2025 Strategic Planning Process

Strategic plans communicate high level priorities of the governing body to the public and establish direction for staff on policy and funding recommendations. In 2013, the Town Council participated in strategic planning conversations. While the discussions were valuable, no official strategic plan was adopted.

Today, the Town Council is committed to developing a strategic plan to identify goals and priorities that will continue to make Highland Park a premier community throughout the years to come. The plan will provide residents, council, and staff with goals and strategies to achieve the vision of the community. It will also serve as a tool for delivering services effectively and efficiently, and for guiding budget decisions, whether allocating new resources or adjusting existing ones.

The Mejorando Group, selected through a competitive Request for Proposals process, serves as the Town's strategic planning consultant.

Timeline

Elements of the Strategic Plan

The Town’s strategic plan will include the following core components:

  • Mission Statement – Defines what the Town does today and its essential functions.

  • Vision Statement – Outlines where the community wants to be in the next 3–5 years and 10–20 years.

  • Goals/Priorities – Identifies 5 to 7 broad, overarching goals that align with the Town’s mission and vision.

  • Strategies – Establishes actionable steps over the next 1–2 years to support the identified goals.

  • Values – Highlights the culture and guiding principles of the organization.

Community Engagement

Resident participation is a key part of the strategic planning process. Input will be gathered through:

  • Community Survey – Measures resident satisfaction with current services and gathers ideas for community priorities and new initiatives. View the 2025 Community Survey Results.

  • Community Conversations – Meetings open to all residents to gather input. The in-person sessions, facilitated by the Town’s strategic planning consultant, the Mejorando Group, were held on September 11th and 12th at various locations throughout the Town for convenience. Virtual meetings were also held on October 14th and 30th for those who were unable to attend in person.

Implementation and Accountability

Once complete, the strategic plan will be shared with the community through:

  • The Town’s website and print materials.

  • An online dashboard tracking progress toward goals and strategies.

The plan will guide annual budgeting, capital planning, departmental work plans, and performance metrics for ongoing monitoring and evaluation. This “living document” will be reviewed regularly as progress on initiatives is made.