The Hastings City Council adopted a strategic plan at its meeting Monday, Sept. 4 that will guide city operations through 2027. 

The council and city department heads met in April with a facilitator from Rapp Consulting Group to refine a vision and put together five priority areas. Within those five areas, there are 16 initiatives, City Administrator Dan Wietecha said. The council will receive quarterly reports on progress within the strategic plan goals. 

“It’s really an important and guiding document for the city as we go forward the next several years,” said Wietecha. 

The plan’s five strategic priorities are: 

• Financial resilience.

The desired outcomes in this area are expanded revenue base, responsible use of debt and spending aligned with growth demands, according to the plan. 

“We want to make sure we’re a financially sound organization,” said Wietecha. 

• Operational effectiveness.

Outcomes are staff capacity to meet services demands, improved core service delivery and improved workforce capabilities. 

• Responsive community development.

Desired outcomes are clarity regarding housing supply needs, successful development and strategic park investments. 

• Infrastructure sustainability

In that category, outcomes sought include improved water treatment capacity, successful completion of outside agency projects and expanded asset management capability. 

• Strategic communication.

Desired outcomes are improved collaborative relationships, improved media communication and relationship and enhanced community engagement. 

“We want to make sure we’re a transparent, responsive government,” said Wietecha. 

Staff has taken the initiatives and developed action plans to achieve the initiatives. 

Mayor Mary Fasbender credited staff work on the strategic plan. 

“The council and the management team worked hard that day. It’s kind of team-building, along with what can we do best for our city? Your leadership is going to be appreciated,” she told Wietecha. 

Councilmember Tina Folch expressed concern that the plan wasn’t presented to the council for review prior to passage. 

“I was actually surprised that we didn’t have a workshop or any other further conversation about it,” she said. “I thought we would see a draft, and we’d have time to comment. I’m really just kind of surprised that it was completed, and we’re just being given a final draft without an opportunity to be walked through it. It’s the council’s strategic plan. I think we should fully understand it.”