County Health Department Monongalia County Solid Waste Authority Morgantown Area Economic Partnership County Region VI PDC Area Municipalities, Six Counties Republic Waste Services Fairmont - Private Sunnyside-Up Neighborhood Revitalization University Teen Court - w/County, Courts West Virginia Botanical Garden Located on City property

Volunteer Boards, Commissions, Committees and Authorities - 274 Volunteer Positions (29 organizations are listed in alphabetical order.)
Airport Advisory Committee Board of Zoning Appeals Board of Park and Recreation Commissioners Building Code Appeals Board Community Design Team Fire Civil Service Commission Historic Landmarks Commission Human Rights Commission Library Board of Directors Metropolitan Theatre Commission Morgantown Building Commission Morgantown Utility Board Municipal Bicycle Board Museum Commission Municipal Green Team Neighborhood Coordinating Council (Includes 9 Neighborhood Associations) Parking Authority Pedestrian Safety Board Personnel Board Planning Commission Police Civil Service Commission Rental Housing Advisory Committee Sister City Commission Solid Waste Advisory Board Traffic Commission Urban Landscape Commission Urban Tree Board Ward and Boundary Commission Youth Commission