03/07/2011 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • WS — Item 6 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item 6 Date: March 7, 2011 To: City Council From: Jeff Karlson, City Administrator Re: Strategic Planning Update Background During the work session on February 7, the Council expressed support for a strategic planning session and for hiring a facilitator to conduct the meeting. After considering a few facilitators, I am recommending that we use Dave Unmacht, Senior Vice President and Consultant from Springsted. Dave has 26 years of experience in local government and has facilitated a number of the City /County /School District Collaboration meetings that I have participated in. He is highly regarded and would do a great job for us. I have not contacted him yet. Before I contact Mr. Unmacht, I think it is important that the Council determine what it hopes to gain from the strategic planning session. Consultants generally like to know specifically what an organization hopes to accomplish so they can provide direction that will help us achieve our goals. Because of this ongoing recession, it is hard to predict where we'll be in one year, let alone five years. With so many pressing issues facing us right now, the best course of action during the strategic planning session might be to assess where we're at today and then map out a strategy for addressing the City's current needs one to five years into the future. A few of these issues include: Legacy at Woods Edge, public works facility /Anoka Co. salt/sand storage shed, road reconstruction, park land development, ECFE lease, organizational restructuring, and 2012 budget outlook. Requested Council Direction Authorize staff to contact Dave Unmacht for a price quote to conduct a one -day strategic planning session.