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Sunnyside council backs citywide strategic planning, schedules day‑long retreat
Summary
City manager and a consultant outlined a proposed 20‑year strategic plan and a soccer master plan aimed at economic development and youth engagement; council expressed support and directed staff to schedule a retreat to set priorities.
The Sunnyside City Council on Tuesday discussed a proposed citywide strategic planning process and preliminary work on a soccer master plan intended to guide economic development and youth engagement over the next two decades.
City manager Mike introduced the item and said he has found no evidence of a strategic economic development plan in the past decade. “Strategic planning is about really creating that list of goals that we want. It's about choosing what matters, aligning our limited resources here, and making thoughtful decisions that serve us both today and our residents of the future,” Mike said.
Damien Davis, principal of Davis Consulting, who is working with the city on the soccer master plan, briefed the council on community meetings and early findings. “There is an overarching desire to be able to engage the youth in Sunnyside,” Davis said, and he described underused facilities — including a community center and the pool — and opportunities to link sports facilities to broader economic development.
Councilors asked for cost estimates and for staff to return with options. Several members said they support a full‑day retreat to set council priorities and align the city’s capital planning with the strategic plan. Councilor Frausto, Councilor Hart and others voiced strong support for a living document and for involving stakeholders including the school district, port and local nonprofits.
Capital funding update: Mike told the council the city secured $1.3 million in the state capital budget contingent on final approvals: $515,000 for Tina North Soccer Park, $515,000 for pool infrastructure work and $275,000 for improvements to the gazebo area.
Next steps: Staff and the consultant will continue community outreach and scope the strategic plan work. Council directed the city manager to circulate possible retreat dates; the group discussed early June or late June dates and tentatively targeted June 28 for a Saturday retreat. Staff will return with cost options and a proposed retreat agenda for council approval.
