DATE: October 7, 2026
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: City Manager's Office
2026-081
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
2027-2032 CITYWIDE STRATEGIC PLAN UPDATE
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks City Council to confirm the process and timeline for updating the City’s Strategic Plan, ensuring the updated plan is reflective of the evolving needs and priorities of the Corona community.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council confirm the process and timeline for developing an updated Strategic Plan, including robust community and stakeholder engagement, and return to the City Council with a draft plan for review and consideration prior to adoption.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
The 2021–2026 Strategic Plan established a citywide framework for long-term decisionmaking, resource allocation, and performance measurement, developed through extensive engagement with residents, business leaders, community organizations, and City staff.
The purpose of establishing a formal strategic plan is based on the recognition that Corona, like many growing municipalities, faces increasingly complex challenges related to financial sustainability, infrastructure maintenance, economic development, public safety, and community identity. Prior to 2021, the City relied on departmental level plans, master plans, and ad hoc surveys to guide its activities, an approach that sometimes led to fragmented efforts and limited transparency about progress on key initiatives.
In response, the City Council initiated a structured planning process in August 2020, including public workshops, interviews, and public outreach via community surveys. The resulting plan articulated a unified vision, purpose, and set of values for the City, and established six overarching strategic goals to address the most pressing needs and priorities identified by the community.
Throughout the Strategic Plan’s implementation, the City has published quarterly progress reports, set annual goals, integrated strategic objectives into departmental work plans and budget cycles, and maintained a complete dashboard reporting out on progress on the City’s website. This approach has enabled proactive responses to emerging challenges, demonstrated transparency and measurable progress towards stated goals, and achieved remarkable results. To date, approximately 79% of the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan initiatives have been completed, with an additional 10% on track to be completed by year end, and 11% with work underway.
ANALYSIS:
The Strategic Plan update is closely aligned with other adopted plans that advance specific objectives under the Council’s established strategic goals. The City’s bestpractice approach emphasizes data-informed analysis, regular progress reporting, and alignment of departmental work plans and budgets with strategic objectives. This ensures that the updated plan promotes transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in response to emerging community needs.
Community outreach is anticipated to begin in early October, starting with a community survey aimed at identifying and understanding residents’ concerns, top-of-mind issues, and priorities. Available in both English and Spanish, the survey will be an integral component of ensuring a broad cross-section of the community has a voice and input into the future of the city.
Community outreach will also include direct emails to residents and stakeholders, as well as QR codes posted at City facilities to provide easy access to the survey. In addition, there will be social media promotion across all City platforms, and a community workshop will be held in mid-November for in-person conversations and input. Once a draft plan has been assembled, it will be posted online for additional discussion, vetting, and feedback.
As the 2021-2026 Strategic Plan approaches its conclusion, the forthcoming updated plan will built upon this foundation of community engagement, strong data analysis, transparency, and Council leadership, ensuring that the next strategic plan continues to reflect the aspirations and priorities of the Corona community.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for activities associated with the Strategic Plan update will be supported through existing budget and staff. No additional funding is being requested. Projects and initiatives proposed in the final plan will be identified and allocated through the City’s annual budget process, consistent with the City’s practice of aligning resources to Council-adopted priorities. Any significant new initiatives or capital projects identified in the updated plan will be brought forward as separate Council items, with detailed cost estimates and funding sources specified at that time, ensuring fiscal implications are fully vetted and funding decisions remain responsive to changing economic conditions and community needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
This action is exempt under Section 15061(b)(3) of the Guidelines for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), which states that a project is exempt from CEQA if the activity is covered by the commonsense exemption that CEQA applies only to projects that have the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment. Where it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the activity in question may substantially affect the environment, the activity is not subject to CEQA. This action seeks direction from the Council regarding drafting a strategic plan update and thus has no potential for causing a significant effect on the environment.
PREPARED BY: MELANIE FRANCESCHINI, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER REVIEWED BY: JACOB ELLIS, CITY MANAGER
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – 2021-2026 Strategic Plan
2. Exhibit 2 – Strategic Plan Update Presentation