Adopted City Strategic Plan FY 2017-2022

On January 28, 2017, the Alexandria City Council unanimously adopted a Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2017 through 2022. The plan was updated in November 2017, with new action items that will get the City closer to the goals for 2022. The Plan is being used by City Council and staff to guide the City’s direction and priorities for the next five years.

Community Participation and Adoption Process

The FY 2017-2022 City Strategic Plan process was an opportunity for City Council to work with members of the community to establish the City’s strategic direction and priorities for the coming years. Throughout this planning process, the community had several opportunities to participate and provide feedback in-person and online. Staff developed a Civic Engagement Framework  and Civic Engagement Schedule, which follows the goals and strategies outlined in the  What's Next Alexandria  Civic Engagement Handbook. 

• On Saturday, January 28,  City Council unanimously adopted  the FY 2017-2022 City Strategic Plan with the following amendments:
  • In the Vision Statement, insert the words, “active and secure older adults” after the phrase “children and youth.”
  • In the Vision Statement, insert the words “with distinct, vibrant and safe neighborhoods” after the phrase “inclusive city of kindness” and delete the words “a safe community.”
  • In the Distinctive and Vibrant Neighborhoods section, insert the revised sentence, after the phrase “suburban and commercial areas”, “Alexandria is committed to historic and archaeological preservation and interpretation, honoring its historic legacy.”
  • In Distinctive and Vibrant Neighborhoods section, change the word “formation” to “consideration” in the action item regarding the Business Improvement District.
  • In Inclusive City section, revise the last action item to read, “Secure committed affordable and accessible housing, as well as seek affordable assisted living units through the development process.”
  • In the Strong Economy section, insert the words “and museums attract” after the phrase “the historic district.”
  • A glossary of terms will be added the City’s webpage in the Civic Engagement section with a notification in the City’s Strategic Plan on where to locate the glossary.
• Docket materials can be found  here or below:
  • Attachment 1: Draft FY 2017-2022 City Strategic Plan
  • Attachment 2: Strategic Plan Amendments since the June 2016 City Council Meeting
  • Attachment 3: Presentation
  • Attachment 4: Matrix of edits that City Council will be considering at the January 28 Public Hearing
    
• Summary of Community Input as of January 17, 2017
  • The below comments are included in the January summary:
    • Email from a group of concerned community members, November 29, 2016 
    • Letter from the Commission on Aging, December 2016
• Additional comments received since the posting of docket materials
  • City Manager's Memo to Vice Mayor Wilson, January 24, 2017
  • Letter from the Archaeological Commission, January 24, 2017
  • Email from Mindy Lyle, January 24, 2017
  • Email from a group of concerned community members, January 23, 2017

Previous Meeting Materials and Information

• November - December 2016: AlexEngage
  Community members were invited to review and provide input on the  City’s Draft FY 2017-2022 Strategic Plan from November 15 - December 8, 2016, through  AlexEngage, attending an Open House on December 5 or contacting staff directly. All comments received will inform the final draft Plan anticipated to be presented to City Council in January 2017.
  • Summary of  AlexEngage Comments 
• Monday, December 5, 2016: Open House on the Draft City Strategic Plan
  • Summary
• July - August, 2016: Online prioritization activity
  Community members were invited to prioritize goals specific to each draft theme developed earlier in the process by selecting indicators most important for the City to focus on in the next 6 years. Performance indicators will be included in the draft Plan and will help the City track its progress toward its strategic goals. These indicators will be monitored for the life of the plan, and will help inform City government work and budget priorities.
  
  Note: The indicators were developed through a series of eight work sessions with City departments and were oriented around each draft City Strategic Plan theme. Where possible, staff selected indicators from existing City plans (e.g. Eco-City Alexandria) and/or emulated national and regional best-practices. As part of the selection process, all indicators were expected to be measurable, able to be influenced by City work, and relevant to all of Alexandria (rather than a particular region or neighborhood alone).  
  • Summary Report from Online Prioritization Activity (July 19 - August 27)
• July 19 - 27, 2016 - Series of in-person open houses were held throughout the city to answer questions related to prioritization activity described above.
• June 30, 2016
  • Progress update to City Council, June 30 (Video)
    
• Monday, July 18, 2016 - Community Meeting  
  Samuel Tucker Elementary School Cafeteria, 435 Ferdinand Day Drive
  • Agenda
  • Presentation
  • Meeting Summary
  • Video of meeting
• April-May, 2016: AlexEngage
  On Saturday, April 9, a public meeting was held to develop draft statements for each of the Strategic Plan themes based on feedback provided by the community at previous meetings and online. From April 15 - May 9, the community was invited to provide additional input on the draft statements by visiting AlexEngage.
  • AlexEngage Summary Report

• Saturday, April 9, 2016 - Refining Vision & Goals
  George Washington Middle School, 1005 Mt. Vernon Avenue
  
  • Agenda
  • Presentation
  • Video of meeting
  • Meeting Summary
    
• AlexEngage, March 2016
  In March, community members participated in a 3-week online engagement opportunity to share what matters most to them about the city. Input received will inform the FY 2017-2022 City Strategic Plan and help  shape the future of Alexandria.
  • Summary Report of AlexEngage Comments Received
• Monday, March 14, 2016 - Visioning Meeting
  TC Williams High School Cafeteria, 3330 King Street
  • Agenda
  • Presentation
  • Video of meeting
  • Meeting Summary and Summary of AlexEngage Comments
    

Background

In the fall of 2015, City Council approved the general outline for a proposed spring 2016 process to draft an updated City Strategic Plan. The current Alexandria City Strategic Plan was intended to be in effect until 2015. The new Plan will use community input as the foundation to define the results of community values; communicate a clear direction to the public and City Government; include measures and targets to more easily track progress, share success, and identify and solve problems; set a six-year plan from FY 2017-2022 with a mid-point check-in/refinement in FY 2019; and align with the City’s performance management system,  Results Alexandria. The draft City Strategic Plan will be considered for adoption by City Council in the fall of 2016. 

• Memo to Council on City Strategic Plan Update Process, September 2015
• Presentation to Council: City Strategic Planning Options for Consideration, September 2015
• Memo updating Council on proposed process for the FY2017-2022 City Strategic Plan, February 2016
• Presentation to Council, February 23, 2016

Previous 2004-2015 Strategic Planning Process

Alexandria's Strategic Plan for 2004-2015 was adopted by City Council in 2004, and amended in 2006. It was replaced by the updated Strategic Plan approved in June 2010 .

The links below provide meeting and materials information for the 2004-2015 Strategic Planning process:

• Goal 1:  Alexandria has quality development and redevelopment, support for local businesses and a strong, diverse and growing local economy.
• Goal 2:  Alexandria respects, protects and enhances the health of its citizens and the quality of its natural environment.
• Goal 3:  A multimodal transportation network that supports sustainable land use and provides internal mobility and regional connectivity for Alexandrians.
• Goal 4:  Alexandria is a community that supports and enhances the well-being, success and achievement of children, youth and families.
• Goal 5:  Alexandria is financially sustainable, efficient, community oriented and values its employees.
• Goal 6:  The City protects the safety and security of its residents, businesses, employees and visitors.
• Goal 7:  Alexandria is a caring and inclusive community that values its rich diversity, history and culture, and promotes affordability.

Questions?

Contact Hillary Orr , Special Assistant, City Manager's Office, 703.746.3862.