Strategic Plan Dashboard

Vision Statement

Perceptions of public safety, whether they are real or perceived, impact the way people feel and interact in the community. Public safety is not just about injury prevention and crime prevention; it is about building a strong, cohesive, vibrant, participatory City. Individuals and families enjoy a sustained quality of life, participation in work, leisure, social, cultural, artistic and educational activities, and preservation of income and assets. A safe community embraces a methodology and infrastructure where all sectors of the community work together collaboratively to safeguard citizens' well-being and property. Our vision of the City involves the following aspects.

Emergency Management: The City has a robust emergency management capability that adequately:

foresees and plans for natural and human-made disasters;
prepares for these events and provides advanced warning and guidance to residents, businesses, and other partners. This also includes training for, and having the necessary equipment, facilities, supplies, and partnerships available to respond to disasters;
responds to disasters to effectively reduce the risk to life and property;
Facilitates recovery from disasters such that the community it able to return to normal as soon as possible. This includes psychological recovery from the impacts of disasters;
mitigation steps are taken in advance of and during disasters to reduce the impacts of known or disasters that are likely to impact the City.

Code Enforcement: The City has adequate life safety codes that reduce the risk of injury or death and protect property. The City effectively educates the public regarding these regulations and takes proactive steps to address violations.

Crime Prevention and Response: The City takes proactive steps to reduce the amount of, severity of, and the impacts of crime. Residents and visitors in the City have a quality of life and can pursue and obtain the fullest benefits from their domestic, social, and economic lives without fear or hindrance from crime and disorder. The City is able to respond to criminal incidents proactively, quickly and effectively. The City is able to respond to hate crimes proactively, quickly, and effectively in coordination with the NH Department of Justice.

Domestic and Sexual Violence: The City in partnership with other entities leads efforts to protect and assist victims of sexual, domestic and gender based violence.

Cyber Security: The City’s cyber infrastructure and protected information are secure from hacking, damage, or destruction, and other disruptions.

Traffic Safety: The City takes a multi-pronged approach to addressing safety on City streets, sidewalks, greenways, and rail trails. Proactive steps are taken to minimize motor vehicle accidents and accidents involving bicycles and other wheeled vehicles. A number of strategies are used to enhance pedestrian safety, with the goal of zero pedestrian accidents.

Fire Prevention and Suppression: The City implements strategies to prevent death, injuries and damage to property from the impacts of fire. The fire department has adequate resources and strategies to respond to fires to save lives and minimize damage to property.

Responsible Groups

City Departments

Cyber Services Fire Planning and Development Police Public Works Recreation, Arts, and Parks

Boards and Committees

Lebanon Energy Advisory Committee Pedestrian and Bicyclist Advisory Committee Planning Board

Community Partners

SAU88

Strategic Objectives

Primary objectives under this strategic theme

6.1 Enhance Emergency Management capability regarding Planning for, Preparing for, Responding to, Recovery from and Mitigation of Disasters.

6.1.1 Provide all City employees with ICS training which aligns with emergency support function (ESF) specific responsibilities.

100% of division leaders and managers receive ICS 300 training.

100% of all employees have received ICS 100, 200 and 700 training.

6.1.2 Develop and facilitate annual city-wide training for emergency management including annual drills that effectively exercise all Emergency Staff Functions (ESFs) of the Emergency Operations Center.

Conduct one citywide emergency management drill annually.

6.1.3 Continuously review and update city-wide emergency operations plan and implement corrective actions where operational and preparedness gaps are identified.

Develop a self-sustainable shelter plan to include a deployable shelter trailer and MOU's with external assets for resource allocation during disaster response.

Develop a Continuity of Operations/Government Plan to ensure government operations in the event of a catastrophe.

6.1.4 Review and update the Community Facilities and Services chapter of the Master Plan.

Develop a Chapter update process with a City wide working group with support from Planning and DPW staff

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6.2 Enhance Code Enforcement efforts.

