CITY OF CAMARILLO
City Council
Strategic Plan-Goals and Objectives Setting-Outline
Long-term goals and objectives are important in moving the organization and community towards a desired future and provides the framework for setting annual priorities, defining objectives, and allocating resources to carry out the actions needed to reach City Council’s goals. The City Council’s annual Strategic Planning Session is the first major policy step in preparing the annual budget. This process allows the City to better focus organization-wide efforts and resources in ensuring that the most important, highest - priority objectives are accomplished.
The Strategic Plan-Goals and Objectives Setting Session happens annually early in the calendar. This session is the opportunity for the City Council to review and establish Goals and Objectives for the following fiscal year, which allows staff to evaluate and recommend Action Strategies (projects, tasks, and/or programs) as part of the departmental workplans and budget.
Step 1: Goals
Goals are general guidelines that explain what the City Council wants to achieve for the community and define the overarching desired outcome in response to a challenge, need or problem. Goals are usually long- term or span several years, and therefore the City Council reviews and may refine Goals, but Goals rarely change.
Example:
FISCAL MANAGEMENT
GOAL: It is the goal of the City Council to maintain sound and conservative financial practices to ensure the fiscal sustainability of the City.
Step 2: Objectives and Action Strategies
A. Objectives narrow the timeframe and define implementation steps to attain the identified goals. Objectives are specific, measurable and outline the “who, what, when, where, and how” of reaching the goals.
In the development of an Objective, City Council may tie into the Objective or request a specific Action Strategy. All new Objectives and proposed Action Strategies may be reviewed and prioritized by the respective Committee for a recommendation to the City Council for the Final Draft of the Strategic Plan and included in budget development.
Example:
OBJECTIVE: Implement and continue evaluating options to reduce long-term pension liability.
B. Action Strategies in the form of projects, tasks, and/or programs are typically developed by staff in department workplans to support the Objectives formed by City Council. Action Strategies are usually tied to the annual budget and require staffing resources, and therefor e prioritization of Objectives is important in the allocation of resources. In the development of an Objective, City Council may tie into the Objective or request a specific Action Strategy.
Concurrently, staff works on department workplans, incorporating strategies and allocating resources to support City Council Goals and Objectives, along with regular operations. The City Manager will work with department heads to ensure the proper level of resources for effective service delivery.
Example:
ACTION STRATEGY: Pension Rate Stabilization Plan Trust
Step 3: Projects, Programs, Activities Unrelated to Objectives Once the Strategic Plan discussion has concluded, by the Council forming the Draft Strategic Plan, including Goals, Objectives and if applicable, Action Strategies, the next item on the agenda is City Council’s discussion on specific projects, tasks, or pr ograms unrelated to an Objective. City Council recommended items will be reviewed and prioritized by the respective Committee with other newly proposed City Council Objectives and Action Strategies.
Step 4: Committee Review and Council Adoption
Following the Strategic Planning Session, the City Manager may convene City Council Committees for review and prioritization of City Council’s proposed Objectives, Action Strategies, and unrelated projects, tasks, and programs of items in the areas of responsibility respective to the Committee, for recommendation to the City Council.
Committee recommendations are incorporated in the Final Draft of the Strategic Plan with any associated costs estimates incorporated in the Draft Proposed Budget, which will be presented to the City Council at the first Budget Workshop in March for discussion and prioritization (or reprioritization) by the City Council. The City Council will make the final determination of proposed items and their prioritization by the adoption of the final Strategic Plan.
Prioritization
Prioritization is based on need and available resources and defines what will be done first.
Although available funds are often the key factor in determining priorities, to ensure that the most important challenges, needs, or problems are being addressed, initial City Council discussions of priorities will not necessarily include resources, but rather, staff will translate Council Goals and Objectives into Action Strategies and include known or estimated costs in discussions with respective Committees. Committee recommendations will be incorporated in the Draft Proposed Budget (or through future appropriation requests) and presented to the City Council at the first Budget Workshop.
Goals and Objectives-Progress Updates
Formal progress updates are presented to the City Council twice per year in a memorandum format in November and April. An update will also be provided as part of the agenda packet for the Strategic Plan Session in February.
Updates to the Outline
The Outline is intended to facilitate the Strategic Planning: Goals and Objectives Setting Session by adding clarity and efficiency to the process. The City Manager or the City Council may suggest future revisions to continue to improve the process.