Council considers UW Extension facilitator for strategic planning amid scheduling concerns

City administrator Steve Bargue told the council that a facilitator from UW Extension is willing to help the city develop a strategic plan and offered several formats, including a single long session or a set of shorter breakouts. Bargue said the facilitator is willing to "do whatever will work for this body" and indicated the presenter prefers in-person breakout groups to maximize staff engagement.

Council members raised practical concerns about scheduling, remote participation and whether the city should first revisit past strategic plans. Alderman Spiroz said she could not attend Saturday sessions because she works a 12-hour night shift and asked for weekday-evening options: "I'm just gonna be blatantly honest here. I can't do Saturdays, most Saturdays, because I work. That is when my job is on weekends. I work night shift." Other members suggested two back-to-back weeknights of three to four hours or early-evening sessions to make attendance more likely.

Several councilors urged that staff and department representatives be included so the process results in practical, implementable priorities. Bargue noted the facilitator's services are being provided by UW Extension at no cost to the city. Councilors asked Bargue to develop a proposed agenda, provide a timetable, and circulate a survey of council availability and priority topics before scheduling the sessions.

Next steps: staff will reach out to the facilitator about flexibility on format and remote participation, circulate a council availability survey and present a proposed agenda and timing for the strategic-planning sessions at a subsequent meeting.