Iowa City Council approves strategic plan

IOWA CITY — The Iowa City strategic plan for the next two years has been approved by the Iowa City Council. It received nay votes from two council members who called the plan 'too aggressive.'

With the Iowa City Council slated to vote Tuesday on the city's latest strategic plan, council member Susan Mims requested the item, which originally was in the consent calendar, to be pulled out and discussed individually.

Mims cited a few concerns with the plan, which is updated every two years to lay out council priorities and goals to be taken on by city staff. Her largest concern was the plan's scope.

Mims — who said she doesn't necessarily disagree with the priorities in the plan — said her concern lies in the amount of work the plan will place on staff, including a City Manager's Office. It soon will be one person short with the departure of City Manager Tom Markus.

'This puts our staff in an incredibly difficult position for the next two years,' Mims said. 'I think it sets them up potentially for failure.'

Ultimately, the plan passed 5-2, with Mims and council member Terry Dickens opposed.

Mayor Jim Throgmorton said the strategic plan reflects last fall's election, which saw the group dubbed the Core Four — incumbent Throgmorton and newcomers Rockne Cole, Pauline Taylor and John Thomas — sweep the election and oust two incumbents.

'I am very, very proud of this strategic plan ... It indicates a shift in direction. What do you expect? There was an election this past November and four were elected,' Throgmorton said.

'We were elected to shift priorities. We are doing that.'

Throgmorton said he agrees the plan is ambitious and will provide a challenge to city staff but added that isn't reason enough not to set those priorities.

'We will not be able to accomplish everything on that list in the next two years. We will do things step by step,' he said.

The 2016-2017 Strategic Plan includes several priorities found on the last plan, such as healthy neighborhoods, strategic economic development and a solid financial foundation. New additions include advancing social justice and racial equality and promoting environmental sustainability.

Council member Kingsley Botchway, who supported the plan, also noted the plan' scope, which he said includes $482,000 in additional expenditures for efforts geared toward such matters as carbon emission reduction, funding for the Iowa City Public Library's bookmobile and other studies.

Mims said many items were added to the plan since conversations began Nov. 30 among departing and incoming council members — bringing the plan up from five to seven priorities with more than 36 action items total.

'This is not lamenting change in the council or not accepting things,' Mims said.

Later in the meeting, Mims and Dickens also voted against the city's Fiscal Year 2017 operating budget, three-year financial plan and five-year capital improvement plan, citing similar concerns. The budget passed with a 5-2 vote.