Discussion 2026 Strategic Planning Session Structure

Annually, the City Council and staff meet to review progress of the prior year strategic plan and to establish new goals for the upcoming year.  The session is typically conducted over a special work session, and then a follow-up regularly scheduled work session.  Looking back over the last several years, a large portion of the planning session is dedicated to a reflection activity on how the city is doing, along with identifying opportunities and impacts in the coming years.  Much of the reflection activity results remain consistent from year to year.

Given the consistency experienced in recent years, and the upcoming work session topics schedule, staff would like input from the council on a slight change to the 2026 Strategic Planning structure.  An option for consideration would be for staff to meet during normal business hours to complete much of the strategic planning activities, and then present the results to the City Council to finalize the plan during our March and April regularly scheduled work sessions.  The City Council would be provided opportunities to adjust the content of the plan as neccessary.  This option would eliminate a special work session.

Conduct the 2026 Strategic Planning Sessions at the staff level with review and final adjustments by City Council at regularly scheduled work sessions.

Provide consensus direction on 2026 Strategic Planning Sessions structure.