Section I - Introduction

A. Purpose and Overview

The purpose of this Strategic Action Plan is to assist the City of Indianola with development strategies to protect qualities that have attracted new residents and enhance services for existing and new residents in Indianola.

Iowa's rural population is steadily shifting to urban population centers across the state. Families will dominate Indianola's population increase with strong connections to small town lifestyles. Whether these new families are relocating from urban core or from small rural communities, there is a strong desire to maintain small town attributes that are attractive to families, but with services and amenities similar to those enjoyed in urban areas. 

Balanced growth must carefully analyze the impact it will have on the designated indicators that sustain a livable community. A prerequisite to balanced growth is to have an informed, focused, progressive, and visionary city government that has strong leadership determined to carry forward community-supported projects. 

This plan addresses the issue of Balanced Growth and the strategies that the City of Indianola must take in order to meet the desired goals and objectives.

Indianola is uniquely situated to provide a community that is attractive, well planned and able to meet its mission.

B. Balanced (Smart) Growth

Balanced growth recognizes connections between development and quality of life. It leverages new growth to improve the community. The features that distinguish smart growth in a community vary from place to place. In general, smart growth invests time, attention, and resources in restoring community and vitality to center cities and older suburbs. 

New smart growth is more town-centered, is transit and pedestrian oriented, and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. It also preserves open space and many other environmental amenities. Successful communities do tend to have one thing in common-a vision of where they want to go and of what things they value in their community-and their plans for development reflect these values.

C. Guiding Principles

Mission Statement:

The mission of the Indianola Strategic Plan is to help the City of Indianola plan for growth and encourage expansion of economic opportunities for its residents while providing essential city services and enabling Indianola to keeps its separate identity and sense of community.

Vision Statement:

The City of Indianola should strive to be a livable cutting edge residential and business community while retaining its small town traditions and charm to preserve its identity in an effort to provide a high quality of life for all of its current and future residents.

Strategic Planning Committee

Chair: Grant Johnson

Subcommittee Co-chairs

Chris Boone
Edie Butler
Cathy Coffman
Sid Corbin
Ardene Downing
Bruce Haddox
Susan Judkins
Dave Moeller
Joe Walt
Dave Zwanziger

Committee Member Participants

Rose Anderson
Jon Benoit
Jay Byers 
Shirley Clark 
Jim Curlee 
Mark Cory 
Grant Dyer 
Sue Evans 
Steve Gray 
Kevin Halterman
Janet Heinecke
Cathy Hladky
Rosemary Hoover
Jerry Kelley
Pat Kelley
Todd Kielkopf
Patti LaGree
Eileen Lenninger
Bob Lester 
Sue Libby
Stacie LoVan
Al Luzum
John Mace
Barb Martsching
Steve McLean
Dave McGowan
Barb McMurry
Peg Mikulanec
Barb Moody
Tom Narak
Nick Nichols
Tim Patterson
Steve Pfeifer
Tim Phillips
Mark Ramthun
Barb Rasko 
Frank Rasko
Bob Sandy
Arlen Schrum
Carol Sinclair 
Frank Spillers
Chuck Tighe
Peg Watson 
Joe Weinman
Jeanne Wells
Nancy Wood 
Jon Vernon

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