6.2.1 Increase inspectional activities common areas in multi-unit apartment buildings to ensure public safety. Occupancy selection will be identified through a risk analysis process.

100% of inspections completed in high-life hazard multi-unit apartments.

6.2.2 Provide initial inspection and follow up inspections for all place of assemblies.

100% of all open inspection violations will be closed within 12 months of initial notice

100% of all places of assembly permits are inspected annually.

6.2.3 Increase code Enforcement efforts with a clear pathway to permitting with the adoption of OpenGov software. Develop the software tools to integrate interoperable Code review and approval between applicable Departments.

Lower the number of incomplete or late permit applications.

6.2.4 Staff code Enforcement efforts with trained staff members. Enhance our interdepartmental cooperation with Planning, Fire, and Legal resources focused on compliance efforts.

Bring compliance efforts to the forefront of support staff and inspector's duties. Raise the level of interdepartmental coordination on complex Enforcement cases.

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6.3 Maintain a proactive Traffic Safety Program.

6.3.1 Generate monthly hotspot reports on motor vehicle collisions and motor vehicle violations.

Reduce traffic collisions by another 1% per capita by using DDACTS and hotspot data to concentrate on problem areas, with the ultimate goal of declining the number of fatal and serious injury crashes.

6.3.2 Employ interactive speed signs as a traffic calming measure.

Continue to deploy interactive speed signs to collect data for future analysis for traffic calming measures and work with other City departments to identify safety concerns and solutions.

6.3.3 Have a Full-Time Traffic Enforcement Officer.

As LPD staffing levels improve, we will evaluate dedicating a full-time Traffic Enforcement Officer. Staffing levels have not allowed us to fill this position.

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6.4 Maintain a proactive Crime Prevention and Response Program.

6.4.1 Utilize Problem Oriented Policing (POP) to identify community problems and implement interventions designed to solve the problem and improve the quality of life for residents, community members, and other stakeholders.

Have additional Officers in locations that are at risk for shoplifting and other retail crime by increasing our foot patrols of these areas by 5%. In 2024, foot patrols increased by 7.6%. In 2023, there were 710 foot patrols and in 2024, there were 764 foot patrols.

Identify quality of life and other community problems utilizing the Problem Oriented Policing method. Devise strategies to solve or mitigate these problems. Maintain data points for measurement.

6.4.2 Continue to maintain anonymous reporting, such as phone and online.

Anonymous Reporting

6.4.3 Continue to engage area media outlets with press releases to inform the public and promote transparency.

Continue to explore citizen engagement software. Set up demonstrations for potential software purchases in the next year.

6.4.4 Utilize the most advanced technology for crime prevention and detection.

Continue to explore expanding City video surveillance systems on City owned property.

Continue to expand the use of the Drone Program by getting more Officers certified so that the drone is available on all shifts. In 2024, a second drone was added, which greatly increases our resources that are available for search and rescue and public safety related matters.

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6.5 Maintain an effective Fire Prevention effort and Fire Suppression capability.

6.5.1 Improve public education and fire safety programs for kindergarten through 2nd grade students.

100% of all kindergarten through 2nd grade students in Lebanon will receive fire safety education.

6.5.2 Increase security of fire alarm system through research.

Determine a funding plan to replace the current municipal fire alarm circuit with a radio box system.

6.5.3 Provide high quality accessible facilities for employees, new station construction to support a full facility department plan.

Increased space for equipment, apparatus storage and additional employee workspace and separation of contaminated equipment storage and clean space.

6.5.4 Implement employee safety and wellness program.

Develop a comprehensive psychological and physical wellness program for first responders.

100% of Fire Department employees participating in physical and mental wellness programs.

All Fire Department employees are undergoing annual occupational cancer screenings.

6.5.5 Hire new staffing to meet community needs and national response standards.

Meet emergency response requirements based on National Standards. Arrival of a fire engine staffed with 4 personnel to all fire calls in less than 6 minutes from the time of call no less than 90% of the time.

