
101 Ideas
As we engage in conversations, we genuinely value your input. Over the past several months, we've actively gathered feedback from our community members and diligently documented it. We are confident that this compilation of 101 ideas represents precisely what Bedford requires, and we aspire for these to serve as our guiding principles throughout our four-year term, commencing in January 2024.
HIGHLIGHTS
FULL LIST
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Increase investment in roads and bridges - make Bedford number one in the county in terms of quality of roads
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Create point-to-point rideshare i.e. "Senior Uber"
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Enhance pedestrian and cycling infrastructure
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Establish more parks and green spaces ; increase passive and active recreation areas
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Publish and promote a town-wide trail map
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Develop a community garden
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Publish tree planting plan and share with community members to solicit feedback
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Create a public art program to beautify the town
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Increase public benches and seating areas ; publicize the community for sponsorships
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Reevaluate recycling program and waste reduction - what's working, what's not ; and keep score
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Study water quality including town-wide wells
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Run pop up local farmers markets in hamlets in addition to John Jay Homestead
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Develop and publish specific plans to help local businesses and entrepreneurs
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Establish and promote business incubators and co-working spaces
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Provide financial incentives for businesses to invest in the town and partner with those willing to invest
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Promote and attract visitors to our hamlets
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Create joint historical advisory committee involving all three hamlet organizations
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Amplify Destination 39.3 so that they can continue to organize great festivals and events, showcasing local talent and culture
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Start an Adopt-A-Road program
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Bring high speed Wi-Fi to each hamlet
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Establish a local business association for Bedford Hills ; should not be town-run
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Review town wide public lighting for safety and aesthetics ; where can we improve?
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Re-establish a comprehensive town master plan (a missed opportunity with the existing Town Board)
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Create more affordable housing options for residents after doing an audit and a report to the community
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Implement energy-efficient and sustainable building practices
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Promote green building initiatives and LEED certification ; explain and publicize in addition to talking about cost impacts on residents
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Publish cost benefit analysis for all renewable energy investments ; set payback targets by policy
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Work with local healthcare facilities to establish walk-in or minute clinics in one or more of the hamlets
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Arrange visits from mobile health providers to give access to underserved community members
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Seek out a business to move into the Bedford Hills train station
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Expand physical fitness through recreational programs or closely partner with Northern Westchester Hospital
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Promote expanded use of newly renovated Bedford Hills Community Center ; keep track of progress year over year (a $3.4 million investment needs to pay dividends for the community)
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Develop local vocational training opportunities ; work with the Community Center of Northern Westchester to expand program
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Create dirt roads advisory committee to help improve the quality of our signature dirt road system
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Expand and professionalize our intern and mentorship program for youth
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Promote volunteerism and community service ; recognize contributions at least monthly
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Create 'Volunteer of the Year' award
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Establish a youth council or advisory board ; consider adding high school student as a non-voting Town Board member
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Improve access to and publish available affordable childcare services
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Develop programs for at-risk youth ; work with interfaith council and drug advisory council
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Consider establishing a drug court
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Support local schools and education initiatives - schedule regular joint meetings with KLSD and BCSD to explore areas of common interest
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Establish a library or expand existing library services ; publish town-wide audit of available services
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Partner with Traffic Safety Working Group - continue traffic calming measures to improve road safety ; publish annual report of accomplishments
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Install bike-sharing programs based at Katonah and Bedford Hills train stations
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Embrace and leverage more surveys to encourage resident feedback - everything from traffic and road safety concerns to programming feedback
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Create an inclusive playground for children of all abilities
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Implement a town-wide public safety awareness campaign
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Install security cameras in high-risk areas i.e. train station parking lots
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Measure and improve emergency response times ; publish annually
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Expand senior citizen center programs
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Promote intergenerational activities and events
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Re-energize community theater to facilitate more opportunities as well as use of our newly renovated Community House in Bedford Hills
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Identify and support programs for mental health
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Create a town newsletter or magazine to keep residents informed ; it can be ad-sponsored and expand the reach and communications to the community
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Evaluate street signage for clutter as well as for better wayfinding
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Improve dog park - add water fountains and webcams
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Develop a community sports complex
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Establish a town museum or historical society
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Support Community Center of Northern Westchester efforts in food support ; select liaison to the Town Board who reports quarterly
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Improve town clean-up day - get more community organizations involved beyond Chowder and Marching and KVIS ; study Yorktown's success
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Evaluate town-wide composting program - is it working?
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Audit public charging stations for electric vehicles - are they being used, at what cost?
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Promote hamlet business traffic through online platforms and social media
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Implement a town beautification program
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Consider establishing a loyalty program to support local businesses in conjunction with local chambers
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Improve accessibility for people with disabilities
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Create a town-wide recycling education campaign
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Develop a business retention and expansion program ; track vacancy rate
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Evaluate private vs town-provided garbage/waste collection
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Create a town market for locally produced goods
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Organize neighborhood watch programs ; connect with community via social media for suggestions
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Develop new opportunities for youth recreation
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Establish a community podcast
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Promote water conservation practices and develop metrics for measurement
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Install public art murals and sculptures
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Develop a technology innovation hub
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Establish a town hall or civic center
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Expand walking trails at recently purchased Buxton Gorge
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Implement a citizen feedback system for local government
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Track citizen complains via a trouble ticket system ; provide annual report of results
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Encourage Town Board members and department heads to host office hours that allow residents to schedule time to discuss issues, concerns and feedback
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Simplify the process to make it easier for community members to organize and throw neighborhood block parties
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Re-evaluate rental fees for town-owned buildings (Community House, Bedford Hills Train Station) to encourage residents to keep events in town
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Improve support of local sports teams and leagues ; form youth sports advisory group
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Secure a grant writer who operates on commission to identify and apply for grants that award Bedford with funds
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Establish a town-wide energy-saving challenge (competition between hamlets?)
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Develop a mentorship program for new residents - match each new family with a town official
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Start emergency robo-call system like Mount Kisco
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Publish emergency communications system combining email, social media channels and automated calls
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Develop a new business navigator program that assists new brick & mortar locations in opening and succeeding in Bedford
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Develop a community-based emergency preparedness plan ; involve residents and share results
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Establish a town-wide tree planting initiative
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Consider creating a public lookout point
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Create town sponsored young artist competition ; give annual award/consider scholarship
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Develop a town-wide historical preservation plan that goes beyond our historic building committee
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Install public water fountains in high-traffic areas
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Assign Town Board members as liaisons to community organizations an permitting boards
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Give an 'Entrepreneur of the Year' award to the most successful new business or best idea
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Audit public facilities for disabled individuals such as accessible restrooms and ramps
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Set annual goals at the Town Board level and regularly report on progress (i.e. OKR's)
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Obtain grant funding specifically allocated for improving drainage at the Katonah Pool fields as these frequently remain unusable for days after rainfall, unfairly affecting Little League and Softball programs.