Queen Creek sets new goals with strategic plan

By Janet Perez
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As part of developing the annual budget, town staff, under council’s direction, also sets a road map for achieving the town’s development goals.

The corporate strategic plan includes five strategic priorities: effective government, safe community, secure future, superior infrastructure and quality lifestyle.

“The corporate strategic plan talks about our mission and our vision and our values and our priorities and then the concept is that those items that are in the strategic plan are then funded and supported by the resources that are in the budget,” Queen Creek Deputy Town Manager and CFO Scott McCarty told the council at its May 21 meeting.

The Queen Creek Town Council, along with approving the $627.7 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year, also unanimously voted for the updated corporate strategic plan.

“I kind of call this the ‘what have you done for me lately’ document because it’s setting up what we’re going to do,” Council Member Jeff Brown said. “This is also a document that highlights and illustrates all that was accomplished with respect to the strategic plan goals from the year prior.”

Many of the overarching goals stay consistent over the years, but new items reflecting changing situations and issues are added each year.

“A lot of the components and the priorities stay the same from year to year, such as public safety, but there are some nuances in terms of specific goals that we really hone in on that the various departments are working on for next year,” McCarty said.

Safe community
“We see some new and updated goals for this particular priority. One of them relates to the real-time information center that the (Queen Creek Police) chief and the staff have been in the process of implementing and operationalizing,” McCarty said.

To promote community safety, the Queen Creek Police Department under the plan will:

• Continue to build and expand critical infrastructure, including essential facilities, programs and technology necessary to maintain low-victimization rates, improve traffic safety and minimize the fear of crime.
• Continue efforts to improve trust, transparency and overall community support through specific engagement, outreach, education and feedback efforts by implementing and expanding technology, staffing, reporting and specialized programs.

For its part, the public works department will promote community safety by developing a Transportation Safety Action Plan that “prioritizes the safety of all users and ensures that all residents arrive home safely,” according to a staff report.

Secure future
“We’ve got 11 specific goals, but I think at the highest level it focuses on increased employment opportunities within the community through new businesses and other services,” McCarty said. “The new goal here has to do with parks and recreation and focusing on a comprehensive teen program to provide skill building and leadership to that demographic, if you will, of our community.”

Under the updated corporate strategic plan, the parks and recreation department will be developing and implementing a program that offers activities and events tailored to Queen Creek’s teens.

“These programs will foster social connections, promote positive youth development and provide opportunities for skill-building and leadership development,” the report stated.

Superior infrastructure
“This is where about half your budget is being spent and … this runs the gamut basically for all departments,” McCarty said.

There are four new or updated goals in next year’s plan:

• Use data-driven asset management programs to make sure pavement and traffic infrastructure is maintained “to the highest possible standard while eliminating the need for frequent, extensive repairs.”
• Identify and implement strategies aimed at increasing trail and multiuse pathway connectivity to adjacent trail networks.
• Continue to improve the transportation network by prioritizing projects identified in the updated Transportation Master Plan.
• Spend up to $35 million in funding received from Pinal County for infrastructure in the state lands area.
• Substantially complete the construction of Power Road from Chandler Heights to Riggs Road.

Quality lifestyle
“That’s a combination of looking at both health and fitness and recreational opportunities within the community, and again that spans specific departments like communications and marketing, parks and recreation, and public works,” McCarty said.

• Expanding the town’s Queen Creek Hometown Christmas over the next five years into a multiweek celebration with diverse holiday-themed activities and events through partnerships and coalitions.
• Preserving and enhancing the town’s natural resources such as the washes and San Tan Mountains by focusing on recreational activities.
• Establishing a connected system of bicycle lanes, walkways, paths and trails for residents.
• Continuing to provide opportunities for residents to stay informed and engaged with the town through its website, social media and outreach events.
• Expanding and diversifying recreational offerings promoting physical activity, social engagement and skill development to increase youth participation.

“I love the opportunity to update this. It truly is a guiding document for us that we use to direct our operations,” Mayor Julia Wheatley said. “It’s a great opportunity to reflect on where we’ve been the past year and a great opportunity to reflect on our goals for the future as a council and as an organization.”

Please send your comments about this article to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines. Janet Perez can be reached at jperez@iniusa.org.

Janet Perez
News Editor | Queen Creek & San Tan Valley

jperez@iniusa.org

Meet Janet
Janet Perez joined Independent Newsmedia as editor of the Queen Creek Independent and Florence Independent in 2020. She started her career in 1989 with the Gannett-owned El Paso Times. In 1992, she moved to Tempe and has worked in newspapers, magazines, radio and television. She left Arizona for three years to work at New Mexico State University and Baylor University before returning to work at Arizona State  University. Missing the business, she went back to journalism in 2017.

Community: A long-time pet owner, she supports animal welfare causes.

Education: University of Texas at El Paso with a BA in journalism and a minor in political science. 

Random Fact: She had a head full of random facts.  

Hobbies: Reading, watching documentaries, cooking and playing with her dogs.