Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Strategic Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Thornton staff outline draft strategic plan, four focus areas and next steps
Summary
City staff presented draft strategic focus areas, goals and measurement approach for Thornton's forthcoming strategic plan and asked council for feedback; staff said a draft will return for review in August with target adoption in September or October.
City of Thornton staff presented progress on a multi-team strategic planning effort during the council planning session, outlining four strategic focus areas, draft goal themes and the approach to measuring implementation.
The update, led by Rob Colstead and team leads, described work by four cross‑departmental teams that used ecosystem mapping and PESTLE analysis to develop goals and actions. Staff summarized revisions to four draft focus areas — Connected Communities; Vibrant and Purposeful Development; Organizational Excellence; and Safe, Supported, and Livable Communities — and asked council members for reaction to proposed goal themes and phrasing.
Staff said the plan’s structure will cascade from focus areas to goals to actions, and that each level will have measures. Example measures for connected communities included resident survey scores and project milestones; staff said measurement design is still in progress and will be refined as actions are developed. Senior leadership will review goals and draft actions next week; staff intend to bring a refined draft back to council for review in August, with adoption targeted for September or October.
Council members pressed for clarity on several implementation points: how the plan will drive budget and program decisions in 2026 and beyond; how cross‑department collaboration and workforce culture will be reflected in actions; and how measurements should not be constrained by current tools, with council members urging staff to recommend ideal measures even if new resources are required to collect them. Staff said the 2026 budget recommendation will reflect strategic themes where possible and that later budgets (2027 onward) will show more direct ties once actions are adopted.
Staff also described the teams’ process and engagement, including outreach across departments and use of ecosystem maps to surface interdependencies. Several council members emphasized that the plan should be used broadly to align council policy requests, zoning decisions and departmental work plans with adopted priorities.
Staff listed next steps: SLT review next week; organizational feedback; further team refinement of actions and measures; a planned return to council for review in August; and final adoption targeted for September or October. Staff also flagged key budget dates tied to the plan's timing: preliminary budget recommendation on Aug. 19 and first reading of the budget tentatively scheduled for Sept. 23.
The presentation closed with staff agreeing to return with final draft language, proposed measures and an implementation description tying actions to departmental work plans and budgets.
