Gahanna officials present strategic plan, set public hearing Oct. 20 and council vote Nov. 3

City staff and consultants on Monday presented Gahanna’s draft strategic plan and an accompanying economic development strategy, and said they will ask the full City Council to adopt the plan after a public hearing on Oct. 20 and a council vote on Nov. 3.

Miranda (Senior Director of Administrative Services) opened the presentation, saying, “At the end of today, we will be recommending that council passes a resolution to adopt Gahanna's strategic plan and economic development strategy.” The presentation was led by consultants from Planning Next and two members of the steering committee, and staff said the plan reflects input collected across three rounds of outreach over about a year.

The consultants described the strategic plan as “a long-term framework that outlines a road map for the future,” driven by community input collected through table talks, in-person events and online surveys. Steering committee members said they focused on outreach to bring in underrepresented voices and used personal networks to recruit participants.

City staff and Planning Next reported the engagement metrics: 86 table talks, six in-person large events, pop-up outreach at community gatherings and schools, three online surveys, more than 1,800 participants and more than 9,000 discrete pieces of input. Staff said the city issued more than 29 email blasts, 77 social posts and printed 10,000 project business cards to promote the process.

The plan is organized into two parts: the strategic plan with four goal chapters (elevating unique places; serving the community; connecting the community; celebrating identity) and a separate economic development strategy with three stated goals (strengthen existing industry sectors; identify opportunities for new sectors; deepen an employee-first workforce model). Presenters gave a high-level summary of outcomes and example strategies, such as improving walkability in the Creekside District, embedding the plan in budgeting and departmental work programs, implementing mobility and trail plans, and aligning economic development tools with market opportunities.

Council members asked several follow-ups during the Committee of the Whole. Council President Bowers requested an appendix that aggregates raw engagement data; the consultants agreed they typically include the raw survey and engagement datasets as an appendix and would provide that. Bowers also asked the administration and consultants to produce a total cost summary of the planning effort — consulting fees and direct expenditures such as mailers — so other communities and future councils can understand the “all-in” cost of the process; staff said they would provide that information.

Several council members asked how the strategic plan will be used after adoption. Planning Next described the plan as a “North Star” to guide budgeting, project evaluation and departmental accountability and urged council and staff to reference the plan when making decisions so the plan becomes part of routine processes rather than a document that “sits on a shelf.”

Miranda said the final plan will be professionally printed and that staff requested questions be held until the end of the presentation. The administration placed the draft plan online for review and said it will bring the adoption resolution to council following the scheduled public hearing and the Nov. 3 vote.

The Committee of the Whole did not take a formal vote Monday; staff said they will return the item for the public hearing Oct. 20 and a council vote Nov. 3.