07-22-2025 (Strategic Planning Session)STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION — FINALIZING THE PLAN
JULY 22, 2025 — 4:00 P.M.
MINUTES
Members present: Mayor Gary Forcier called the session to order. Members
present were Tim Burley, Dave Sebesta, Pat May and Chad Czmowski. Others
present were Matt Jaunich, City Administrator and other city directors and staff.
1) Review of Strategic Plan
Matt Jaunich, City Administrator, presented before the Council. Mr. Jaunich explained
that since the individual strategic planning sessions were held last year, staff has been
working on developing a final strategic plan. The seven core areas of focus for the City
are public safety, health & recreation, transportation, economic development,
environment, good government and housing and all these areas of focus are
incorporated into the strategic plan. Mr. Jaunich also reviewed eight strategic goals that
were identified in 2017 that staff feels are still relevant today. These goals include:
1) We want to be known as a destination place for recreation, art and leisure.
2) We want to have a growing, diverse economy with a skilled workforce.
3) We want to have adequate, affordable housing for all.
4) We want to have welcoming and safe city facilities to service current and future
generations.
5) We want to have cost effective, reliable, and sustainable energy and practices.
6) We want to have high quality, multi -modal transportation and infrastructure
systems.
7) We want to have active citizen engagement, participation and involvement.
8) We want to have fiscally responsible management to serve3 community needs.
Mr. Jaunich asked the council members to consider whether any changes need to be
made to these goals. It was suggested that perhaps Item 3 should be re -worded to
"We want to have adequate housing for all" since affordable means different things to
different people. These goals will be revisited later in the workshop.
Mr. Jaunich reviewed the various ideas, barriers, and projects that were identified in the
planning sessions held last year in achieving the eight strategic goals. Specifically, on
the projects list, Mr. Jaunich requested the Council to identify which projects to focus on
in the next five years.
Mr. Jaunich then reviewed the four strategic directions that will assist staff and Council
in achieving the eight strategic goals. These directions include Planning, Growing,
Engaging and Paying.
Planning — The City currently has several formal plans in place including a Downtown
Plan, Parks Plan, Growth Planning Study, active CIP, playground replacement schedule,
Complete Streets Policy, Safe Route to School Plan, Comprehensive Plan and
Transportation Plan. Five-year plan goals and successful indicators have been identified
with the Planning direction.
Growing — The City currently has low vacancy rates, 20-30 homes are being built per
year, low inventory of homes are for sale, 60 lots are available for building, home values
are increasing, large Park and Recreation facilities are aging, more amenities are needed
as the city expands, new housing developments are being considered and new
apartment complexes are being considered. Again, five-year plan goals and successful
indicators have been identified with the Growing Hutchinson direction.
Engaging — The City has several programs in place to engage the community such as
"So You Want to be a Council Member" class, National Night Out, Citizens Police
Academy, neighborhood meetings, Planning Commission public hearings, Truth -in -
Taxation annual hearing, Compost It Right!, Fire Department open house, City's
Facebook page/website, Park & Rec brochure, flyers in utility bills, Council open forums,
Community Education newsletter, Community tax fact sheet, radio show, Council
meetings on local access/streaming, and continued support of staff participation in the
Chamber Leadership and McLeod for Tomorrow programs.
Paying — The City is currently fiscally healthy, the local economic is strong, interest rates
are decent, tax rate is average, the current sales tax retires at the end of 2026, higher
tax increases in recent years have resulted in increased tax rates, debt management
plan hasn't been adjusted since 2017 (other than the new police station), financial
management plan is in place, receiving LGA payments on the lower -side of regional
centers, PILOT payment has been relatively flat since 2020, cost of materials and labor
are increasing, large growth in wages/benefits in recent years, and state/federal policies
could impact future budgets.
Mr. Jaunich noted that strategic priorities must be established. Some of the "big ticket"
items that need to be addressed include:
Sales tax renewal and other expanded funding options
Funding for new ladder truck
City Center remodel
Future of Event Center
Utility expansion to Hwy 22 & 7 intersection
HATS facility upgrade
Prioritizing Park and Recreation facilities — new and old
Council Member Czmowski noted that he feels a priority should be maintaining the
current aquatic center and ice arena. He feels that other projects that have no active
fundraising efforts occurring will need to be considered only if the sales tax is renewed.
He feels that projects that have active user groups fundraising with healthy donations
should be considered.
Mr. Jaunich presented a strategic plan with one to two-year goals and a strategic plan
with three to five-year goals put together by staff. He asked the Council to think about
projects and activities to add or remove from each strategic plan. For a future session,
he would like the Council to bring back thoughts on the "big ticket" items and the items
included on the 1-2 year plan and 3-5 year plan.
Council Member Burley spoke about recruiting/retaining/staffing public safety employees
and how that can be, or if it needs to be, identified in either of the strategic plans. Staff
noted that current plans are satisfactory for the next five years with both staff and
facilities.
2) Next Steps/Future Meetings
The Council noted they would like to hold another session to finalize the strategic plan.
Motion by May, second by Czmowski, to adjourn at 5:20 p.m. Motion carried
unanimously.
ATTEST:
Gary T. Forcier
Mayor
Matthew Jaunich
City Administrator