Summit County adopts 2023 work plan and council–manager compact, with edits to growth policy language

The Summit County Council voted unanimously to adopt the 2023 work plan and a revised council–manager compact after staff presented a framework tying strategic objectives to measurable indicators and a public dashboard.

Jeff Jones presented a data‑driven approach that would give the council and public two‑page briefs and a limited set of defensible indicators for each strategic priority (growth management/regional planning, local housing choice, transportation, environmental stewardship). Jones said the approach would help staff focus and allow the council to track progress; staff emphasized starting with existing strategic objectives and a small, prioritized set of metrics.

Council members debated sequencing with an ongoing community visioning process, proposed adding benchmarking to the work plan and refining language on managing and mitigating the impacts of growth "internally and through meetings with municipal and regional partners." Several members urged that staff analyze current codes and development tools in parallel with visioning results.

Council Member Molina moved to adopt the 2023 work plan and council–manager compact with agreed edits to definitions; the motion was seconded and carried by a unanimous voice vote. The council asked staff to return with the revised language and to prepare related briefs and presentations on prioritized topic areas.