Council adopts strategic planning steps, approves member travel to Rx Summit

Council staff briefed members on a new strategic plan and the office’s priorities and the council approved limited travel for members to an annual drug-policy conference.

Sean walked the council through a strategic plan developed by staff that organizes work into four categories: operational rebuilding and efficiency, community engagement and transparency, team engagement and professional development, and programmatic accountability. Examples include a community grant manual, expanded transparency materials and a community advocacy panel.

Separately, the council voted to approve sending two council members to the Rx & Illicit Drug Summit planned for April 2026 in Nashville, authorizing staff to register attendees at early-bird rates. Council members discussed whether to expand the number of attendees if demand from members is high; staff said they would return with options if more than two members requested travel support.

The council also agreed to extend meeting time for future funding deliberations (a motion was approved to make the next funding meeting a six-hour session split across the day) to avoid hurried votes. Staff said the strategic plan and timeline materials were distributed before the meeting and will appear in future briefing materials.

Council members recommended the transparency and community-facing materials be fast-tracked and encouraged staff to proceed with the plan as written.