Each member of the Prior Lake community must engage in, support and participate in formal and informal efforts to facilitate a safe, livable and healthy community for all persons.
FIVE-YEAR GOAL: Assure that resources are invested so that the police, fire, emergency services and ambulance can accomplish their mission in a pro-active fashion considering our changing community.
TWO-YEAR OBJECTIVES:
n Evaluate, implement and continue appropriate community-based policing programs like DARE, Safety Camp and Citizen’s Academy.
n Encourage and participate in multi-jurisdictional efforts to better serve the public safety needs of our community (e.g. 800 MHz and fiber optics).
n Work with adjacent communities, SMSC, County, State and Federal government to be prepared for natural and man-made disasters (i.e. Avian Flu pandemic).
n Address traffic safety issues in the community through all appropriate means.
n Educate City employees regarding the challenges of an ethnically and socio-economically diverse community; and the challenges created by changes in the family structure.
FIVE-YEAR GOAL: Encourage citizen participation in crime and violence prevention and treatment efforts.
TWO-YEAR OBJECTIVES:
n Support the efforts of Safe Haven for Youth, Southern Valley Alliance for Battered Women, and similar organizations that provide housing, protection and counseling services for victims of crime.
n Partner with Community Education and others to support programs intended to educate the public regarding care giving, parenting, drug and alcohol impacts, financial matters, ethics, citizen responsibility, the legal system, English as a Second Language, boat and snowmobile safety, fire prevention, CPR, Defensive Driving, gun safety and the like.
n Support National Night Out.
n Continue to offer safety and educational opportunities throughout the community (e.g. Neighborhood Watch, Operation I.D., vacation checks, car seat inspection).
n Achieve resident participation, use and understanding of the Traffic Safety Committee.
FIVE-YEAR GOAL: Assist homeowners and neighborhood associations to become a vital element in community safety.
TWO-YEAR OBJECTIVES:
n Support and encourage the formation of new neighborhood associations that promote a sense of community.
n Advise homeowner associations that police officers are available to attend their annual meeting to discuss safety topics, concerns and programs.
n Distribute written, video and other information through homeowners associations identifying the role that residents can play in community safety.
n Encourage homeowners to report crime.
n Encourage actions to assist the emergency response system, e.g. address numerals for all houses, CO alarms, fire alarm checks, first aid basics.
n Establish a volunteerism office at City Hall to provide assistance in a wide range of venues.
FIVE-YEAR GOAL: Promote ethical behavior in all aspects of government to preserve the public trust.
TWO-YEAR OBJECTIVES:
n Review City Code, Bylaws and policies with the assistance of employees and make modifications as necessary.
n Conduct orientation sessions for new employees and periodic training sessions for existing employees to promote ethics in individual action and government processes and practices.
FIVE-YEAR GOAL: Publicize community safety efforts.
TWO-YEAR OBJECTIVES:
n Include a semi-annual Police Chief column in local newspapers, Wavelength, and report to the City Council.
n Highlight police and neighborhood efforts on PLTV-15.
n Highlight neighborhoods that participate in crime prevention efforts at City Council meetings.
n Share the good news about community safety, volunteerism and available services through numerous media.
n Write periodic “Did You Know That” columns regarding state or local legal requirements.
n Annually participate in community celebrations and police, fire and ambulance open houses.
