Title
Consideration of and action on a proposal from Ron Cox Consulting for facilitating a goal setting/strategic planning process for the City Council and City Staff.
Body
Summary:
The last time that the City Council participated in a goal setting retreat with the assistance of an outside facilitator was March 4 and 5, 2014. The City’s current Strategic Plan resulted from this session. The 2014 retreat was facilitated by Ron Cox Consulting. All participants indicated that the session was very effective and very positive comments were made about Mr. Cox as a facilitator.
The current Strategic Plan that was initiated at the 2014 retreat consisted of five (5) areas of emphasis and a number of strategies within the five categories. The five areas of emphasis are:
• Governance and Leadership
• Quality of Life/Image
• Comprehensive Planning
• Economic Development
• Public Safety
Since formulation of the Strategic Plan, City Staff has made six (6) implementation update reports to Council. During the last Strategic Plan update report discussion at the December 18, 2018 Council Workshop, it was discussed that another goal setting/strategic plan retreat should be scheduled. City Manager Stokes and Assistant City Manager Jackson recently met with Ron Cox and discussed the possibility of Mr. Cox facilitating another goal setting/strategic planning process. Attached is a proposal from Ron Cox Consulting to conduct a goal setting/strategic planning retreat in 2019.
The proposal includes several services or deliverables to be provided by Mr. Cox, which are identified as separate Tasks. The cost of Mr. Cox’s services is $7,215 plus direct expenses for Tasks 1-7. The proposed services and deliverables include: Task 1) Prior to the retreat, conference with the City Manager and his key staff to refresh and gain an understanding of the needs of the City from their perspective (up to two hours). Task 2) Prepare for (up to two hours) and facilitate a half-day (up to four hours) session with the City Manager and his staff. This will focus on past accomplishments and challenges and opportunities for Council to consider in their session. Task 3) Prepare for (up to one hour) and conduct (up to a total of two hours) a session with the Mayor, Council, and City Manager focusing on a review of the Council’s governance model including the development of a Leadership Model and Guiding Principles, Vision and Mission. Task 4) Prepare for (up to three hours) and conduct a full-day session (up to six hours) with the Mayor, City Council and the City Manager and his key staff. This session will focus on developing and prioritizing strategies resulting from identification and discussion of issues and challenges before the City. Task 5) Prepare and provide a written report of the results of the activities of the planning session (up to five hours). Task 6) Work with the City Manager and his key staff in preparing a staff implementation plan based on the priorities of the goals established (up to eight hours - in two or more shorter sessions). Task 7) Prepare for (up to two hours) and make a final report to Council on the results of the entire process (up to two hours).
Task 1 is scheduled with City staff on February 21, 2019. Task 4 is scheduled to be conducted on March 7, 2017.
Fiscal/Budgetary Impact:
Funds are available in Acct. #10-105-4290 for this $7,215 expense as a contractual service.
Recommended action
Authorize an agreement with Ron Cox Consulting to facilitate a goal setting/strategic planning process for the City Council and City staff.