A c t i o n P l a n
ACTION PLAN
TECHNICAL TWINNING PROGRAM FOR TECHNICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN:
MUNICIPALITY OF DOBRICH, BULGARIA
and
CITY OF SPOKANE, USA
INTRODUCTION:
In order to implement the activities described in the Memorandum of Understanding, the Municipality of Dobrich, Bulgaria and the City of Spokane, Washington have agreed to the following three-point strategy. This will serve as a framework for the on-going relationship between the two cities. The Action Plan looks at both short-term and long-term goals. The short-term objectives are the item that can be successfully accomplished in the next seven months. The long-term goals will take the relationship forward into the future.
The major points of this strategy, in priority, are as follows:
- Economic Development
- Infrastructure Management and Planning
- Citizen Participation
SHORT-TERM GOALS (Seven-Month Strategies)
- Economic Development
Goal: Improve economic development planning and activities through the establishment of a coordinating authority.
Action Steps:
- Identify key economic development stakeholders within each community and establish communication channels.
- Exchange materials on Spokane Regional Business Center with Dobrich.
- Economic Development expert from Dobrich gains first hand knowledge about the joint efforts of counterpart organizations in Spokane.
- Workshop on collaborative economic development strategies to be held in Dobrich.
- Obtain formal commitment from stakeholders to participate in collaborative activities/define the function of the body and its members.
- Establish a formal body to coordinate economic development efforts (appoint governing board)
- Begin Economic Development 2000 planning process.
Time Frame:
March 1999 - Identify key economic stakeholders/establish communications.
March 1999 - Exchange technical materials.
April 1999 - Economic Development experts from Dobrich to Spokane
May 1999 - Workshop to be held in Dobrich
June 1999 - Obtain commitment from stakeholders/define functions of the body.
June 1999 - Establish a formal body.
July 1999 - Begin Economic Development 2000 planning process.
Participants:
- Toshko Stoev, Executive Director, Regional Agency for Economic Development and Investments.
- Representative of Spokane Chamber of Comerce
- Mayor Lachezar Rossenov, President of Dobrich Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Bill Pupo, City Manager, City of Spokane
Projected Outcomes:
- More effective and collaborative activities for the economic development of the region.
- Creating an environment for public/private partnership.
- Clearer identification of community assets for business attraction.
- Infrastructure Management and Planning
Goal: To improve the infrastructure management and planning through a Capital Improvement Planning (CIP) process.
Action Steps:
- Exchange of capital planning information from Spokane to Dobrich.
- Identify key infrastructure experts in Dobrich.
- Infrastructure expert from Dobrich reviews CIP information with counterparts in Spokane.
- Dobrich infrastructure experts prepare data for needs assessment.
- Spokane operations expert performs needs assessment with Dobrich experts.
- Prioritize infrastructure needs.
- Identify possible funding sources for and impacts of infrastructure priorities.
- Prepare outline of methodology for future CIP process.
- Finalize methodology for CIP in Dobrich.
Time Frame:
March 1999 - Exchange of capital planning information.
March 1999 - Identify key infrastructure experts.
April 1999 - Infrastructure expert from Dobrich in Spokane.
April 1999 - Dobrich infrastructure experts prepare data for needs assessment.
May 1999 - Performs needs assessment.
May 1999 - Prioritize infrastructure needs.
May 1999 - Identify possible funding sources/impacts of infrastructure priorities.
May 1999 - Prepare outline of methodology for future CIP process.
September 1999 - Finalize methodology for CIP in Dobrich.
Participants:
- Milen Chalakov, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Dobrich
- Nicholas Dragisich, Assistant City Manager for Operations, City of Spokane
- Dimo Ivanov, Chair, Municipal Council, Municipality of Dobrich
- Bill Pupo, City Manager, City of Spokane
Projected Outcomes:
- On-going process for capital improvement planning and management established.
- Clearer understanding of resource requirements to fund capital improvements.
- Citizen Participation
Goal: Develop a conceptual model for establishing neighborhood community centers.
Action Steps:
- Exchange information on citizen participation strategies and community center models from Spokane.
- Define and convene key stakeholders to act, as coordinating board for citizen needs assessment process.
- Representative from Dobrich to gain first hand knowledge of Spokane s citizen participation and community center models.
- Hold workshop with civic organizations and community leadership in Dobrich regarding community needs and potential solutions.
- Create a steering committee for development of a community center model in Dobrich.
- Present draft model to citizen through public process.
- Finalize model incorporating citizen comments and input.
Time Frame:
March 1999 - Exchange information on citizen participation/community center models.
March 1999 - Define and convene key stakeholders.
April 1999 - Representative from Dobrich to Spokane.
May 1999 - Hold workshop regarding community needs in Dobrich.
June 1999 - Create a steering committee.
July/August 1999 - Present draft model to citizen through public process.
September 1999 - Finalize model incorporating citizens comments and input.
Participants:
- Assya Georgieva, Municipality of Dobrich
- Molly Myers, Director of Neighborhood Services, City of Spokane
- Lubomir Sivkov, Deputy Mayor, Municipality of Dobrich
Projected Outcomes:
- Increased citizen access into municipal service delivery decisions.
LONG TERM GOALS:(Strategies for Beyond September 1999)
- Encourage exchange between the business and agricultural sectors in Dobrich and Spokane, through attendance at fairs and other international events, and sustained contact between Chamber of Commerce and other support organizations.
- Encourage the development of cultural, educational, environmental and youth development institutions of both communities through electronic communication and participation in competitions and festivals.
Through these short and long-term efforts, the Municipality of Dobrich and the City of Spokane will gain mutual benefit from this professional and technical cooperation. Therefore, both communities will endeavor to continue its collaboration beyond the USAID supported period of their relationship.
Agreed on this, the 5th day of March 1999, in Spokane, WA
