Page 34 - Microsoft Word - FY 2020 Adopted Budget Document

Business Plan

The Municipal Court handles payments for citations, court appearances for
teens and adults, jury service requirements, and management of revenues from
fines. The court strives to improve customer service through advanced
technology such as providing access to common information in the Open Data
Portal, new payment method options, and text reminder notifications for court
dates. The Court recently began texting defendants reminders for upcoming
court dates as a courtesy reminder. These new technological enhancements
coupled with our online records search and information on the Open Data Portal,
allows a defendant to verify court information without having to call or come to
the court. Finally, the Court has implemented Apple Pay and Android pay as
payment options for in person payments.

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 Via
Rideshare program and efforts related to autonomous vehicles.
Neighborhood engagement includes the Neighborhood Matching
Grant program, 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.

2020 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 21 City of Arlington, Texas