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Council discusses scoping a combined strategic and comprehensive plan with a 2050 horizon
Summary
City staff proposed scoping a combined strategic/comp plan project to align long-range vision, budget priorities and services; council members favoured a 2050 horizon and emphasized using the plan to drive budgets and implementation steps.
David (city manager) summarized key outcomes from the recent council retreat and proposed scoping a combined strategic and comprehensive plan so the city has a single, implementable direction linking goals to budgets.
"We talked about governance and how important it is for you to focus on that, and making an ongoing commitment to good governance, looking at our strategic priorities," David said, summarizing retreat discussions. He recommended developing scoping this spring so the city could seek budget dollars in 2027 and begin a multi-year consultant process to complete the work by 2028.
Council members broadly supported the idea of a longer planning horizon; several recommended a 2050 target so the plan would guide major capital decisions — roads, water and infrastructure — and serve as a framework for the city’s character goals, including the stated aim to preserve "small town charm." "If we can't define that, we gotta stop saying it," the mayor warned, urging a clear, actionable definition that could be translated into UDC provisions and budgets.
Council asked staff to ensure the scoping process produces actionable implementation steps and budget ties, not just aspirational language. "How is this strategic plan gonna make its way into a budget?" the mayor asked, urging that goals be linked to ordinances, policies and budget items so the plan does not sit on a shelf.
Staff will return later this spring with scoping options, sample consultant approaches and a recommended timeline for RFPs and budgeting for 2027.
