To: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
From: LUKE SMUDE, ASSISTANT TO THE CITY MANAGER
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DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION REGARDING THE FORMAT AND TIMING OF THE CITY’S NEXT STRATEGIC PLANNING SESSION
RECEIVE AND FILE THE MONTHLY UPDATE TO THE STRATEGIC PLAN OBJECTIVES ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL ON JUNE 10, 2025
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On January 20, 2026, Council Member Obagi, Jr. made a referral to staff to agendize a discussion item related to the City’s strategic planning process to establish the format and timing for the next strategic planning session. This item provides an opportunity for the Council to discuss the strategic planning process, set the meeting date, and give direction to staff on the desired format. Additionally, the item includes the eighth status report/update to the current strategic plan.
BACKGROUND
Since 1998, the City of Redondo Beach has been committed to the strategic planning process, which allows the City Council to establish goals and objectives for both short and long-term horizons. This process has taken different forms, with the City partnering with Leading Resources, Inc. (Leading Resources) to conduct and facilitate the last several strategic planning meetings, with the most recent session taking place on April 29, 2025.
The current Agreement with Leading Resources was adopted on April 1, 2025 and provided $30,000 in funding to complete two strategic planning meetings prior to the contract term ending on March 31, 2026. The City has completed only one of the two sessions funded by the Agreement. The scope of the Agreement includes the following tasks for the Leading Resources team: conduct meetings with the City Manager’s Office; conduct interviews with the City Council; prepare an agenda and supporting documentation for the meeting; provide on-site facilitation of the session; and provide all source documentation to City for finalization and presentation to the City Council for approval. If the Council elects to pursue a similar meeting format, the only action needed would be to schedule a date for the meeting with Leading Resources.
The City’s approach to strategic planning, however, is dynamic, allows for growth, the exploration of new ideas, and can be tailored to suit the current needs of the City. As such, it is possible for the Council to direct staff to pursue an updated process to complete the City’s next strategic planning session. Key elements of the current strategic planning process include discussing the City’s accomplishments since the last strategic planning session, evaluation of how the Strategic Plan’s Priority Areas and Goals are expressed and organized, as well as establishing specific, measurable goals for staff to achieve.
At this time, staff is seeking Council’s direction on the desired format and timing for the City’s next strategic planning session. Based on this direction, staff from across all Departments will work to ensure the strategic planning process is completed in a timely and effective manner. Staff is also requesting the Council receive and file the eighth update to the City’s current strategic plan as part of the regular monthly update cycle.
COORDINATION
The City Manager’s Office coordinated preparation of this report.
FISCAL IMPACT
Preparation of this report and any subsequent strategic planning efforts are covered in the City’s Adopted FY 2025-26 Budget. There is more than $18,000 of funding remaining in the existing Agreement with Leading Resources.
APPROVED BY:
Mike Witzansky, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
• Agmt - Leading Resources, Inc., April 1, 2025
• February 17, 2026 Strategic Planning Update