AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: October 14, 2025
TITLE: Approval of the City of Grand Terrace 2040 Vision PRESENTED BY: Judith Garcia, Management Analyst
RECOMMENDATION: APPROVE INITIATION OF THE 2040 STRATEGIC VISION PROGRAM,
AUTHORIZE STAFF TO PROCEED WITH STAKEHOLDER
ENGAGEMENT AND PROGRAM MILESTONES; AND DIRECT STAFF TO
RETURN WITH PERIODIC UPDATES CULMINATING IN A COUNCILADOPTED VISION PLAN AND 3-YEAR ROADMAP 2030 VISION STATEMENT:
This staff report supports: Goal #4 – Develop and Implement Successful Partnerships and Goal #5 – Engage in Proactive Communication
BACKGROUND:
The 2030 Vision, adopted in 2014, defined the City’s mission, vision, and core values, creating a foundation for decision-making shared by Council, staff, and the community. To support this vision, the 2014–2020 Strategic Plan was developed to prioritize goals and guide the allocation of limited fiscal and staff resources. Together, these documents provided a roadmap that helped the City align its actions with community priorities during a period of financial and organizational challenge.
With the 2030 Vision goals nearing their culmination, it is time to establish the next strategic framework to guide the City through 2040. Vision 2040 builds on the stability and progress achieved since 2014 and will provide a structured pathway for developing, adopting, and implementing a new long-range vision that enhances the quality of life in Grand Terrace.
DISCUSSION:
The Strategic Vision 2040 Program will create a clear process to ensure today’s efforts lead to meaningful, quantifiable, long-term results. Starting with a project launch and the appointment of a steering team, the program will move through milestones such as assessing current conditions, gathering community input through surveys and workshops and interviewing staff and elected officials to capture institutional knowledge. These steps will lead to a draft vision and roadmap, and ultimately a Council-adopted Vision Plan with a 3-Year Roadmap. Each milestone will include clear deliverables to ensure accountability, transparency, and opportunities for Council and community input.
Milestones & Measurements
The Vision 2040 process will follow these key steps:
M0 Project Launch
M1 Steering Team Appointed
M2 Current State Report
M3 Community Insights
M4 Draft Vision & Themes
M5 Draft Roadmap
M6 Adopted Vision Plan
Community Engagement Approach
As part of the community insights milestone, staff recommends launching a citywide survey to gather broad input.
To maximize participation, survey will be available through the City website, special events, Council meetings, newsletters, the local newspaper, and other outlets. Findings will be refined through community workshops, where residents and stakeholders can build consensus around key priorities. A dedicated City webpage will track progress and provide program details. This approach will ensure Vision 2040 reflects diverse perspectives and builds community ownership of the final plan.
The result will be Vision 2040 - a plan that not only sets direction for the City's future but also establishes realistic, achievable, and measurable outcomes. It will balance community aspirations with practical steps, ensuring visible progress and improvements by 2040.
ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED:
1. Take No Action — The City would continue operating under the existing 2030 Vision framework, making limited adjustments.
2. Council-Driven Vision 2040 — Council could direct staff to prepare a Vision 2040 framework based solely on Council input, without broader community engagement.
3. Approve with Modifications — Council could approve the Vision 2040 Program with adjustments to scope or engagement methods.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT:
This action does not meet the threshold of a project under CEQA and is exempt.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The fiscal impact will consist primarily of staff time required to manage and support the development of the Vision 2040 framework.
City of Grand Terrace – Vision 2040 Project Charter
Purpose Establish a long-range community vision, guiding values, and strategic roadmap that will direct City priorities and investments through the year 2040.
Objectives • Develop a shared mission and vision statement • Identify core values and long-term goals
• Create a 3-Year Roadmap with measurable initiatives
• Engage residents, businesses, staff, and stakeholders Scope • Community survey, interviews, and workshops
• Current Conditions Report (demographics, fiscal health, SWOT) • Draft and final Vision 2040 framework and roadmap
• Regular Council updates throughout the process
Deliverables • Current Conditions Report
• Community Insights Summary
• Draft Vision 2040 statement, themes, and roadmap
• Final Vision 2040 Plan and 3-Year Roadmap
Roles &
Responsibilities
• City Council: Provide policy direction, adopt final plan • City Manager & Executive Sponsor: Oversee implementation • Vision Steering Team: Guide engagement and alignment
• City Staff: Manage logistics, communications, and technical support • Community & Stakeholders: Participate in surveys, workshops, and provide input
Success
Measured
• Broad community participation and representation
• Clear alignment of goals with community priorities
• Adoption of Vision 2040 Plan and Roadmap by Council
Scope of the Vision 2040 Program
The Vision 2040 Program will establish a long-range framework to guide the City’s future through a combination of community input, research, and strategic planning. The scope of work includes:
In Scope • Community survey (online & print) and workshops • Interviews with staff, elected officials, and partner agencies • Current Conditions Report (demographics, fiscal health, SWOT) • Draft & final Mission, Vision, and Core Values
• Strategic themes and priority goals
• Draft Roadmap with initiatives, funding options, and
performance indicators
• Final Vision 2040 Plan and 3-Year Roadmap
• Community communication materials
Out of Scope • Adoption of zoning changes or development entitlements • Creation of a full General Plan update
• Direct allocation of funding beyond preliminary outreach and planning
• Implementation of individual capital projects or programs