Lynchburg Community Farmers Marke

In 1995, the Lynchburg City Council developed a Visionfor the year 2020. City Council’s vision for "Lynchburg 2020" provides elected leaders with a shared picture of the desired future for the City. The vision guides them in decisions that insure a positive future for the City versus those that deal only with current realities and crises. The Lynchburg City Council also adopted Vision Principles in 1995 to further guide its decisions about key vision areas. These principles assist the City Council in using a shared philosophy to make decisions that will benefit the community the most. Additionally, the vision principles provide guidance to the City Administration in approaches and values endorsed by the Council so those staff members can be effective and efficient in their work. In 1999, the City Council developed Operating Guidelines to define commitments among Council Members that enable them to maximize their collective leadership for the community. The operating guidelines define values that provide for optimum relationships among Council Members and between Council Members and City staff. Additionally, they define the Knowledge and Skills that City Council Members want to have to provide optimum leadership for the community. The City Council's Vision, Vision Principles, and Operating Guidelines are key elements of City Council's Policy Governance and Leadership Role, providing clear guidance and boundaries that promote creativity and effective decision-making. The City Council develops Vital Priorities that will achieve the vision at its annual City Council Goal Setting Session each fall. The City Council identifies goals that will achieve its vision for the community. The Lynchburg City Council refocuses its vision every two years at a City Council retreat to insure that it reflects the needs of the community and the collective leadership agenda of the membership. The vision principles and operating guidelines are also modified on a continuous basis to insure that these commitments reflect the best guidance system for the community.