Hillsborough staff delivers first annual Strategic Plan report; most initiatives on track

Town staff presented the first annual update on Hillsborough's three‑year Strategic Plan (FY24–26) at the Sept. 9 meeting, summarizing progress across five focus areas and proposing a streamlined reporting cadence.

The report grouped work under sustainability, connected community, economic vitality, community safety and service excellence. Most initiatives were described as either completed or on track; one sustainability item (the Landscape Management plan) requires an extension into FY25, staff said. Connectivity initiatives noted included exploring wireless access points in parks and coordinating fiber projects before pursuing a multi‑year contract for park Wi‑Fi.

Staff also reported that the downtown parking study vendor selection is in its final negotiation stage and that the countywide housing plan work will continue into the next fiscal period. For community safety, staff highlighted progress on a municipal risk assessment and an updated Emergency Operations plan developed in coordination with regional partners. The presenter proposed reducing interim updates and reporting more substantively at the budget retreat and as part of the year‑end report cycle.

Board members offered routine updates from regional planning partners and local committees after the report, and the meeting continued with other agenda items.

Context This is the first full annual report since the Town adopted the Strategic Plan; the update is intended to help the Board track where additional resources or schedule adjustments may be needed as the town advances multi‑year initiatives.