REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBMITTED TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
SUBMITTED BY: Al Zelinka, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager
Subject:
title
Request to adopt Resolution No. 2023-46 adopting the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan
body
Statement of Issue:
On June 8, 2023, City Council held a workshop to develop the framework for the Huntington Beach 2023-2027 Strategic Plan (Attachment 1). Discussion was facilitated by Baker Tilly US, LLP (“Baker Tilly”) and the City Manager's Office during which the City Council worked together to set eight major goals and 23 high-priority strategies over the next four years.
Resolution No. 2023-46 (Attachment 2) to adopt the Strategic Plan signifies the first of many steps that the City team will take towards methodically implementing goals that are intended to build a prosperous future for residents and stakeholders throughout the community.
Financial Impact:
There is no fiscal impact at this time. Prior to implementing a goal or strategy, staff will bring forth any budget requests, if needed.
Recommended Action:
recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2023-46, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Adopting the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan”.
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Alternative Action(s):
Do not approve the recommended action, and direct staff accordingly.
Analysis:
Starting in April 2023, the City Council and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) engaged in a comprehensive process to build the Huntington Beach 2023-2027 Strategic Plan. From April through May, Baker Tilly conducted one-on-one interviews with each Council Member, each elected Charter Officer, and the City Manager to identify their top priorities over the next four years. Baker Tilly also led a focus group with the Department Heads to understand the City’s strengths and challenges and requested a gap analysis from each department to identify the key projects and programs recommended for implementation under this Strategic Plan.
On June 8, 2023, the City Council held a Strategic Plan Workshop facilitated by the City Manager’s Officer and Baker Tilly. Drawing on the one-on-one interviews, Baker Tilly presented for consideration the goals that Council Members and Charter Officers held most in common to be used as the framework for the Strategic Plan. Following discussion, Council found consensus on the following eight goals that the City should prioritize and achieve over the next four years:
1. Economic Development - Greater business retention, investment and job growth in Huntington Beach.
2. Fiscal Stability - Available funding to support a high quality level of programs, services and capital investments and to build a structural surplus.
3. High Performing Organization - An engaged City workforce committed to responsive and exceptional public service for all. Achieve a customer satisfaction rating of 90% or higher.
4. Homelessness - A continuum of care that reduces homelessness and maintains quality of life for the entire community.
5. Housing - Proactive programs to address diverse housing needs within the City’s jurisdiction and control.
6. Infrastructure Investment - Maintained and upgraded infrastructure that supports the community’s day-to-day needs, in accordance with the City’s Infrastructure Report Card.
7. Public Engagement - A community that has easy access to clear, accurate, and timely City information and expresses increased awareness and involvement in City activities.
8. Public Safety - Ensure the safety and protection of all community members, both efficiently and effectively.
Drawing upon the Department Head’s gap analyses, Baker Tilly presented over 40 different programs, policies and projects - collectively referred to as “strategies” - that would help achieve one or more of the Strategic Plan goals and asked each Council Member to “dot vote” for the ones they viewed as most critical or important. This exercise gave Workshop attendees the opportunity to identify the strategies that should be prioritized first, given limited time and resources (i.e., staff, funding, time). Ultimately, 23 rose to the top of the list.
Following the Workshop, the ELT organized the 23 highest priority strategies into an Implementation Action Plan (IAP) (Attachment 1) that serves as a roadmap towards their implementation over the next four years. These 23 strategies were prioritized if they received 4 or more dot votes, were previously approved by Council and are already in progress, or face a timing issue that requires immediate attention. The IAP includes key information for each goal and strategy, including their key tasks and deliverables, lead department and staff, timeline and any staffing and financial resources needed to complete them. Furthermore, the IAP categorizes the remaining 18 strategies as important, but not as urgent to attend to. Those strategies are listed separately in the IAP, if City Council would like to consider implementing additional strategies, as major ones are completed and more resources are made available.
The Strategic Plan and IAP are living documents that can be amended by the City Council at any time to better meet the needs of the City, as priorities, resources, and conditions evolve over time. In an effort to keep the City Council informed on the progress of the Plan and provide routine opportunities to provide feedback, staff will provide biannual updates to the City Council in January (at the start of the annual budgeting process) and July (following the completion of a fiscal year). This will be done in the spirit of transparency and to encourage public engagement in this important plan.
If adopted, both the Strategic Plan and IAP will be uploaded to www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan <http://www.huntingtonbeachca.gov/strategicplan> to promote greater accessibility.
Environmental Status:
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378(b)(5), administrative activities of governments that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment do not constitute a project.
Strategic Plan Goal:
Non Applicable - Administrative Item
Attachment(s):
1. Proposed 2023-27 Strategic Plan and Implementation Action Plan
2. Resolution No. 2023-46, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach Adopting the 2023-2027 Strategic Plan”
3. PowerPoint