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6.6 Enhance multi-modal transportation safety through prevention, education, enforcement and infrastructure improvements.

6.6.1 Rely on community-based crime prevention by utilizing education and a variety of other programs and partnerships that aren't solely focused on police patrols.

Maintain participation in the New Hampshire Highway Safety Traffic Grant Programs.

Have designated assigned patrols during appropriate seasons to the rail trails, greenway, and other high traffic pedestrian areas.

6.6.2 Public education on pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Take Part in Educational Programs as They Are Available

Take part in Walk and Bike to School Program in the Spring and Fall

6.6.3 Work toward a long-term goal of reaching zero roadway fatalities and serious injuries within Lebanon. Develop a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan with funding from the Federal Department of Transportation Safe Streets and Roads for all Planning and Demonstration Grant. Include within the scope of the Plan the development of an ADA action plan.

Develop scope and apply for a Safe Streets for All Planning and Demonstration grant during the 2024 funding cycle.

6.6.4 Implement Complete Streets policy through interdepartmental review and implementation in applicable city infrastructure projects.

PBAC to update the Complete Streets Policy over the course of 2024.

Amend Site Plan and Subdivision Regulations for consistency with updated Complete Streets Policy.

6.6.5 Renew Lebanon's Bike friendly community designation.

Gather information needed for application from various departments.

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6.7 Enhance the City government's cyber security posture to minimize impact on city services. Enhance the Police Department's ability to prevent, investigate and prosecute cybercrimes that impact businesses and residents.

6.7.1 Enhance Cyber Crime Unit Capabilities

Add a full-time computer forensic position.

Continue to provide up-to-date training for Cyber Crimes Officers and by adding 2 additional Officers.

6.7.2 Conduct computer forensic analysis in accordance with industry best practice.

Continue to ensure the Police Department has the most up to date hardware and software needed to properly investigate cyber crimes.

6.7.3 Conduct community engagement awareness to educate residents and businesses on cyber related offenses.

Continue to develop and teach cyber safety programs in Lebanon Schools, senior citizen gathering places, and by holding quarterly forums.

6.7.4 Continue to enhance the city's Cyber Security Posture.

Continue 3rd party review os systems

Create a Cyber Security tabletop exercise for city departments

Create a formal Cyber Security training program.

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Emergency Management: The City has a robust emergency management capability that adequately:

foresees and plans for natural and human-made disasters;
prepares for these events and provides advanced warning and guidance to residents, businesses, and other partners. This also includes training for, and having the necessary equipment, facilities, supplies, and partnerships available to respond to disasters;
responds to disasters to effectively reduce the risk to life and property;
Facilitates recovery from disasters such that the community it able to return to normal as soon as possible. This includes psychological recovery from the impacts of disasters;
mitigation steps are taken in advance of and during disasters to reduce the impacts of known or disasters that are likely to impact the City.

Domestic and Sexual Violence: The City in partnership with other entities leads efforts to protect and assist victims of sexual, domestic and gender based violence.

Cyber Security: The City’s cyber infrastructure and protected information are secure from hacking, damage, or destruction, and other disruptions.

Public Safety

Vision Statement

Responsible Groups

City Departments

Boards and Committees

Community Partners

Strategic Objectives

6.1 Enhance Emergency Management capability regarding Planning for, Preparing for, Responding to, Recovery from and Mitigation of Disasters.

6.2 Enhance Code Enforcement efforts.

6.3 Maintain a proactive Traffic Safety Program.

6.4 Maintain a proactive Crime Prevention and Response Program.

6.5 Maintain an effective Fire Prevention effort and Fire Suppression capability.

6.6 Enhance multi-modal transportation safety through prevention, education, enforcement and infrastructure improvements.

6.7 Enhance the City government's cyber security posture to minimize impact on city services. Enhance the Police Department's ability to prevent, investigate and prosecute cybercrimes that impact businesses and residents.