Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Strategic Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Maplewood council adopts 2026'28 strategic priorities emphasizing safety, sustainability and development
Summary
The Maplewood City Council on Aug. 11 approved the 2026'28 strategic priorities and focus areas, endorsed a set of performance measures (see packet pages 60'64) and asked staff to link the plan to upcoming budget presentations and the Sept. 8 preliminary levy process.
The Maplewood City Council voted Aug. 11 to approve the city's 2026'28 strategic priorities and associated focus areas, directing staff to flesh out performance measures and integrate the plan with the 2026 budget process.
Lois Knudson, who presented the plan, said the council had settled on three priorities: "safety, sustainability, and development," and explained that staff used existing metrics and new measures (about 60% new, 40% retained) to create a set of performance indicators. She told the council the proposed performance measures appear in the meeting packet on pages 60 through 64.
Why it matters: Councilmembers said they want the priorities to guide departmental budgets and decisions. Staff signaled the plan will be linked to departmental budget presentations later in the year so that funding choices reflect the adopted priorities. Knudson said staff will build action initiatives and work plans from the approved priorities and performance measures.
The plan lists focus areas under each priority. For safety, the focus areas include improving emergency response, community engagement and code compliance, infrastructure and environmental systems, and prevention strategies. Sustainability items include staff development, environmental stewardship and financial stability. Development priorities emphasize residential and commercial redevelopment, housing options, and placemaking.
At the meeting Knudson described the staff process: departments reviewed existing measures and either retained, revised or drafted new measures; the packet contains the complete set for council review. City staff also reminded the council that the EDA strategic plan will be considered at the Aug. 25 meeting and that a preliminary levy adoption is scheduled for Sept. 8 for the EDA and the city.
The council approved the priorities and focus areas by voice vote. The motion carried; no recorded opposing votes were stated on the record. The council directed staff to continue developing implementation details, performance tracking and budget linkages for later review.
