We see--as our central and overriding vision--a City with a new cooperative effort and spirit directed to reducing and eliminating the causes of discord, discomforts and decay. We see teams of people and organizations working for a few deep, positive and permanent changes in the basic foundations for healthy economic and social life in the City community. Each governmental, private and not-for-profit entity will know what its role is in bringing the vision of a successful City to reality-and each will know which other entities it must help and encourage. More leaders, organizations and groups of people with common purpose will get together and pull together-and they will get results!

We see a City, which is successful in both keeping and attracting businesses. The City will be truly "user-friendly," where the business owner hears, "Tell us what we can do for you." There will be joint efforts to successfully market the City-to present and prospective businesses, large and small. Older buildings will be put to new uses, modernizing spaces so that people can use and enjoy them.

We see a City whose diversity is a source of both pride and strength. In this environment, differences between people and their backgrounds are assets for progress, not barriers to working together. We see a City that expands its diversity by retaining and attracting upward-mobile individuals and families to live within the City.

We see a well-run City on sound financial footing. City government will have made changes in organization and management practices to be clearly more efficient and effective. The City will operate with balanced budgets and will employ new disciplines for long-term financial planning. Tax levels will be reasonable, affordable and competitive.

We see a healthy city that is recognized as adding value to the County and the region. We see a City that is confident in its future and celebrates its success. A place where Lancastrians will invest for the future by making choices to live, work, play and educate their children in Lancaster.

We see a City whose primary and secondary schools are an attraction for living in Lancaster. These schools will stand out for the quality of teaching, for the excellence of school-site management and for the learning achievements of their students, through a richly diverse curriculum, which is coordinated from first grade through twelfth-in a district in which goals are high and outcomes are measured. The tax cost of the School District of Lancaster will be reasonable, affordable and competitive. In addition, we see more equitable funding mechanisms among all public school districts in the State. The District will prepare its students equally for employment through life and for successful living in a civilized society.

We see a City in which people and property are safe and secure. A place that the perception of crime matches the reality of low crime rates. The whole of Lancaster County will be known as a place where dealing in drugs and committing crimes against people and property will not be tolerated. We see a place that enjoys a high level of cooperation between City and County law enforcement. Both forces will be appropriately staffed and perform their services in a fast, efficient, effective and culturally sensitive manner.

We see a downtown Lancaster which is a destination for people to visit. This will be a place which draws not just tourists who have come to see Lancaster County, but also residents of the county and other areas of the City who find a jewel of enjoyment, convenience and vitality right in their own backyards.

We see a City that cares for its children and acknowledges them as our most precious resource for the future. Schools, human service agencies, government, religious institutions and the private sector will promote a spirit of togetherness in ensuring the physical, emotional and spiritual health and well-being of our community's youth.

We see a City of sharp improvement in the economic well being of those most in need. Both unemployment and underemployment will have declined continuously to the lowest levels in years. The School District of Lancaster, post-secondary education institutions and employers will mobilize to succeed in helping students with smooth and effective school-to-work transitions-and re-education will give more adults what they need to obtain and hold good jobs. There will be more jobs, which City residents can walk to-or be transported to.

We see a City where neighborhoods stand as a symbol of our community pride. Strong neighborhood organizations, creative collaborations and individual citizenship will be nurtured. Ours will be a City with attractive neighborhoods - where people value their neighbors and homes. The high quality life in the neighborhoods will act to attract and retain upward-mobile individuals and families to live in those neighborhoods.