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Oskaloosa council narrows 2024–26 strategic-plan priorities and asks staff for consolidation
Summary
Councilmembers reviewed survey results on the city’s 2024–2026 strategic plan, directed staff to simplify and consolidate items, and saw a demonstration of strategic-planning software; staff will return with consolidated recommendations at a subsequent meeting.
The Oskaloosa City Council continued work on updating its 2024–2026 strategic plan on June 2, reviewing survey results and a demonstration of planning software staff said should help the council simplify and track priorities.
City manager Sean Metcalfe told the council the plan currently includes 76 strategies; a recent survey of councilmembers showed 42 items the majority wanted retained, 18 items split 50/50, and 16 items suggested for removal. Metcalfe demonstrated the ActionStrategy software that staff has populated with goals, assignments and status indicators to help the council visualize progress and prioritize work.
Nut graf: The council spent much of the discussion on strategies that split the vote, seeking to consolidate overlapping items (for example, multiple downtown-related initiatives that staff said are already contained in the downtown master plan). Councilmembers and staff identified several items they considered city-led versus those better handled by partner organizations such as the Chamber or Main Street.
Councilmembers agreed staff should return with a tightened list: items the council wants to keep, consolidated language for split items and proposed removals. Examples discussed included implementing downtown outreach and event strategies (likely to be coordinated with the Chamber/Main Street), curb-appeal and gateway projects, certified-site marketing with a five-year review term, broadband access initiatives carried out countywide, and targeted workforce/compensation reviews for city staffing.
The council did not adopt a final version at the meeting; Metcalfe said staff will present consolidation suggestions and further edits at the next council meeting.
Ending: The strategic-plan software demonstration was intended to improve transparency and tracking; the council asked staff to pare down the list and return with clearer, measurable goals for council review.
