College Place reviews draft 10-year strategic plan, sets priorities for implementation

College Place City Council workshop presenter Mr. Ratkay reviewed a draft strategic plan on Jan. 7 that proposes five priorities and accompanying goals to guide city policy and operations for the next 10 years.

The plan, Mr. Ratkay said, is built from a public engagement process that included a bilingual survey with 124 respondents and 21 stakeholder interviews; it condenses earlier language into a shorter mission and vision and frames objectives under five priorities: connected, fun, resilient, safe and affordable communities. “The mission statement … is building a safe, affordable, and connected community where everyone thrives with vibrant spaces, resilient growth, and shared experiences,” he read into the record.

Why it matters: the strategic plan is intended to set policy-level direction for budgeting, capital projects and staffing. Mr. Ratkay told council the document is at the end of phase three and, if adopted, staff will translate goals into 30-, 60- and 90-day implementation projects and longer-term workplans. He said an adoption hearing is tentatively scheduled for the next council meeting.

Key details from the presentation - Outreach and research: 124 survey responses (English and Spanish) and 21 stakeholder interviews with staff, community members, business leaders and representatives from Walla Walla University. - Structure: five priorities (connected, fun, resilient, safe, affordable) with goals and measurable objectives under each priority (examples discussed included improving digital communications, partnerships with schools and the university, sidewalk and infrastructure maintenance, emergency preparedness and policies to encourage affordable housing). - Mission and vision: presenters condensed earlier long statements into a shorter mission and a compressed vision intended to be easier for residents to read and understand. - Next steps and timeline: Mr. Ratkay said staff will finalize text edits, provide a final document to the city, and work with department heads on implementation; some projects may begin immediately while others could start in later years.

Council reaction and implementation questions Council members broadly praised the plan’s readability and alignment with earlier workshops. Council member Cleveland said the document “does really seem to reflect the discussions that we had” and highlighted the limits of local control over some outcomes. Council member Espinosa said the plan “translated the voice of the people” into priorities. Council members and staff discussed timing for detailed budget work tied to the FY 2026 budget cycle; staff said financial constraints will influence which objectives can be advanced in year one and suggested a deeper fiscal review during budget development.

Staff and implementation considerations City staff and council members emphasized several implementation needs raised during the workshop: clearer communication plans (including Spanish-language outreach), partnerships with Walla Walla University and local schools to leverage student talent and youth engagement, addressing water-supply constraints tied to future housing growth, and coordinating countywide planning policies to support reasonable urban growth areas.

What’s next Mr. Ratkay and city staff will finalize edits and submit the plan for an adoption hearing next week; if adopted, staff will work with department leads to set short-term projects and a schedule for annual reviews.

Ending Council members and staff closed the discussion by congratulating the consultant and city team on producing a concise, readable plan; several said the document will be a public-facing guide for residents and staff once finalized and adopted.