Lake City council adopts Sarafin strategic‑planning contract after presentation

Lake City — The Lake City Council on a unanimous vote adopted resolution 2025‑016 to approve and implement a strategic plan development process proposal prepared by Sarafin and Associates Inc.

The vendor presented an overview of its scope and methods before the council and answered questions about scope and legal compliance. The proposal, which council members described as a framework for 3‑, 5‑ and 10‑year goals, lists focus areas including economic development, affordable housing, public safety and community engagement.

Colleen Dudgeon, senior vice president at Sarafin and Associates, described the firm's services: communications strategy, crisis planning, digital and social media work, message development, coalition building and event support. She told council members the firm recently merged with Mercury Strategic Communications and said the combined company has offices in Tampa and Fort Lauderdale that could support the engagement.

Councilman Jernigan asked whether the firm would work with Columbia County as part of the project; Dudgeon said the firm would “start out looking at what are the goals here” and explore how county and city relationships could be structured to benefit both jurisdictions. Jernigan also asked whether the firm was aware of Florida’s public‑meeting laws; Dudgeon said she was aware of the law that requires certain meetings be open to the public.

After brief discussion, a motion to adopt resolution 2025‑016 passed by roll call. The official vote recorded: Mister Dardia — yes; Mister Carter — yes; Miss Johnson — yes; Miss Harris — yes; Mayor Walker — yes. The resolution directs the city manager to implement the strategic plan development process proposed by Sarafin and Associates.

The council did not specify a budget or timeline in the motion. The resolution language directs staff to carry out the proposal and to return with implementation steps as appropriate.