Developing Salem’s Strategic Plan

The City of Salem adopted its strategic plan on October 23, 2017. The strategic plan in brief provides a high-level overview. The City developed the strategic plan to articulate the mission, vision, values, and goals for the organization to help the City sustain delivery of core services as the community and the organization grow and change. The strategic plan charts a course for the City moving forward based on findings from an assessment of current conditions in our community, impacts of anticipated change in the region, and perspectives of residents, community leaders, and Council.

With this three to five year framework in place, Council sets specific priorities for action in the coming year, and makes those priorities clear to staff and the community in its annual policy agenda. The policy agenda provides direction during the budget process to align resources with current priorities.

Mission, vision, and values

In a work session on March 6, 2017, the Salem City Council reached consensus on mission, vision, and values statements for the organization.

Vision

A safe and livable capital city with a sustainable economy and environment that is open to all.

Mission

The City of Salem provides fiscally sustainable and quality services to enrich the lives of present and future residents, the quality of our environment and neighborhoods, and the vitality of our economy.

Values

Opportunity—Salem is proactive and forward-thinking

Compassion—Salem is fair, equitable, and safe

Responsiveness—Salem is at your service, with capacity and partnerships to prepare for the future

Accessibility—Salem is open and inclusive

Building the 2017 Strategic Plan

What are the City’s goals for the next five to seven years?

The strategic plan describes the mission and values that guide the City, the vision, goals, objectives, and performance measures the City wants to achieve, and the planning and funding it will take to get there.

Work groups and community involvement

Based on input received, outlined in the situation assessment, the City Council identified seven priority topics for Council work groups to discuss with the community. All work groups held public meetings to define the scope of the issue, desired outcome, and ideas for actions the City may take to address challenges and opportunities facing the City.

Community engagement

The City of Salem asked big questions as part of its strategic planning process and community engagement continues to be a critical part of this effort. We heard from:

More than 600 people shared their views in a survey on priorities for the City - in person at a September 19, 2017 Open House and online. This engagement summary also includes feedback from an early September 2017 City Council Work Session.
About 300 who participated in a June 1, 2017 Community Open House. We received more than 750 ideas and suggestions for how the City could address these big issues for our community.
January 2017 open house input summary
450 residents who participated in a statistically valid satisfaction survey conducted by DHM Research from November 30 through December 4, 2016
Stakeholders including potential partners in improving conditions in our community

Thank you for all of your time and input to help make this process a success!

How is the City government doing?

The situation assessment outlined the internal (strengths and weaknesses) and external (opportunities and threats) conditions impacting the provision of services by the City. View a summary of the situation assessment.

Strategic Plan Workgroups

As a result of Salem’s strategic planning process, seven areas of interest to the community were identified. Work groups, comprised of a small group of City Councilors, were created to discuss and recommend ideas for actions the City may take on these key topics.

Affordable housing, social services, homelessness work group

Mayor Bennett, Councilors McCoid, Andersen, Cook
Lead staff: Andy Wilch, Housing Administrator

Goals

Housing security for Salem residents
Accessible health and social services for Salem residents

Economic development and downtown work group

Mayor Bennett and Councilors Nanke, Hoy, Kaser
Lead staff: Kristin Retherford, Urban Development Department Director

Goals

A greater survival rate for small businesses, growth of existing businesses, and attraction of new businesses
A vibrant downtown with low commercial vacancy and quality housing

Vision for growth and development work group

Councilors McCoid, Cook, Lewis, Nanke
Lead staff: Lisa Anderson-Ogilvie, Planning Administrator

Goal

A comprehensive, long-term vision for growth and development in Salem

Critical infrastructure work group

Councilors Ausec, Lewis, Nanke, Kaser
Lead staff: Peter Fernandez, Public Works Department Director

Goal

A robust and maintained infrastructure system

Sustainable service delivery work group

Councilors McCoid, Andersen, Ausec, Cook
Lead staff: Kacey Duncan, Deputy City Manager

Goal

Alignment between City services and available resources

Public transportation work group

Mayor Bennett and Councilors Kaser, Lewis, Hoy
Lead staff: Julie Warncke, Transportation Planning Manager

Goal

A public transportation system that meets community needs

Environmental action work group

Councilors Andersen, Kaser, Nanke, McCoid
Lead staff: Kristin Retherford, Urban Development Department Director

Draft goal

Prepare a community-wide environmental strategy that prioritizes reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.