Priorities & Objectives
POLICE
Consistently ranked the safest city in Texas, Piney Point must continue to offer competitive salaries and benefits to our Police and Fire departments in order to recruit and retain the best personnel and utilize high quality equipment. I will direct our City to seek available grant funding for additional technologies and protective equipment to keep our community safe. MVPD's focus on Quality of Life policing -- heavy control of minor but visible offenses such as panhandling and congregating -- shows Piney Point has zero tolerance for misbehavior. Involved residents become the "eyes and ears" for police. I will continue to partner with our Police and Fire Departments to hold regular community outreach programs on life saving skills and help us remain alert and aware citizens to eradicate crime in our beautiful city!
FIRE
As Mayor, I will support increased scrutiny over VFD financial matters including hiring an outside financial consultant to review the budgeting process. I pledge to work with other cities to hire a top-notch fire chief and repair the process of budget shortfalls. I will draw on my strong relationships with the Mayors and Commissioners of the other 5 Villages for support. I will propose our City's appointed fire commissioners undergo formal training to ensure they are well-equipped to oversee such an important organization.
STREAMLINE PERMITTING
Supporting residents and property owners who want to expand, remodel or build a new home through an efficient permitting process allows for property tax revenue for our city, enabling us to better secure our investments and provide top-notch city services. Have the City evaluate workflow to alleviate some of the burden on our busy permitting department. The upcoming roll out of a new automated online system will make the permitting process more efficient and transparent. We appreciate the rigor of permitting to encourage responsible and deliberate growth. However, once approval is granted, we need to make sure implementation is not an arduous process. I propose tasking our Planning & Zoning Commission to provide Council with a detailed report on ways our permitting process can be streamlined while maintaining the high standards our residents expect.
I appreciate you reading my priorities for our great city and hope you better understand my commitments to you as a neighbor, Council Member, and (hopefully) next Mayor. I am asking for your vote and would like to connect with you. Call me at 346-651-5438 any time, email me at info@teamdutt.com and follow me on Instagram @alizaduttcampaign. I would love to meet each and every one of you on my trek through the neighborhoods between now and the May 4th Election Day.
DRAINAGE
Make no mistake, flooding and drainage remain a genuine concern during hurricane threats and/or heavy rainstorms. Our family lived through the hardships of being flooded out of our home after Tropical Storm Allison. We value the construction and remodeling of beautiful new homes in Piney Point, but we also recognize the impact the larger footprints have on original homes and the city drainage system. I'd formalize a city task force of builders, homeowners, city engineer and city council members to recommend ways to address drainage concerns. This could include ways new construction projects mitigate run-off or longer-term improvements to the city drainage system.
STRATEGIC PLANNING & CITY GOVERNANCE
Good governance entails having processes in place that meet the needs of our residents while making the best use of resources. One of my first tasks as Mayor will be to send out a survey to residents to inform the city about your priorities for Piney Point. I will initiate strategic planning sessions within the first six months in office, which would include a mission statement and evaluation of our processes within our departments. We will set near-term goals for our City, as well as longer-term goals to serve you best now and our children in the future.
BEAUTIFICATION
I support City Council allocating more personnel hours to maintenance, including picking up trash, trimming overhanging trees and overgrown bushes and stocking dog waste stations. We'll examine ways the City and HOAs can work together to beautify neighborhood entrances. Provide an easy method, such as a cell number or online form, for residents to alert the city of maintenance issues so they can be addressed quickly. Expand the beautification committee to all residents to attend as many or as few meetings as they'd like. Initiate design of City gateway signs that are attractive and timeless so that we can be proud as people enter our community today and 50 years from now.