In 1999, the county adopted Platte Profile 2020, a citizen-led long range strategic plan for the community. Included below is a description of the group, the successes of their work, and how Profile 2020 will be used in this current initiative.

Background
Because of exploding and prosperous growth in the area, the Platte County Commission recognized the need for a long-range vision and plan of action in the late 1990s. The county initiated Platte Profile 2020; more than 25 volunteers answered the call to serve on the Citizen Planning Team (CPT) and many others worked as focus group members in developing the current goals and action plan.

Like the current process, the previous initiative was centered on the work of its focus groups. The groups developed strategic recommendations for eight policy areas, which came to be the goals pursued by the county in the ensuing decade.

Platte Profile 2020 is organized into the following eight topic areas:

• Growth patterns
• Economic development
• Transportation
• Infrastructure
• Parks & recreation
• Public safety
• Human services
• Citizen participation

Successes
The reason for this follow-up strategic plan is the notable success of the original plan. Platte Profile 2020 resulted in numerous goals and recommendations being met, and the county has experienced positive outcomes from it. A few of the plan’s achievements are included below.

• Creation of the Parks & Recreation Department, which now oversees 10 parks and recreation facilities throughout the county
  • Department based on the Parks & Recreation Master Plan
  • Voters approved a Parks & Recreation sales tax in 2000 to fund the new department
• Completion of numerous road and bridge projects that have improved the area’s transportation and allowed it to become an accessible business hub
  • Roads Master Plan developed from the plan’s recommendations
  • Voters approved a Transportation sales tax in 2003-2004

Role in New Process
Platte Profile 2020 will provide a starting point to the new plan, as it can be used to view past goals and to assess the progress made by the county since its adoption.