Page 33 - FY 2009 Proposed Budget

Business Plan
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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.

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 and Payroll/Payables, Purchasing, Treasury Management, and the Office of Management and
Budget. The Office of Management and Budget has received the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the past 34
years. The Accounting Division received the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting (CAFR) for the
41 time, and the Purchasing Division received the Achievement for Excellence in Procurement Award for the seventeenth
st
consecutive year. Under the department, Arlington was the third Municipality to be awarded all five of the State Controller’s
Traditional Finance Transparency Stars.

2021 Adopted Budget and Business Plan 22 City of Arlington, Texas