The Oxford City Council outlined its new 2025 comprehensive plans of action for the city in the upcoming year.
The council outlined the changing and continuing priorities of the board the community can expect to see at its Feb. 4 meeting. The plans include implementing phase five of the OATS project, considering zoning changes, increasing code enforcement, such as trash, sustainability practices and snow removal, and continuing to digitize Oxford Cemetery records. The city also will create an economic development strategy plan, build new sidewalks along Locust Street and plan for a new indoor recreational center.
The council accomplished multiple goals for the 2024 year. The levy to get funding from Miami University students to help pay for the fire and EMS department passed. It hired three additional firefighters and paramedics. It filled the additional vacant spots in the department.
Successfully completed changes from the program also included digital reporting of traffic crashes, implementing license recognition cameras, installing new playground equipment at Merry Day Park off College Corner Pike and finalizing grants to start phase five of the OATS project to expand the local trail system, according to the city council’s online tracker.
The council also aimed to incentivize a new mural. The Public Art Commission of Oxford selected former Oxford resident Hannah Webb to complete a commissioned mural under the U.S. Route 27 underpass, which was completed last October.
According to the online tracker, the council successfully accomplished around 17% of its goals.
Some goals weren’t completed, however. The council considered working with Miami University to create an electric vehicle carshare program, but the plan was later considered not viable, according to the tracker. The planned annexation project did not start and new zoning codes have not been made.
Assistant City Manager Jessica Green said the 2025 planning process has been in motion since the beginning of 2024, and after research, the plan was brought to council in June last year. Planned goals were then incorporated into the budget for 2025.
“We’re always looking a year ahead,” Greene said.
Among the ideas the council is considering for its new action plans include utilizing solar in the new water-softening plant, Greene said. The council also considered plans to re-assess transportation in the Mile Square, including stop signs or crosswalks. The council passed the initiative to review the previous plan at the Feb. 4 meeting and will evaluate the new plan in 2025. Councilor David Prytherch introduced the plan made by the Oxford Parking and Transportation Board.
“We have high accident rates,” Prytherch said about the plan. “If we don’t do it this year, every year that passes the more the likelihood the currency of this diminishes.”
The Oxford City Council website will track council goals in the 2025 progress monitor.
