IV. GOVERNMENT FOUNDATION

VISION:
Before 2024 the Wichita MSA will:
Be a national model for effective, efficient, inclusive and accountable governments that are representative of the community’s needs and desires.

STRATEGIES:
A. Expect all governments and agencies of government within our region to endorse VISIONEERING WICHITA and agree to implement its strategies and meet its Key Benchmarks.

B. Develop a South Central Kansas unified legislative agenda driven by community will and issues and promote its implementation by our legislative delegation. The unified agenda will represent what a broad cross section of South Central Kansas organizations support and expect of legislative action. (Issues that divide us will not be included in the unified agenda.)
a) Present the unified agenda prior to the legislative session and issue a report card after the
session.
b) Have a Wichita MSA and South Central Kansas Day in Topeka where representatives of
all organizations visit with their legislators and provide support for the annual unified
agenda.
c) Ensure there is communication through the media and other communication mediums of
Kansas legislative activities to the Wichita MSA citizens.
d) Recognize the importance of working together and continuous communication with our
legislative delegation.
e) Encourage the South Central Kansas legislative delegation to form coalitions within the
state to achieve the unified agenda. (The South Central Kansas delegation has 44 of the 165
representatives in the Kansas legislature or 27%.)

C. Create effective communications between elected officials and residents by:
a) Using all available resources for grassroots communications including website, internet,
print media, electronic media and newsletters.
b) Expecting unbiased and objective analysis of the issues to be widely distributed to the
public prior to decision making by government bodies.
c) Obtaining continuous input and work to build community cooperation.

D. Ensure governments are effective, efficient, fiscally responsible, accountable, collaborative, responsive, customer friendly and accessible while increasing productivity.

E. Encourage residents and organizations to become more knowledgeable and involved in government as it affects our daily lives. Get more young people involved in government.

F. Benchmark key government processes against best practices for such processes.

G. Promote regional collaboration and support public/private partnerships to implement VISIONEERING WICHITA.

H. Encourage employee diversity. Ensure equity in government interactions with minorities. Engage minorities in the decision making process and create a welcoming environment for minorities.

I. Have governments that practice integrity.