Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board adopt the final 2024 Strategic Plan.
FUNDING: N/A
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In 2014 the County began the process of developing a Countywide Strategic Plan, which was subsequently completed in 2016. During that process, the County engaged in extensive community outreach, which included a 'Citizen Engagement Survey.' As a result of those efforts, the Strategic Plan included five overarching goals: (1) Public Safety, (2) Infrastructure, (3) Good Governance, (4) Economic Development, and (5) Healthy Communities. Normal practice is to develop a strategic plan for an anticipated period of three to five years and to make necessary updates during that time frame. Consistent with that practice, from 2016 to 2019 the Board periodically received updates on the progress being made relative to each goal.
Subsequently, in 2019 the County conducted a major update of the Strategic Plan that included obtaining feedback from many other partners and stakeholders, including County Department Heads and management staff, County Commissions/Committees, fire districts and residents of El Dorado County. While the Mission, Vision, Core Values and Goals remained the same, the County shifted from having very specific tasks and timelines to be completed to a more strategic process of identifying themes and priorities with the intent that departments will focus their internal priorities around the County's overall Strategic Plan.
In 2020 the entire world was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and this resulted in the County having to manage a variety of challenges and priorities that distracted from working on strategic plan priorities. In this regard, all County staff should be commended for their efforts, including all staff that directly assisted with responding to the emergency but also all those staff who ensured other essential county operations and services continued to be provided to our community. Even in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the County made significant progress in accomplishing the goals of the Strategic Plan.
In 2021 the County continued to manage the daily challenges and priorities due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but also dealt with the Caldor Fire disaster that ignited in August. The fire resulted in large-scale evacuations including a large number of County staff. Subsequently, the Governor declared a state of emergency for El Dorado County. Even while faced with these two significant challenges, staff presented a review of the Strategic Plan and continued to make significant progress towards accomplishing the Strategic Plan goals, and meeting the needs of our community.
In 2022 the Board reviewed the Strategic Plan and made the following changes:
- Core Values : Added Fiscal Responsibility
- Good Governance : Added item #7 related to a positive governance culture
- Healthy Communities : Added item #7 related to fire-adapted communities
- Infrastructure: Added Tahoe Transportation District to item #5, and added item #7 related to renewable energy sources
- Public Safety: Added housing needs to item #3, and added item #6 related to juvenile justice.
As the fifth year of the Strategic Plan went by, the decision was made to hire a consultant to help with an update to the Countywide Strategic Plan. Initial steps in this process included interviewing department heads and board members about the County organization, its culture, what is does well and recommended focus areas. The Board held workshops on May 10, 22, and 23, 2023 and on August 28, 2023 to begin discussions about updates to the Strategic Plan. A working group was formed to refine a draft plan based on feedback from the workshops.
To help inform the Board's decision making process in refreshing the Strategic Plan, staff compiled a four question, open-ended public opinion survey. The survey was promoted through several communications channels, including the County's three social media platforms, traditional media coverage, and individual Board member newsletters. More than 500 responses were collected and analyzed by staff.
On October 17, 2023, the final draft plan was presented to the Board. The Board provided direction to provide annual updates related to the Strategic Plan goals and priorities, noting that per the County Charter, the Board shall at least annually, prior to the end of the first quarter of the calendar year, review the adopted goals and modify them as necessary and directed staff to include the revised vision statement "Exceptional quality of life with a strong sense of community, rural character, managed growth, and opportunity for all." These changes have been incorporated into the final plan.
After the Board adopts the final 2024 Strategic Plan, the plan will be uploaded to the County's website and departments will begin to implement the priorities identified in the plan. When items are brought to the Board that are related to these priorities, these items will be linked to the Strategic Plan on the website so the public can see the progress being made. An annual update will be presented to the Board in January 2025.
ALTERNATIVES
N/A
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
Legistar Number 14-1322 (see multiple versions associated with this item) - Development of the Strategic Plan
Legistar Number 19-0885 - Update to Strategic Plan on June 11, 2019
Legistar Number 21-0140 - Update to the Strategic Plan on March 16, 2021
Legistar Number 22-0461 - Update to the Strategic Plan on March 22, 2022
Legistar Number 23-0977 - Strategic Plan Workshop on May 10, 2023
Legistar Number 23-1023 - Strategic Plan Workshop Part II on May 22 and May 23, 2023
Legistar Number 23-1657 - Strategic Plan Workshop Part III on August 28, 2023
Legistar Number 23-1773 - Direction on draft Strategic Plan on October 17, 2023
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
All County departments
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Adopt the final 2024 Strategic Plan.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
There is no financial impact from the adoption of the final plan.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
N/A
CONTACT
Laura Schwartz, Assistant Chief Administrative Officer