Encinitas council reviews draft 2025 annual objectives, schedules follow-up

The Encinitas City Council, meeting jointly with the Santa Gita Water District, reviewed a draft 2025 strategic plan framed as annual objectives on a single-agenda-item session that focused on six citywide focus areas and measurable objectives for the coming fiscal year.

City Manager Campbell presented the draft objectives, saying staff organized council and public input from a February workshop into six focus areas and proposed 1–3 objectives per goal intended to be achievable inside a fiscal year. The presentation asked council for feedback on priorities, measurable timelines, and lead departments to build a public dashboard and quarterly review process.

Council members pressed staff to integrate capital projects—such as quiet zones, grade-crossing work, fire-station planning and pavement repairs—into the annual objectives so the document reflects competing budget and staff priorities. Multiple council members said they want objectives to be specific, measurable and phased with interim quarterly milestones rather than open-ended “continue” statements. Staff indicated they will add lead departments, timelines and estimated budget implications and will publish a dashboard on the city website so the public can track progress.

Next steps: staff will update the draft to reflect council feedback and return to a special meeting at 4 p.m. on April 9 for finalization ahead of the budget process. Council also agreed to change the item title from “strategic plan” to “annual objectives.”