First 100 Days

Fix the Basics - Build the Future

Day 1–30:

Stand‑up + Quick Wins

  • Launch the 100‑Day Tracker

  • Permits & Inspections “Sprint”

  • Housing Pipeline Kickoff

  • Clean & Green: Corridor Starts

  • Open‑Book City Hall

Day 31–60:

Policy & Capacity

  • Zoning Modernization Package (introduce to Council)

  • Speed + Predictability on Development

  • Business One‑Stop & Shovel‑Ready Sites

  • Fiscal Guardrails

Day 61–100:

Delivery & Measurables

  • Neighborhood Housing Delivery

  • Corridor & Downtown Visible Gains

  • Transparency That Sticks

How You’ll Know It’s Working:

100‑Day Scorecard

  • Homes & Neighborhoods

  • Shine & Compete

  • Open‑Book City Hall

The Three Pillars

Homes & Neighborhoods • Shine & Compete • Open‑Book City Hall

First 100 Days: Summarized

Day 1–30:

Stand‑up + Quick Wins

Launch the 100‑Day Tracker

  • Publish an online dashboard with weekly progress: permits, projects, budgets, meetings.

Permits & Inspections “Sprint”

  • Map the current e‑permitting flow end‑to‑end; publish a simple builder/rehabber checklist (what to submit, how long it takes, who to call).

  • Rapid interdepartmental routing of new applications with targeted completion of 7 days or less.

  • Monthly roundtables with contractors, landlords, tenants, and neighborhood representatives. 

Housing Pipeline Kickoff

  • Issue a Mayor’s Housing Call: invite infill/ADU, townhome, and adaptive‑reuse proposals that meet clear design rules; assign a single point of contact.

  • Identify 25–50 vacant/under‑used parcels and at least 50 idle units for rehab; start a “bring‑it‑back” incentive involving community housing partners and private development.   

  • Convene Idaho Housing & Finance + local lenders + stakeholders + nonprofits + developers + private businesses to scope LIHTC, HOME, and down‑payment assistance deals for 2026 starts.

  • Lead outreach to Idaho State Government to take action on housing loopholes. 

Clean & Green: Corridor Starts

  • Pick two corridors (e.g., Yellowstone/Clark & 5th/Arthur). Start with litter, lighting fixes, trees, temporary art, crosswalk refresh, and storefront mini‑grants.

  • Announce 3–5 gateway projects and a citywide Spring/Fall Cleanup schedule with neighborhood pride micro‑grants.

  • Full review of property maintenance code with assistance from neighborhood leaders & small business owners.  Develop a timeline to implement changes.  Shift staffing resources to accommodate changes where extra support is needed. 

Open‑Book City Hall

  • Post an easy‑read budget explainer; link all financial reports in one place, with a convenient dashboard, instead of burying them in the consent agenda.

  • Public comment period at the front of all council meeting agendas:  Opportunity to express comments about anything that’s on your mind with equal time.

  • Bring public comment rules to a standard: one opportunity per regular meeting with equal time for council/mayor to acknowledge the comment. Pursue a “virtual” option for public comment via writing or video call. 

  • Livestream/record all major boards and commissions; publish a monthly meeting calendar and links in one hub.

Day 31–60:

Policy & Capacity

Zoning Modernization Package (introduce to Council)

  • Share information with housing developers regarding the recent 2021 adoption of more flexible zoning codes related to infill development regarding smaller lot sizes, reduced setbacks, etc.  

  • Enable townhomes/duplexes in more districts; adopt adaptive‑reuse by right in commercial corridors with clear form/design.

Speed + Predictability on Development

  • 10‑Day target for simple permits; 30‑Day target for standard site plans/plat reviews when submittals are complete.

  • Publish service‑level agreements (SLAs) for every step and update the queue weekly.

Business One‑Stop & Shovel‑Ready Sites

  • Stand up a one‑stop desk (permits, utilities, fire, planning) with a single case manager for job‑creating projects.

  • Inventory city‑controlled and private “shovel‑ready” sites; clarify utility capacity and off‑site needs; pre‑permit common tenant improvements downtown.

  • Design and implement a yearly survey of businesses and their experience doing business in Pocatello. 

Fiscal Guardrails

  • Kick off priority‑based budgeting; freeze non‑essential discretionary growth pending the FY budget; set reserve targets.

  • Open procurement calendar and start posting active/awarded contracts in a searchable list.

Day 61–100:

Delivery & Measurables

Neighborhood Housing Delivery

  • Approve the first wave of by‑right infill/ADU/townhome projects that meet the checklist.

Corridor & Downtown Visible Gains

  • Complete phase‑one Clean & Green upgrades on the first two corridors; announce phases 2–3 with financing roadmap.

  • Pilot 5–10 façade/tenant‑improvement mini‑grants; track private dollars leveraged.

Transparency That Sticks

  • Go live with the first version of the interactive budget and project dashboards; add a monthly “Mayor’s Minute” recap and quarterly town halls.

  • Publish a readable Capital Plan: project list, costs, timelines, and status badges (on‑time/on‑budget/at‑risk).

How You’ll Know It’s Working

(100‑Day Scorecard)

Homes & Neighborhoods

  • Building permits issued; plan review on‑time rate; inspections on‑time rate

  • Vacancy rate;  rent growth flat/declining; owner‑occupancy trend

  • Rehab starts/completions; idle units returned to service

Shine & Compete

  • Storefront occupancy; new business starts; private capital invested

  • Corridor “before/after” safety/cleanliness inspections; median wages (tracked quarterly)

Open‑Book City Hall

  • Dashboard views; participation in town halls; on‑time/on‑budget project share

  • Clean external audit; timely claims/cash reports; fewer public records backlogs

Notes on Roles & Approvals

  • Administrative (Day 1–100): dashboards, service standards/SLA, one‑stop desk, inspections cadence, cleanup/corridor maintenance, procurement calendar.

  • Council Action (introduce in 31–60 window): zoning text amendments (ADU/small‑lot/townhome/adaptive‑reuse), budget/appropriations for grants and capital, corridor/gateway CIP.

  • Partner‑Led: LIHTC/HOME/CDBG projects with Idaho Housing & Finance, lenders, nonprofits, and private owners.

Please reach out to me if you have any questions.

- Mark Dahlquist
Candidate for Mayor of Pocatello

Mark@MarkforPocatello.com

(208)705-8402

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