Mill Creek Strategic Plan
For years, City leaders in Mill Creek, Washington had taken note of the impacts the slowing economy and other factors were having on reserves. “Fat” trimming and service cuts had not fully closed the gap, so in 2010, Mill Creek hired SCJ staff to help show the way to close deficits without losing things residents considered truly indispensable. To gauge priorities versus cuts, an aggressive outreach strategy was employed. Using informal polls administered at community events, a statistically valid telephone survey, multiple workshops, open houses, an interactive website, a Facebook™ page, and much more, ideas on vision and on revenue generation were tested. In the end, a five-year budget strategy was developed, coupled with an intermediate-span policy menu. This served the plan’s primary function—and gave valuable guidance for future comp plan updates. In 2012, The Mill Creek plan received an APA/PAW Award for community outreach. Engagement strategies for Mill Creek’s Strategic Plan included in-person interviews, brochures and exercises presented at more than two dozen community events, a statistically valid survey, workshops and open house events, the use of a project website, QR codes, and social media.
Client Reference:
Steve Butler
Former Community Development Director
Dates of Involvement: 2011 – 2013
Cost: $75,000
