CITY OF PACIFICA
COUNCIL AGENDA SUMMARY REPORT
5/8/2023
1 SUBJECT:
City Council Strategic Planning for FY2023-24
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Approve the City of Pacifica 2023 to 2030 Strategic Plan Mission, Vision, Values, Goals and Strategies (Attachment A).
STAFF CONTACT:
Kevin Woodhouse, City Manager
[email protected]
650-738-7409
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
Each year the City Council convenes in advance of the new fiscal year to review the City’s prior goals and develop a list of priorities to be implemented in the upcoming fiscal year This annual process is intended to identify Council priorities in advance of developing the annual budget, in order to align the City’s financial resources with the projects and initiatives that will make up the workplan for the fiscal year.
This year, the City Council has undertaken a different process - strategic planning. A best practice for high functioning organizations, strategic planning is intended to begin with identifying Mission, Vision, and Values statements for the organization, followed by identifying long-term goals that reflect those statements, and multi-year strategies and priorities to fulfill those goals.
A definition of each of the Strategic Plan elements is provided below Mission - The City’s Mission is a statement of what the City does and strives to do on an ongoing basis. It sets the boundaries and expectations for the City and its work.
Vision - The Vision statement is aspirational, identifying the desired outcome of the City’s efforts and changes over a long period of time.
Values - The listed Values for the City reflect how the City does its work, from the City Council through front-line staff. Values typically embody both current and desired approaches for internal and external performance.
Goals - The City’s Goal statements capture the primary focus for the City to achieve its Vision over the next seven years. Each Goal statement is ambitious, encompassing an aspirational set of work to be done, especially given that most City operations, funding, staffing, and time is devoted to day-to-day services and other non-discretionary work.
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May 08, 2023
Strategies - The City Council has selected a limited set of top Strategies to achieve each Goal. Some Strategies may be accomplished over one to two years, while others may persist throughout the life of the Strategic Plan.
Over the course of two Strategic Planning workshops, the City Council considered and developed draft Mission, Vision, and Values statements, and identified and selected Goals and Strategies for the Strategic Plan. The proposed Strategic Plan is provided as Attachment A, which is presented for Council review, discussion, and action.
Implementation of the Strategic Plan is equally important and will require a focusing of community, Council, and staff attention, as follows.
First, City staff has developed their own draft workplans for each Strategy under each Goal, as summarized in Attachment B. These workplans reflect the staff’s understanding of the Council’s direction for each Goal and Strategy and the work and timelines possible given existing and anticipated resources. Also included in Attachment B for each Goal are listings of:
• Guiding documents and plans related to that Goal;
• Competing ongoing services and directed projects and programs that already consume most of the resources available for work on that Goal and its Strategies; and • Other possible Strategies for that Goal that have been considered by the Council and may be further considered in future years. Also noted in italicized parentheticals are those items which are likely included elsewhere in the Strategic Plan.
Second, the annual budget process provides the means for community and Council consideration of the allocation of resources necessary for continuing services and work as well as a limited number of new initiatives and efforts based on the Strategic Plan or other priorities.
Progress on the Strategic Plan must be calibrated to the resources available.
Third, best practices from other local government agencies suggest a number of additional steps to ensure progress on the Strategic Plan, including:
• Posting the Mission, Vision, Values, Goals and Strategies on the City’s web page, around City Hall and other City facilities open to the public, and in the City Council Chambers.
• Incorporating the Strategic Plan in the City’s budget and other guiding documents. • Refer to the Strategic Plan Goals and Strategies as appropriate in Council staff reports. • Provide periodic updates on the Strategic Plan at Council meetings or in semi-annual staff reports.
• Council consideration of which Strategies to delay or drop when providing mid-cycle direction on new or emerging priorities.
• Conduct annual reviews and updates to the Strategic Plan, focusing on achievements and changes related to the Strategies for each Goal. It is not uncommon in other agencies to drop and add Strategies each year in furtherance of the Strategic Plan.
The City Council’s action on the Strategic Plan will be the culmination of a thorough and thoughtful consideration of the challenges and opportunities facing the City of Pacifica and will provide a guide for achieving the Council’s Vision and Goals for the City.
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FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct or immediate fiscal impact associated with the City Council’s adoption of the Strategic Plan. However, the Strategic Plan will serve as the Council’s guide for allocation of resources in the budget process and for staff’s prioritization of work given limited resources.
ORIGINATED BY:
City Manager's Office
ATTACHMENT LIST:
Attachment A: Proposed Strategic Plan (PDF)
Attachment B: Staff Work Plan based on the Proposed Strategic Plan (PDF)