Staff Report
City Council
Item No. 1.A
Meeting Date: February 7, 2026
From: Anne V. Ambrose, Interim City Manager
Title: Strategic Planning Workshop
RECOMMENDATION:
This report is for discussion and direction only.
BACKGROUND:
Strategic planning is a structured process that enables local governments to define their vision, set priorities, and allocate resources in a way that supports long-term community goals. For Cathedral City, this approach ensures that city operations remain aligned with the City Council’s policy direction while responding effectively to evolving economic, social, and environmental conditions. Strategic planning is not a one-time exercise; it is an ongoing cycle that integrates performance measurement, community engagement, and continuous improvement.
In November 2022 the City Council and staff leadership team began a strategic planning process to develop a roadmap to guide Cathedral City for the next five years. Through a series of workshops, informed by City Councilmember interviews, a community survey, and staff input, the City Council and staff refined the vision and values of the City organization, established goals and objectives, and created work plans to advance the City forward in the jointly shared strategic direction. The City Council adopted the strategic plan on April 12, 2023, and on August 23, 2023, staff conducted the first study session with the City Council to provide an update on staff’s progress, with continued updates occurring on August 14, 2024, March 26, 2025, and August 13, 2025.
Additionally, the City Council conducts a strategic planning workshop with the city executive and management team members to discuss staff’s progress on goals, to identify and discuss any new initiatives or impediments that need attention, and to reprioritize objectives for the coming year. Since the adoption of the strategic plan, those annual meetings have occurred on January 27, 2024, and January 25, 2025. At each session, the City Manager facilitated the discussion with the City Council and staff.
DISCUSSION:
The strategic planning workshop will begin with a presentation by Richard Bernard, a partner with the firm FM3 who conducted a recent community-wide resident survey which solicited feedback on the community’s views on critical issues facing the city, their satisfaction with city services and city leadership, thoughts on housing, and how they receive information.
FM3 conducted an initial community survey in 2022 to receive resident input for the creation of the five-year plan, so this will be an opportunity to hear the community’s thoughts on how we are progressing. Following the survey results will be brief department presentations on their key priorities for the coming year and to discuss what is on the horizon that may affect achievement of current objectives or that may require additional City Council direction.
Financial Services Director Kevin Biersack will provide the Council with an update on the city’s general fund revenues and expenditures through the second quarter of the fiscal year.
The rest of the day will be focused on hearing from the City Council to make sure staff and council priorities are in alignment with community expectations and to discuss current events, legal changes, or other dynamics that may challenge goal attainment. From this discussion, the City Council and staff will identify next steps needed to implement any new or revised initiatives (such as staff research, budget adjustments, etc.) and develop timelines for completion.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Depending on the outcome of the strategic planning workshop, outcomes will be prioritized and any required budget adjustments will be brought back to the City Council for approval.
FIVE-YEAR STRATEGIC PLAN:
Goal A: Serve the Community with Pride and Dedication
Goal B: Community Investment
Goal C: Fiscal Stability and Sustainability
Goal D: Innovation
Goal E: Safety
Goal F: Embracing, Inclusive Community
ATTACHMENTS:
Strategic Initiative Dashboard
Strategic Plan – Updated February 7, 2025
Strategic Plan – Completed Objectives