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Richland staff recommend a 'refresh' of the 2024–26 strategic plan; council favors targeted updates
Summary
City staff briefed council on the 2024–2026 strategic plan and proposed options for the 2027 update. Council members generally favored a targeted 'refresh' rather than a full overhaul and asked staff to align the next plan with ongoing comprehensive, transportation and parks planning.
City staff presented an overview of the city’s 2024–2026 strategic plan and sought council direction on preparing a 2027 update during the Feb. 24 Richland City Council workshop.
Staff recapped the 2023 planning process, which used a consultant to facilitate focus groups, a community survey and a council retreat that produced five priorities: high‑performance government, financial sustainability, focused development, quality of life and an engaged workforce. Staff said an April 1 update and a public KPI dashboard refresh are forthcoming.
The presentation summarized completed work (website redesign, communications plan, KPI development, legislative advocacy and grant‑tracking improvements) and ongoing projects (asset management and work‑order systems, financial policy updates, clean energy and downtown redevelopment work, transportation and parks master plans). Staff noted some unanticipated tasks—cybersecurity, code enforcement and regional projects—that used resources and affected timeline for some projects.
Staff asked whether council preferred a full rewrite or a refresh of the existing plan. Most council members recommended a refresh that keeps the five core priorities and focuses staff work on updating subcategories and implementation actions. Council members suggested staff prepare options, use a facilitator for a retreat if needed, incorporate multiyear planning efforts (comprehensive plan, transportation and parks plans) and consider a rolling or layered model (permanent strategic pillars with three‑year rolling implementation plans).
Council members also proposed future workshop items—nonprofit partner presentations, animal control policy review, parcel reconveyance and easement priorities, capital improvement project details and grant process overviews. Staff described a process to schedule outside presenters via council interest and to bring items to workshop or regular meetings depending on council preference.
No formal vote was taken; staff said the April report and refreshed dashboard will provide additional context and requested direction to proceed with a refresh and draft options for council consideration.
