Committee debates $250,000 request for strategic plan and leadership training; decision delayed

The Budget and Fiscal Advisory Committee considered staff's request for up to $250,000 to update the commission's strategic plan as the body transitions from the Mental Health Services Act to the Behavioral Health Services Act and to provide leadership training for the commission management team.

Brenda Gralich said staff sought a contractor (or contractors) to update the strategic plan and offer leadership training. Commissioners pressed for detail on scope, timing and procurement method. Commissioner Carnivale, who helped lead the prior strategic plan process, said he wanted to be involved in development of solicitations and recommended a broader concept-development approach rather than immediately setting a specific dollar amount and approach.

Several commissioners suggested splitting the work: use one vendor for strategic planning and another for separate leadership training if appropriate. Commissioners also discussed whether the work should proceed under the executive director's delegated authority or via a full competitive RFP; staff said an RFP would take months but that they were seeking proposals to determine the likely cost and procurement path.

Public commenters and commissioners urged clarity on deliverables: whether the update will cover a short transition, a full multi-year strategic plan (for example, a 2026—2030 planning horizon), and how the plan would align with upcoming programmatic shifts. Commissioner Carnivale recommended more internal framing and outreach to inform an RFP.

The committee did not move the $250,000 authorization. Staff indicated they would return with further detail and that the committee could consider separating the leadership training from strategic-plan procurement and pursue a staged approach.