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Auburn council adopts 2026–28 strategic plan, calls it a 'living document'
Summary
The Auburn City Council voted unanimously June 22 to adopt a three-year strategic plan (2026–28) that sets six focus areas — including financial stability, economic development and quality of life — and establishes annual measurable objectives and implementation steps. Council approved two staff-suggested amendments before adoption.
The Auburn City Council on June 22 adopted a three-year strategic plan that staff and consultants say will align the city’s budget and department work plans with council priorities.
City staff presented the final document and the council approved it “as amended.” The plan identifies six focus areas — financial stability; economic development; quality of life and community well-being; planning and development; engagement and organization; and implementation and accountability — and ties each to measurable annual objectives and department leads.
"The plan's meant to be a living document. It's not meant to sit on a shelf, gather dust, and it's not meant to be static either," the City Manager said during the presentation, emphasizing annual review and reports back to council.
Staff proposed two specific amendments before adoption: narrow the set of departments required to conduct public-facing engagement events (so that not every department must run three public events per year) and remove the mayor as a formal lead for candidate briefings so those briefings are managed by the city manager. The council approved the plan with those changes.
The plan is also designed to support budget decisions, staff said. The presenter noted the strategic plan should help prioritize resources and align department work plans with measurable outcomes. Staff described an operational work plan underneath the strategy that will translate goals into annual actions and suggested using a dashboard tool to track progress.
The presentation also tied the strategic plan to longer-range work on the general plan and environmental review; staff said the draft general plan and draft environmental impact report are expected to be released for public review in mid-July with a 45-day comment period.
Consultant Scott Winters, who led parts of the planning sessions, and staff said the plan grew from council and staff workshops and is intended to guide implementation, reporting and periodic updates. Councilmembers asked for annual updates from staff and for timing that allows strategic direction to inform budget choices.
The council approved the resolution adopting the strategic plan by roll call vote.
