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Orange council narrows strategic-plan priorities; keeps mission and adopts revised vision
Summary
At a Feb. 5 strategic-plan workshop, the Orange City Council agreed to keep its current mission, adopt a revised, more inspirational vision, rename goals to emphasize public-safety services and fiscal stability, and prioritized items that staff will use to guide the FY26–27 budget.
The Orange City Council convened a special strategic-plan workshop on Feb. 5 to refine its mission, vision, values and a prioritized list of projects staff should pursue in the coming year. Mayor (speaker 1) opened the session and the city manager, Jerry, introduced Baker Tilly consultants who led the meeting.
Council members debated the wording of core statements and reached informal consensus to keep the current mission statement and adopt the consultants’ proposed, more inspirational vision. The group also agreed to reframe goal 1 as "public safety services" (to ensure police and fire were explicit) and to rename goal 2 to "fiscal stability." Consultants told the council the city has roughly 700 positions, about 74 current vacancies and limited staff capacity for strategic projects, a constraint council members cited when prioritizing work.
During the prioritized dot-vote exercise, items receiving broad support (three or more votes) included an ambulance‑operator program expansion, the Village At Orange specific‑plan development and potential ballot revenue measure direction, annexation of select county islands, Riverwalk funding at Cattellah Avenue, a general‑plan update and historic‑preservation certification. Consultants said completed items would be removed from the working list and staff will return with refined language and implementation steps tied to departments and timelines.
Consultant Annie Rose told the council the prioritized list will guide the FY26–27 budget and implementation planning. City Manager Jerry said staff would use the council’s direction to develop a budget and next steps for returning to the council.
The workshop closed with the council asking staff to bring back clearer draft goal language, feasibility steps for high‑priority projects and follow‑ups on items placed in the meeting's “parking lot.” The council will meet next on Feb. 10 for its regular meeting with closed session at 5 p.m.
