City Council Strategic Priorities
March 17, 2026
March 17, 2026
Item 2
Staff Presentation
Background
SWOT Analysis
Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, and
Threats (SWOT) identified
• Council, Executives,
staff, and community
members completed
analysis
• Interviews with same
stakeholders
followed
Community Input
Three workshops held to
gather feedback from
residents and businesses
• February 2 – Resident
Session (Vernon
Village Park Apts)
• February 5 – Business
Session (City Hall)
• February 5 – Resident
Session (City Hall)
Compilation
SWOT Analyses and
community input
summarized and
presented to Council
• Special Meeting held
on March 3
• Each Council
Member identified 5
key goals as focus
areas for action
Discussion
Based on priorities identified by
City Council, staff have developed
potential goals for consideration
1. Strengthen City Credibility and
Partnerships
2. Promote Economic Growth and
Revenue Generation
3. Advance Sustainability and
Environmental Stewardship
4. Enhance Community Infrastructure
and Facilities
5. Strengthen Organizational Efficiency
and Financial Planning
6. Optimize Public Utility
Operations to Ensure
Affordable Services
To Include:
• Building trust and credibility with
the public and other public
agencies
• Pursuing collaborative
opportunities with regional
partners to maximize impact and
resources
Goal 1
Strengthen City
Credibility and
Partnerships
To Include:
• Attracting residential, retail, and
commercial development
• Providing services to surrounding
cities and exploring new
revenue sources, including
green tech and digital
infrastructure
Goal 2
Promote Economic
Growth and
Revenue
Generation
To Include:
• Improving local air quality and
reducing environmental
impacts, particularly in SELA
communities
• Positioning Vernon as a hub for
clean-tech and circular
economy initiatives
Goal 3
Advance
Sustainability and
Environmental
Stewardship
To Include:
• Developing parks, community centers,
libraries, and health clinics to meet
resident needs
• Investing in digital and physical
infrastructure that supports both
community and economic goals
• Exploring new funding mechanisms to
finance public infrastructure and
development projects
Goal 4
Enhance
Community
Infrastructure and
Facilities
To Include:
• Streamlining City codes, policies, and
procedures, including purchasing
processes
• Streamlining City meetings to enhance
public engagement and efficiency
• Implementing long-term financial and
capital planning to ensure sustainability
and resilience
Goal 5
Strengthen
Organizational
Efficiency and
Financial Planning
To Include:
• Prioritizing the efficient management
of the City’s power, gas, fiber, and
water systems
• Keeping utility costs low for residents
and businesses while maintaining
reliable, high-quality service
• Kern County property
Goal 6
Optimize Public
Utility Operations to
Ensure Affordable
Services
Next Steps
• City Council approves goals to prepare a Strategic Plan • Staff develops specific tasks to achieve goals
• Schedule
• Associated Costs
• Responsible City Department
• City Council adopts Strategic Plan
• Modify at any time with new priorities
• Evaluate each year during City budget process