City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JANUARY 22, 2026
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
THROUGH: JAMES F. PARAJON, CITY MANAGER
FROM: DANA WEDELES, STRATEGIC INITIATIVES OFFICER
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of the City Strategic Plan for FY26-FY28.
BODY
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ISSUE: Receive and Approve FY26-FY28 City Strategic Plan.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council:
1. Discuss and consider the proposed FY26-FY28 Strategic Plan, including City Council Priorities, as developed during the winter City Council Retreat; and
2. Approve the proposed plan with direction to staff to proceed with implementation.
BACKGROUND:
At the Winter 2025 Council Retreat, City Council established its top priorities for the coming years, building upon the framework adopted in 2022. This process was guided by data-driven analysis, and structured discussion between Council and City staff. The City’s Strategic Plan serves as a unifying framework that connects the mission, vision, and values of local government to measurable departmental action. It ensures that budget decisions, programs, and employee efforts directly support community needs while fostering adaptability, efficiency, and accountability.
The plan strengthens the connection between Council’s priorities and operational work through a three-tiered structure:
1. Our Why - The City’s mission, vision, and core values define purpose and direction.
2. Our What - Council priorities, updated every three years, establish strategic focus areas that reflect the legacy and impact Council seeks to achieve.
3. Our How - Departmental workplans, updated annually, translate priorities into measurable actions that are tracked through a public dashboard.
The Strategic Plan clarifies how the City will achieve its mission of “Working together to foster a thriving Alexandria” and its vision of “A culture that supports each of us and inspires excellence.”
It aligns organizational systems and operations with six key Strategic Priorities (2025-2027), four Council priorities and two internal organizational priorities:
Council Priorities
• Advance Housing Opportunities - Support quality housing options at a range of price points.
• Reduce Community Disparities - Align services with community needs to strengthen health, safety, and stability.
• Strengthen Our Economy - Diversify the tax base and support equitable economic growth.
• Recruit and Retain a Thriving Workforce - Ensure City employees feel valued and supported.
Organizational Priorities
• Streamline Organizational Systems and Processes - Improve workflows for efficiency and consistency.
• Continuously Improve and Innovate - Promote creativity and adaptability through data-driven solutions.
Each priority includes measurable objectives, guiding questions, and representative initiatives that define expected outcomes across departments.
DISCUSSION:
Implementation of the FY26-FY28 Strategic Plan emphasizes continuous engagement, performance measurement, and organizational accountability.
• Quarterly Updates and Tracking:
Progress will be monitored through the City’s Council Priorities Dashboard, which tracks outcomes in each council priority area using key performance indicators and measurable targets.
• Departmental Workplans:
Each department develops and updates annual workplans aligned with Council priorities and ensures opportunity for cross-departmental coordination.
• Stakeholder Feedback:
The plan remains a living document, continuously informed by resident surveys, employee engagement results, board and commission input, and community-based initiatives.
• Future Council Reassessment:
The framework anticipates a regular review of the mission, vision, and values every ten years, with Council priority updates every three years to ensure continued relevance and responsiveness.
Next Steps
The Strategic Plan serves as direction and accountability throughout the organization. The deployment process focuses on two complementary objectives:
1. Engagement and Awareness - Ensuring all employees understand how their work contributes to the City’s mission and community priorities.
2. Alignment and Integration - Incorporating the Strategic Plan into daily operations, including departmental planning, onboarding, and communications.
By intentionally connecting individual and departmental efforts to community outcomes, the plan strengthens organizational cohesion and the City’s ability to deliver effective, equitable, and innovative services.
The plan establishes a recurring rhythm for review and renewal through FY28:
• 2025-2026: Launch and embed the Strategic Plan through organizational engagement, alignment of workplans, and performance integration.
• 2027: Reassess the City’s organizational mission, vision, and values to ensure continued alignment and relevance.
• 2028: Conduct a Council Retreat to update the three-year Council priorities and prepare for the next phase of the Strategic Plan.
The FY26-FY28 Strategic Plan provides a clear, data-informed roadmap for advancing Council’s priorities through measurable results and continuous improvement. It strengthens alignment between City leadership, staff, and the community; connects long-term vision to short-term action; and ensures that Alexandria’s government remains responsive, equitable, and forward-looking in service to all residents.
FISCAL IMPACT: None.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. FY26-28 City Strategic Plan
2. Six Month Look Ahead for Council
3. Presentation
STAFF:
Greg Useem, Director, Office of Performance Analytics
Dana Wedeles, Strategic Initiatives Officer, Office of Performance Analytics
Josh Ferguson, Performance Analyst, Office of Performance Analytics