NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — City Manager Alan Archer invited Newport News residents to an interactive strategic-planning event on Saturday, Nov. 1, at the Denbigh Community Center. The city is hosting a drop-in session from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. where residents can share priorities and ideas to help shape the municipal strategic plan.

Why it matters: The strategic plan guides the city's priorities and budget decisions over multiple years; staff said resident input will inform goals and workplans.

What the city said

Alan Archer, city manager, told council that staff and council will be on hand and that the communications office will distribute additional information in the weeks ahead. Archer said the event is intended to give residents a direct role in setting priorities and to collect neighborhood-level feedback for the next strategic plan.

How to participate

The event is a drop-in format from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Denbigh Community Center; additional details will be posted by the city's communications office ahead of the Nov. 1 date.

Ending: The city framed the session as an opportunity for residents to “help shape the direction of our next strategic plan” and encouraged broad participation.