Dupage Policy Journal

DuPage County Strategic Planning Committee met Oct. 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

1. CALL TO ORDER

12:00 PM meeting was called to order by Chair Sadia Covert at 12:14 PM.

2. ROLL CALL

Other County Board Members present: Member Michael Childress, Member Lucy Chang Evans, Member Kari Galassi, Member Paula Garcia, Member Patty Gustin, Member Greg Schwarze. Chair Covert noted Member James Zay attended via Zoom.

Staff in attendance: Policy and Program Manager, Jason Blumenthal; Assistant State's Attorney, Trevor Prindle

PRESENT Covert, Cronin Cahill, LaPlante, Rutledge, and Yoo

ABSENT Krajewski

3. PUBLIC COMMENT

No public comments were offered.

4. CHAIR'S REMARKS - CHAIR COVERT

Chair Covert welcomed Michelle Kennedy and Karen Whichard from BerryDunn, who are facilitating today's workshop on strategic goals, and thanked the County Board members in attendance. She looked forward to everyone working collaboratively today as they share their thoughts and ideas.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

5.A. 23-3332

Strategic Planning Committee - Regular Meeting - Tuesday, September 5, 2023

RESULT: APPROVED

MOVER: Sheila Rutledge

SECONDER: Lynn LaPlante

6. DISCUSSION

6.A. Strategic Plan Discussion led by BerryDunn Team

In his introductory remarks, Jason Blumenthal welcomed Michelle Kennedy and Karen Whichard from BerryDunn and the members of the County Board who have joined the Strategic Planning Committee for today's extended meeting and the opportunity to share their ideas for shaping the next five-year strategic plan for DuPage County.

Ms. Whichard first reviewed the Environmental Scan, highlighting the demographic trends and community indicators that emerged from earlier BerryDunn interviews with County Board members, the online public survey and the September community forums. Today's goal is to gather attendees' input on the mission and vision of the County, guiding principles, priorities and goals. Ms. Whichard noted that the strategic plan represents the County's policy vision for the next five years - where they want to go from a policy perspective. Top themes revealed by the Environmental Scan include improved tranportation/transit options; more affordable housing options; enhanced environmental sustainability efforts; and keeping a focus on community safety.

From the findings revealed by the Environmental Scan, the BerryDunn team created a SWOC analysis (Strengths/Weaknesses/Opportunities/Challenges). Strengths include the desirability of DuPage County as a place to live and work; the County's financial stability; a highly functioning nonprofit sector. Weaknesses identified include the complex layers of local government entities typical of Illinois as a whole; issues arising from a limited ability to impact or influence local zoning; regional transit needs; reliance on fluctuating sales tax revenues due to prevailing national economic conditions. Opportunities include the increasing diversity of DuPage County; increasing cooperation with a strong nonprofit sector; addressing housing and workforce development needs, including long-term planning for staff retirement, retention and succession; economic development initiatives post-COVID. Challenges include more diverse communities necessitating more adaptive service provision; housing availability and affordability; the overall property tax burden on residents; limited transit options; maintaining sufficient staffing to support state mandates.

Ms. Whichard then asked the attendees to consider how they might refine the SWOC analysis presented by BerryDunn from their perspectives - if there was anything they might wish to add, change, or omit.

Following the round table SWOC discussion and for the remainder of the meeting, attendees transitioned into small-group discussions of the following five strategic planning concepts of mission, vision, strategic priorities, guiding principles and strategic goals. From the small groups emerged the following concepts, which were then consolidated into common themes by the BerryDunn facilitators: safe communities; thriving economies; affordable/accessible housing; environmental stewardship; accessible transportation/transit options; quality of life services. Accountability, consolidation and efficiency, transparency and leadership emerged as guiding principles.

Ms. Kennedy and Ms. Whichard noted that the findings from today's County Board roundtable discussions would be presented at a meeting with DuPage County Senior Staff on Wednesday, October 18 as they consider the operational aspects of implementing the strategic goals for the new Strategic Plan.

Committee Members LaPlante and Yoo left the meeting before the conclusion of the group discussion. County Board Members Garcia and Childress were appointed members of the Committee for quorum purposes.

7. OLD BUSINESS

No old business was discussed.

8. NEW BUSINESS

No new business was discussed.

9. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

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