Boca Raton opens three-day strategic planning workshop; council refines vision, reclassifies several projects

Boca Raton’s City Council opened a three-day strategic planning workshop on May 22, 2024, aiming to finalize a guiding vision, rank strategic priorities and begin detailed reviews of 46 project proposals.

Facilitator Trina Pulliam of Trainovations told the council the work over the next three days would focus on the “why” of strategy and leave tactical implementation to staff. “Your job is the why. It’s not the what and it’s not the how,” she said, and urged the council to provide high-level direction so staff could produce metrics and action plans in year two of the cycle.

During opening public comment, Cindy Bloom, representing the Friends of the Boca Raton Library, thanked the council for continued library support and said the friends gave ‘‘over $71,000 in programming money’’ last year and expect to give more this year. Nancy Jo Feinberg, chair of the Library Board, asked council to support renovations at the Spanish River Library to provide reliable meeting space and safer student pickup routes.

The council spent the morning wordsmithing the city’s vision statement. After a round of edits over phrasing such as “small town charm” and “innovative charm,” members agreed on a working sentence that staff will formalize: a world-class community where modern amenities and innovation embrace safe, beautiful, charming neighborhoods and a vibrant economy enriched by exceptional recreational and…