Council reviews draft strategic plan and votes to enter executive session

The Macomb City Council Committee of the Whole reviewed a draft strategic plan presented by consultant Eric Gregni that lays out a vision, mission, values and seven focus areas: effective government, growing economy, neighborhood and community development, reliable infrastructure, thriving downtown, safe community and strong partnerships.

Gregni described the plan’s structure as a combination of a management agenda (items staff can act on without additional approvals) and a policy agenda (items likely to require council action). He said the plan includes specific strategies and action steps and recommended appointing "champions" from staff to lead each action, then providing quarterly updates to keep the plan active. "We went through a draft process," Gregni said, describing staff and stakeholder sessions and two full days of council engagement.

Council members praised the work and asked about next steps. Staff said the document will be brought to the council for approval (planned in January) and that Gregni would return to work with staff on an implementation retreat to assign responsibility and a progress chart. Council discussion also identified outreach to partners (Chamber, CVB, Park District, Maidco) and to regional stakeholders.

Near the end of the meeting the council moved and seconded to go into executive session under section 2(c)(1) of the Illinois Open Meetings Act to consider matters related to appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance or dismissal of an employee or legal counsel for the public body. The roll-call vote recorded six ayes (Vojetzky, Shabazz, Dorset, Wynne, Hemingway, Chu) and the chair said the executive session would produce no public actions that evening.