Unlocking Osseo’s Hidden Potential

Key Capital Goals:

• Decrease current disproportionate reliance on resident property taxes to fund budget through exploring alternative funding sources: new business growth initiatives, commercial redevelopment, sales tax, state funds, grants, other reoccurring revenue source opportunities
• Examine reliance on third party consultants and determine whether we can better spend that money on adding additional experienced city staffing and decrease our reliance on outside vendors
• Review dual role structure of City Administrator and Police Chief to answer resident concerns regarding conflicts of interest, segregation of duties, and optimal performance when our Chief has to split his time and attention between the two roles
• Conduct line-by-line review of city budget to understand any imbalances in funding needs versus wants across budget categories and prioritize those needs appropriately
• Address current and plan for future aging infrastructure issues: city hall, sidewalks, Sipe Park, sewer lines, etc.
• Identify yearly priority projects to be funded by planned dispensary revenue

Key Communication Goals:

• Revitalize the Communications Committee to surface resident input and brainstorm communication campaigns
• Work with city staff to identify quick wins, increase channels for engaging residents, and determine realistic long term plans
• Investigate need for potential dedicated communications role on staff
• Increase frequency of communications with residents in plain, easy to understand language about key decisions and progress reports
• Ensure varied digital and print communication methods to reach as many residents as possible
• Coordinate with staff on setting key messaging campaigns, metrics and goals for 2027 to measure success

Key Community Goals:

• Engage residents via city wide survey for long term city planning
• Consider more opportunities for town halls and listening sessions to garner resident input and feedback on making Osseo shine
• Explore creation of civic education and engagement programs so residents of all ages can better understand how our local government works
• Reinvigorate Arts Committee to garner resident input and explore new ideas for bringing residents together to beautify the city via art, music, gardening and more
• Research resident interest in and potential grant funding for additional community garden projects in addition to the Community Orchard

Additional priorities surfaced in resident conversations:

• Ensure pedestrian safety by addressing uncontrolled intersections with no stop signs and consider lowering the city speed limit
• Engage with state legislators to seek out additional funding sources to help pay for our needs…so we can focus our local budget on our wants
• Finish Boerboom Park project so residents can fully enjoy the green space
• Bring more family-friendly businesses to town
• Investigate ways to also highlight broader business visibility beyond central in visitor engagement opportunities (a Summer on Central beyond Central)
• Explore potential for dog park, including site locations, costs, and funding sources, as well as connections into the broader Three Rivers Park system
• Affirm that Osseo is committed to approaching projects in an environmentally responsible manner, protecting our community’s water, soil and air