City Council Meeting Date: March 11, 2025
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Title
Strategic Plan Work Session: Environmental Scan.
Body
This worksession is an integrated step in the Strategic Planning process. The City of Northfield has planned the development, approval and beginning implementation of the new City Strategic Plan (2025-2028). This will be the third successive adopted strategic plan for the City of Northfield since 2017.
The City is continuing to work with Rapp Consulting Group, led by Craig Rapp, who tailors the strategic planning process to the needs of the organization and the community. Rapp Consulting Group work with organizational and community leaders, helping them articulate their challenges, develop strategic priorities, and define actionable follow-through. Using a process that clarifies desired outcomes, performance indicators and success measures-the organization’s strategic “guidance system” is established. This is followed by a facilitated process with management to develop detailed initiatives and action plans, to ensure accountability.
The following is a summary of this workshop that is another step in preparation of the development of the new strategic plan:
Strategic Planning Session #2- Environmental Scan.
Under the guidance of the consultant, staff will develop an environmental scan. An environmental scan is a systematic review of major environmental factors that affect the organization’s operating environment such as: financial and economic conditions, demographics, physical assets, intergovernmental relations, citizen/stakeholder issues, technology changes, environmental sustainability and the regulatory environment. This provides additional foundation for the strategic plan retreat in April where the City Council will begin to develop the new strategic plan priorities.
An interactive session for the governing board, City Administrator, and senior management team.
The presentation materials will be included at the meeting. The information will be posted as additional materials on the City’s meeting management system after the meeting.
Background on Craig Rapp and The Rapp Consulting Group
The Rapp Consulting Group (RCG), and its principal, Craig Rapp, have conducted over 100 local government strategic planning engagements--over forty (40) in the past five years. Primary clients are cities, counties, and special districts located in the Upper Midwest. The collaborative process used by RCG results in clear priorities, focused objectives, and targeted performance. This is accompanied by best-in-class stakeholder engagement, plan implementation and performance reporting-facilitated by a team with decades of local government and consulting experience.
Craig Rapp, President of the Rapp Consulting Group, is a nationally recognized speaker, facilitator, and strategic advisor. He speaks and conducts workshops on subjects such as: leading in difficult political environments, alternative service delivery, and authentic leadership. The focus of his consulting practice is strategic planning, leadership development, and optimizing organizational performance. Craig has over thirty-five years of experience as a senior executive in both the public and private sectors. He was the Director of Consulting for the International City-County Management Association, City Manager in three cities, Director at a regional agency, and a senior executive in two privately held companies. He has a master's degree in public administration, a bachelor's degree in urban studies, and is a graduate of the Senior Executive Institute at the University of Virginia.
Alternative Options:
Not applicable.
Financial Impacts:
Not applicable.
Tentative Timelines:
Strategic Plan Development: Timeline Events
ü 10/22/24 (5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.) - All Board & Commission Training
Comprehensive Plan Background & Context for Strategic Planning (Reilly)
Strategic Plan: Craig Rapp
1. Strategic Plan - background, purpose, schedule
2. Strategic Plan - facilitated feedback on policy, issues, etc.
ü 11/18/24 Staff Senior Management Team Meeting (Craig Rapp)
Leadership & Staff Working Together
ü 12/4/24 Staff Senior Management Team + Others: Strategic Plan Kickoff Meeting (Craig Rapp)
Enviro scan work, development, implementation preparation.
ü 1/14/2025: Council Worksession: Good Governance Workshop (Rapp)
ü February 2025 - Facilitated Community Stakeholder meetings (4 meetings approximately 90 minutes - in process for development)
o January - February-March 2025: Community Survey.
o 3/11/25: Council Strategic Plan Workesession, City Hall 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Download of 2024 Board/Commission Input, Community Survey, 4 Focus Group Facilitation, Staff Environmental Scan, Strategic Plan Retreat Process etc.
o March 2025 - Mayor and Councilor Individual Interviews (Rapp).
o 4/5/25 (Saturday): City Council Strategic Plan Retreat, City Hall 2nd Floor Training Room 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (breakfast & lunch)
Develop Strategic Plan: Vision/Mission/Values, Strategic Priorities, Desired Outcomes, Strategic Initiatives
o 5/13/25: Council Worksession: Review & Direction on KOIs & Targets
Key Outcome Indicators & Targets. One agenda item 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
o 5/20/25: Council Regular Meeting: Adoption of Strategic Plan Report (2025-2028)