Council reviews draft strategic plan after broad community engagement

City staff presented a draft update to Fair Oaks Ranch’s strategic plan, summarizing community engagement to date and seeking council direction on goals and objectives.

Assistant city manager Jim Williams said the draft reflects input gathered through steering‑committee meetings, town halls and two surveys, totaling approximately 2,785 individual public comments. The structure retains five core priorities from the prior plan and adds a sixth, community engagement. Staff outlined draft objectives including evaluating and improving an oak‑wilt program, considering a tree‑planting rebate or incentive program to increase species diversity, continuing asset‑management for water and wastewater systems, developing an annual legislative agenda and implementing a Citizens Leadership Academy to boost resident knowledge of local government.

Council members suggested strengthening language on oak‑wilt work (move from 'evaluate' to 'evaluate and improve'), ensuring the Citizens Leadership Academy and resident surveys are costed and timed, and ensuring the comprehensive plan updates are resourced. Resident Carol Willoughby asked how the communications and survey outreach is sent; staff explained multiple channels (email, text, social media, website banner) and asked residents to sign up for newsflash lists.

Staff said the next steps include launching a third community questionnaire April 3–17, finalizing the draft for May agenda setting, and bringing the plan back for adoption at an early May meeting. Council asked to see the draft well in advance of final votes so members can review details.