Seaside officials back plan to launch competitive strategic-planning RFP

Seaside City Manager Spencer told the council on June 8 that he wants the city to move from a two‑year “strategic blueprint” to a fuller strategic‑planning cycle that links community input, council visioning, staff work plans and budgeting.

Spencer said the current blueprint establishes short‑term priorities but lacks a consistent operational link between council goals and departmental work. He described a model used by Albany and Rockaway Beach—vision areas, three‑to‑five‑year goals, one‑to‑two‑year tactical objectives with assigned owners and measurable indicators—and proposed soliciting proposals from experienced municipal planning consultants.

Spencer said the process would start with broader community engagement, move into council visioning and produce a plan that builds reporting and accountability into regular operations. He suggested starting community outreach this fall, with a six‑month consultant engagement that would allow the council to begin using a new framework in January. He also said the request for proposals (RFP) would emphasize consultant credentials and municipal experience rather than lowest price.

Council members pressed on implementation details—how measures of success differ from outcomes, how tactical objectives tie to quarterly reporting and whether the plan should affect the timing of budgeting. Spencer and members discussed options such as two‑year strategic budgeting and preserving staff capacity for operational work while creating a longer‑range framework.

Council President Morsy and others expressed general support for sending an RFP and building the plan so it assigns departmental owners, includes measurable indicators and ties to work‑plans and budgets. No formal vote was taken in the work session; Spencer said he would prepare an RFP and suggested staff could start limited community outreach this fall so the council could act on consulting contracts and draft materials in January.

Next steps: Spencer will return with RFP language and a recommended timeline; the council directed staff to include outreach, review of existing plans (including the 2034 visioning document), and mechanisms for quarterly reporting and assigned ownership of tactical objectives.