The City Council and staff have been working since November 2013 on a proposed FY 2015-19 Strategic Plan for the City of Billings.  Council Members met in public sessions Nov. 19 and Dec. 16, 2013, with facilitator Dr. James Sipe, and a joint public session with staff and Dr. Sipe on Feb. 8, 2014.  Council also held periodic discussions during public work sessions in February, March and April to review Council and staff suggestions for the document.

The results are goals, objectives and actions planned in eight strategic areas:

• Honest, Responsive Government;
• Comprehensive, Orderly Growth;
• Transportation;
• Sustainable Economic Development;
• Involved, United Community;
• Public Safety;
• Quality of Life; and
• Infrastructure.

Each action has an assigned department or departments responsible for carrying it out and a date by which is  to be completed.

The Council is being asked to hold a public hearing and then adopt the attached FY 2015-19 Strategic Plan.

The Council must hold the public hearing and then may:

• Approve the Strategic Plan as amended;
• Modify the Strategic Plan; or
• Defer action either to another date certain or indefinitely.  Postponing the Strategic Plan indefinitely would have the effect of killing it.

Since the Strategic Plan calls for actions ranging from holding a Public Safety election to acquiring additional property for the landfill, it is anticipated there will be costs each year associated with its implementation.  These will be handled as part of each year's budget.

Dr. Sipe was selected to facilitate the process by a Council subcommittee that reviewed competitive requests for proposals for the work.  The cost for Dr. Sipe to facilitate the process was $22,824, which was budgeted in FY 2014.

Staff recommends approval of the FY 2015-19 Strategic Plan as presented.