Page 35 - City of Arlington FY19 Adopted Operating Budget

Business Plan

The Office of Strategic Initiatives implements pilot programs,
uses multi-faceted community engagement, and relies on data-driven
approaches to plan for the future of Arlington today. OSI is made up of
three divisions – Strategic Planning, Research and Analytics, and
Grants Management.

The Strategic Planning team is responsible for long-range planning
efforts including transportation, corridor, and area planning;
neighborhood engagement; and special projects. Area, Corridor, and
Transportation initiatives include traditional planning efforts, such as the
city’s Comprehensive Plan, the Downtown Master Plan, the Thoroughfare Development Plan and the Hike and Bike System
Master Plan. Strategic Planning also manages innovative transportation pilot programs such as the Milo autonomous shuttle,
the Via Rideshare program, and Drive.ai on-street autonomous vehicle pilot program. Neighborhood engagement includes the
Neighborhood Matching Grant, the Block Party Trailer, and the Arlington
Home Improvement Incentive Program among other efforts. The Strategic
Planning team also manages the Arlington Urban Design Center, a
partnership intern program with UT Arlington, and serves as the staff liaison
for the Landmark Preservation Commission.

The Research and Analytics Group works towards the efficient and
transparent use of data to provide timely and effective analytical support to
City programs, services, and its citizens. This team is responsible for the
growing and maintaining the Open Arlington data portal, which serves as a
central clearinghouse for accessing, visualizing, and interacting with public open data sets. The R&A team also produces
quarterly and annual city Growth Reports and supports many other city-wide data and analytics initiatives.

The Grants Management team administers federal grants including
Community Development Block Grants, HOME Investment
Partnerships Program, and the Emergency Solutions Grant. This team
works closely with the community, local area non-profit organizations,
the Arlington Housing Authority, and other city departments to increase
the quality of life in the City’s low- to moderate-income areas. Grants
Management is also the lead team for the City’s Annual
Homeownership Fair.

FINANCE

The Finance Department provides support and information to assist the City Manager and the Mayor and City Council in
management decision-making. The department facilitates the development and tracking of the City’s business plan and
performance-based budget and acts as a strategic partner with departments to provide financial expertise and guidance with
City-wide impact. The department is also responsible for preparing the City’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report,
processing payments to City vendors, preparing City payroll, procuring goods and services, monitoring consolidated tax
collection efforts, and directing the City’s cash and debt portfolio management activities. Divisions in the department include
Administration, Accounting, Purchasing, Treasury Management, Payroll/Payables, and the Office of Management and Budget.
The Office of Management and Budget has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the past 32 years. The
Accounting Division received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR) for the 39 time and
th
became the third Municipality to be awarded all five of the State Controller’s Traditional Finance Transparency Stars, and the
Purchasing Division received the Achievement for Excellence in Procurement Award for the fifteenth consecutive year.

2019 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 20 City of Arlington, Texas