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 insp...
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