Leon County to Expand Strategic Initiatives

On Tuesday, February 11, the Leon County Commission (Board) will vote to add new strategic initiatives to their mission following an open discussion among elected officials and staff at the recently concluded annual retreat.

The new initiatives include focus on high profile challenges related to pedestrian safety, the Miccosukee Road Greenway Trail flooding, the Children’s Services Council, and graffiti.

The initiatives were added across four issue areas which include the economy, environment, quality of life, and governance.

The Strategic Initiatives will be included in the updated FY 2022 – 2026 Strategic Plan and assigned to the appropriate departments.  The departments will develop proposed implementation plans for the new Strategic Initiatives. 

The agenda item notes that throughout the life of the Strategic Plan, the Board will be presented with agenda or budget discussion items recommending specific actions necessary to advance the Strategic Initiatives including identifying any associated fiscal impacts.  In addition, the Board will receive an update on all Strategic Initiatives as part of the Midyear Strategic Plan Update during the June Budget Workshop.

New Strategic Initiatives (Economy):

Expand our economic competitiveness by hosting the 2025 Motor, Drive Systems, and Magnetics Conference and explore opportunities to attract future magnetic conferences as part of our broader efforts to establish Tallahassee-Leon County as the magnetic capital of the world.

Coordinate with the Local Technology Planning Teams to evaluate areas lacking reliable broadband and cellular services and additional opportunities to work with industry stakeholders to direct investments in these areas.

Explore opportunities to attract Top 100 Billboard artists for concerts and performances at various local venues throughout the year.

Evaluate recreational amenities in Southwest Leon County, including Lake Talquin, J. Lewis Hall Sr. Park, and the St. Marks Trail, for opportunities to host annual events and competitions.

New Strategic Initiative (Environment):

Engage an engineering consultant to complete the Miccosukee Road Greenway Trail Flood Study to identify solutions to flooding along Miccosukee Road.

Initiate a feasibility study as a component of Phase II implementation of the Apalachee Regional Park Master Plan.

Exempt land conservancy groups, such as Tall Timbers, from environmental permitting requirements for activities that support and further their mission of fostering exemplary land stewardship such as tree removal and other vegetation management.

New Strategic Initiatives (Quality of Life):

Continue to coordinate with DISC Village, Inc., and the Leon County Sheriff’s Office in leveraging opioid settlement funding to provide substance abuse treatment and ancillary services for individuals with opioid and substance use disorders in the community.

Continue to support the Big Bend Continuum of Care in the coordination and implementation of the annual Point-In-Time Count to collect homeless data critical to securing state and federal funding.

Support the Children’s Services Council of Leon County in hosting Family Resource Centers at county facilities.

Explore innovative strategies to enhance pedestrian safety, including traffic safety studies and utilizing automated speed detection technology in school zones.

Develop a Woodville Rural Community Sense of Place Plan to evaluate land uses and guide future improvements in the Woodville area and coordinate with County Public Works in developing a 5-year improvement plan to include vehicular and pedestrian safety.

New Strategic Initiatives (Governance):

Coordinate with the Public Safety Coordinating Council, the Judiciary, Court Administration, and other partners in implementing the jail population management strategies identified by the Leon County Detention Facility Needs Assessment Report.

Execute all 41 after-action recommendations from 2024, addressing key findings, and lessons learned from the Bicentennial Storm, the May 2024 Tornado Outbreak, and Hurricane Helene to strengthen County preparedness, response, and recovery efforts.

Expand efforts to build public awareness of the County’s Code Compliance Program through ongoing neighborhood engagement and public information efforts.

Establish a Citizen Charter Review Committee to review the County’s Home Rule Charter and propose any amendments or revisions ahead of the 2026 General Election.

Expand effort to reduce graffiti and roadside littering by coordinating with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office and the State Attorney’s Office to explore the development of a new anti-graffiti/anti-littering program that would install Capital Region Real-Time Crime Center (CRRTCC) cameras in selected areas, on a rotating basis, where graffiti and roadside littering are severe.