City Council

CITY OF POCATELLO, IDAHO SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP STRATEGIC PLANNING MAY 24, 2017 AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: The Special City Council Workshop was called to order at 9:06 ROLL CALL a.m. by Mayor Brian Blad. Council members present were Heidi Adamson, Roger Bray, Steve Brown, Jim Johnston, Gary Moore and Michael L. Orr. Mayor Blad announced facilitators Dr. Jim Disanza and Dr. John Gribas were present to provide a workshop to assist the City Council in developing a Strategic Plan for the City of Pocatello. Dr. Gribas explained the workshop is structured to help the Council develop a Strategic Vision for the City that can be used to create a Strategic Plan. Introductions and information about the Council members were shared. Dr. Disanza and Dr. Gribas reviewed information regarding their background and qualifications to provide the workshop. Research interests and other organizations they have given presentations to were shared. It was noted that they are staffed at Idaho State University (ISU). NARRATIVE FACILIATION The basis for meeting together today is to: create a broader vision statement as a beginning point. You can’t effectively plan without knowing what you are planning for (VISION). General discussion regarding what a Strategic Plan is and what a Plan is used for followed. It was clarified that a Strategic Plan is the tool produced once the Vision has been identified. NARRATIVE CONCEPT Narratives are what are true and lasting. This is what makes people unique. Every person and city has a story. Stories can change the way citizens will receive information. Rediscover a new identity through a narrative (brand) for the City. Crafting a vision narrative and a narrative of what the City is trying to do will help persuade others to support the endeavors of the Council. This will guide real strategic planning for the City. Each Council member created a diary narrative based on their sense, as an elected representative and City servant, of what would be best for the community in 10 years. The narratives were shared and used as a guideline for the remainder of the workshop. Dr. Disanza mentioned that Strategic Plans are predictions and our ability to predict the future is very poor. He noted that Strategic Plans need to be able to change direction in order to make it to the “vision site”. This was described as a mountain top that is always changing. What is the new mountain that the Council wants Pocatello to be on? Strategic Plans are necessary to chart a course to the top of the mountain. Mayor Blad called for a recess at 12:00 p.m.  2 CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORKSHOP STRATEGIC VISION MAY 24, 2017 Mayor Blad reconvened the meeting at 12:40 p.m. -DISCUSSION OF OBJECTIVES Ideas were shared (in the form of objectives) that resulted from the diary narrative. These are some of the objectives identified by the Council for the City of Pocatello: Growth and development – realigning economic development – adapt to economic change – collaboration with community entities – beautification and its impact on economic development – reinvestment in areas – teamwork with private partnerships – development of recreational resources – business development in different areas – developing lands in different areas – be willing to have a new philosophy – tourism – think outside the norm – long range planning – common goal partnerships – recruitment of quality jobs – ISU partnership – right of way acquisition – put selfish ambition aside – reduce tax burden on citizens through economic development. General discussion regarding the above objectives continued. Dr. Gribas and Dr. Disanza reviewed the common objectives and Council shared their thoughts regarding the objectives. Council suggested modifying their meeting schedule to allow more time to work together to script a Vision for the City. It was mentioned that additional facilitation sessions may be needed to allow the Council to sort through ideas and develop a Vision for the City. Improving communication within the Council was discussed. Ideas to move through the process more effectively were shared. There being no further business, Mayor Blad adjourned the meeting at 3:09 p.m. APPROVED BY: BRIAN C. BLAD, MAYOR ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: RUTH E. WHITWORTH, CITY CLERK