Council hears Vision 2040 engagement plan; consultant to lead 40+ outreach activities with council invited to observe

City staff on Tuesday outlined the engagement plan for a refresh of Coppell’s Vision 2040 strategic plan, saying the effort will include more than 40 public engagement opportunities and return to council for final approval in December.

Tracy Leech, a city staff member leading the refresh effort, told the council the city’s existing strategic plan was accepted in 2019 and that the city has invested more than $75,000,000 in projects and programs since that adoption. “We the current plan that we've been operating under was accepted in 2019,” Leech said. “And since that time, we have made significant progress and investment in support of the plan in excess of $75,000,000.”

Nut graf: The engagement plan, developed with consultant Barry Dunn after an RFP released in January and awarded in February 2025, is designed to capture feedback from a broad cross-section of residents through stakeholder interviews beginning in May, an online social-pinpoint platform, pop-up events, targeted focus groups, an innovative "meeting-in-a-box" kit for community groups, and two larger community forums in the fall. A draft report will come to council in November and staff plans to present the final recommended refresh for approval in December.

Leech explained roles: council members will be invited to be visible observers at engagement events and the city’s staff will act as informational resources to the process while the consultant facilitates many sessions. She said stakeholder interviews will include one-on-one discussions with leaders such as the school superintendent and chamber president. “We will begin the stakeholder interview process in May,” Leech said.

The plan includes a resident satisfaction survey to run over the summer alongside the online engagement tool (social pinpoint) that offers a virtual sticky-note idea wall, forums and an online survey. Leech described “meeting in a box,” a self-facilitated kit that neighborhood groups, clubs or faith congregations can use to host structured input sessions without city staff present.

Council members asked about measures of success and the role of an executive or citizen committee. Several members said they wanted to be able to observe without driving the process; some supported a citizen-led executive committee to preserve independence while keeping council informed. Leech said the city will set expectations for council participation to avoid placing council members in an awkward facilitation role.

Ending: The formal timeline has stakeholder interviews beginning in May, engagement activities running May through October, a draft report to council in November and a final adoption request in December. Staff said they will coordinate timing with the city’s budget and retreat schedule so that near-term priorities can be considered as appropriate.