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Board debates whether to update 2015 strategic plan as municipal services review approaches
Summary
Staff told the board the 2015 strategic plan remains largely consistent with legal obligations and operations, but several directors urged convening a strategic-plan committee to propose updates before an upcoming municipal services review; the chair directed two committee members to meet within six weeks or the committee will be reassigned.
District staff presented a review of the 2015 strategic plan at the July 9 board meeting and concluded the plan remains aligned with current legal obligations, governance practices and recent operational achievements.
Staff highlighted accomplishments since 2015 including acquisition and operation of local water systems, maintenance of multiple wells and surface sources, rate studies and the creation of emergency reserves. Staff also noted governance improvements and grant activity that have supported infrastructure investments.
Several directors said the plan should be updated. Director (S3) urged convening the strategic-plan committee, expressed frustration that the committee had not met and suggested hiring a consultant (Martin Rausch) if committee work recommends it. Other board members said many strategic elements are already captured across district documents and suggested an incremental approach—tagging agenda items against plan goals—rather than a wholesale rewrite.
The conversation became contentious when directors disagreed about whether ad hoc committee meetings outside the boardroom must be compensated and whether staff had excluded committee members from earlier steps. The chair reminded members of Brown Act rules (two board members may meet informally; three or more would trigger public meeting requirements) and said ad hoc committee work is unpaid. The chair then instructed two named committee members to meet within six weeks; if no meeting takes place he said he will reassign the committee.
No formal action to hire a consultant or to amend the strategic plan was taken. The board asked staff to continue supporting committee work and to receive any committee report for consideration.
Why it matters: The municipal services review cited earlier in the meeting will consider service capacity and local control; an updated strategic plan could affect priorities, grant competitiveness and interagency coordination ahead of that review.
