Kirkland Ventures

Bringing Community Together

Town of Kirkland, New York

The Plan

Community Development Plan

The Project

Kirkland Ventures facilitates the creation, implementation and updating of a Community Development Plan ("the Plan") for the Kirkland community, which includes the Town of Kirkland, the Village of Clinton, the Clinton Central School District, Hamilton College and the hamlets of Clark Mills, Franklin Springs and Kirkland.

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Goals

  1. Institutionalize community planning and action that improve the quality of life and economic condition for all stakeholders in the Kirkland Community.
  2. Publish a prioritized list of goals, strategies, action items and costs (the Plan) by December 31, 2008.
  3. Increase Kirkland Ventures membership to 1,000.
  4. Create and empower Focus Teams and Citizen Action Committees.
  5. Hold frequent and effective Community Forums.
  6. Identify sources of funds for continuing planning and implementation efforts in 2009 and beyond.

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Elements

  • Focus Areas are "buckets" to capture and categorize goals and strategies.
  • Focus Teams will outline goals and strategies in Focus Areas and prioritize action with community input.
  • Community Forums will gather input and build consensus in Focus Areas.
  • Citizen Action Teams (CAT's) will implement specific action plans in Focus Areas.

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Focus Areas

Economic Development

  • Increase top-line revenue through a careful and controlled expansion of tax base
  • CAT's: Master Plan Update; Infrastructure Assessment; Financial Resources

Quality of Life

  • Enhance the social fabric, upgrade recreational facilities and expand cultural assets
  • CAT's: Entertainment; Recreation; Culture; Sidewalks, Hiking Trails; Town/Gown Relations

Good Government

  • Reduce overlap, share services and assets, and increase efficiency in local government and with other regional governments
  • CAT's: Local Efficiency; Regional Opportunities

Financial Management

  • Extend budget and financial planning horizons, create transparent accounting and consolidated reporting
  • CAT's: Reporting; Long-Term Financial Planning; Maxwell Modeling

Stakeholder Communication

  • Improve intra-community communication and collaboration through a central community web kiosk, newsletters and continuous Town Hall meeting
  • CAT's: Newsletters; Community Web Kiosk; Community Forums

Education

  • Develop a vision and plan for the future of CCS and other educational institutions in the Kirkland community
  • CAT's: Budget Advisory Committee

External Marketing, Branding & PR

  • Create a market brand and take it to the world
  • CAT's: Community Brand; External Marketing

Grant Writing and New Sources of Revenue

  • Build a grant machine, identify projects and funding sources and develop alternatives to property-based taxation
  • CAT’s: Grant Machine; New Revenue

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Steering Committee Guidelines

Kirkland Ventures and the Community Development Plan (CDP) are led by the Steering Committee, which provides oversight, general direction and fiduciary responsibility.

  1. Composition: Seven (7) standing members or their designees: the Town Supervisor, the Village Mayor, the CCS Superintendent, the Hamilton College President, the Chamber of Commerce Executive Director, the Mohawk Valley EDGE President, and one representative from the ad hoc citizens group formerly known as Kirkland Ventures.
  2. Administrative Support: Administrative and accounting services are contracted through Mohawk Valley EDGE.
  3. Fiduciary: The Steering Committee collects and oversees the efficient and effective use of funds in meeting its Mission.
  4. Contracts: The Steering Committee contracts with various independent contractors and approves the disbursement of funds in payment of expenses related to the CDP.
  5. Leadership: The Steering Committee may designate from among its members four (4) leadership positions: a "Leader" to act as chairperson during meetings, a "Vice-Leader" to act in place of the Leader as necessary, a "Bean Counter" to track the inflow and outflow of funds, and a "Scribe" to compile action items and Steering Committee meeting minutes.
  6. Decision Making: Generally, decisions will be made by consensus. In case of disagreement, a vote will be taken with each member having one (1) vote. Any resolution brought for a vote requires a majority vote of four (4) members of the Committee.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is happening in the Kirkland community?

Something very exciting. For the first time in our 200 year-plus history, all parts of the Kirkland community have come together to plan our shared future. The town supervisor, the village mayor, the superintendent of schools, and the college president met and agreed to proceed with this united effort, with faith and understanding that the strength and efficiency of cooperation will benefit all.

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What is the goal of this effort?

The goal of this project is to improve the quality of life while expanding the tax base. In short, a community that is able to more effectively compete with other parts of our nation and the world – a community that is better able attract people to live, work, and visit and better able to offer opportunity, especially to younger people.

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Who leads this effort?

On September 3 the citizens' group called Kirkland Ventures turned over its work to a steering committee of seven: the town supervisor, the village mayor, the superintendent of schools, the college president, the executive vice-president of the chamber, an official with Mohawk Valley EDGE, and a representative from the original citizens' group.

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What does Kirkland Ventures do?

The purpose of Kirkland Ventures is to facilitate the creation, implementation and updating of a Community Development Plan (the Plan) for the Kirkland Community, which includes the Town of Kirkland, the Village of Clinton, the Clinton Central School District, Hamilton College, and the hamlets of Clark Mills, Franklin Springs and Kirkland.

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How will Kirkland Ventures accomplish the creation of the Plan?

Kirkland Ventures, with monetary and in-kind support of the village, the town, the schools, the chamber, and Hamilton College, as well as individuals and businesses, has contracted out the work of preparing the Plan by December 31, 2008. Frederick H. Hager, a local resident and planning consultant, is facilitating and managing the project that will lead to the Plan.

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What form will the Plan take?

The Plan will be a prioritized list of potential projects, estimated costs and/or savings for each, and potential funding sources.

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Who belongs to Kirkland Ventures?

Although the steering committee consists of seven individuals, Kirkland Ventures actually is made up of all who hold a stake in the future of our community.

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How can a stakeholder get involved in Kirkland Ventures?

There are many ways you, the stakeholder, can be involved. Offer to share your talents by helping with one or more of the Focus Areas (Economic Development, Quality of Life, Good Government, Financial Management, Stakeholder Communication, Education, External Marketing, Branding and PR, and Grant Writing and New Sources of Revenue.) Serve on one of the Community Action Teams (CATs) that are being formed to study and address specific parts of each Focus Area. Attend the public forums and engage your neighbors in discussions about our community and its future. Let your ideas, hopes, and dreams for our community be known.

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How can a citizen find out more about the work of Kirkland Ventures?

Log onto www.kirklandcommunity.com to get updates on the work and find out what your neighbors are saying at committee meetings and community forums.

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What does Kirkland Ventures say to the stakeholders of the community?

Be part of the Plan. Be part of our shared future.

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