Garner launches strategic‑plan refresh to guide priorities, benchmarks and accountability through 2026

The Town of Garner presented a framework on Oct. 7 to refresh its strategic plan with a goal of updating priorities and creating a measurable, accountable implementation system for the next five years.

Assistant Town Manager Matt Pope told the council the refresh will collect existing plans and studies, engage staff and the public, and develop five to seven SMART objectives to drive annual budgets and performance monitoring. "A strategic plan should be a driver of each fiscal year's budget," Pope said. He described a phased timeline: information gathering (already under way), plan development and a rollout that includes public benchmarking and monitoring.

Staff said the process will use multiple engagement methods — in‑person workshops, virtual options and surveys — and will repeat the National Community Survey to create benchmarks for tracking progress. Strategy and Innovation Manager Ms. Howell is leading the survey work, which staff said they plan to administer toward the end of the calendar year so results can be incorporated into the plan development in early 2026.

Pope emphasized accountability and the need for a living document with a standing monitoring process: "There needs to be a system to monitor this," he said, noting other town departments have used quarterly review systems as a model. Councilmembers praised the emphasis on measurable objectives and community engagement and encouraged staff to continue stakeholder conversations as the process proceeds.

Staff said they plan to return with draft content for council review and to present a proposed plan for adoption in 2026. The town communications team will prepare a public rollout to keep residents and partners informed as the plan moves from draft to adoption and implementation.