Official Strategic Planning Session Minutes

March 29 – 30, 2018 The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

1197 S Lumpkin Street, Athens, GA 30602

Thursday, March 29, 2018 – 8:30 AM Present: Jace Brooks, Lynette Howard, John Heard

Absent: Charlotte J. Nash, Tommy Hunter

The Strategic Planning Session was facilitated by Mara Shaw and Langston Holbrook with the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government. The Board visited Four Athens, a nonprofit organization supporting entrepreneurship in Athens, where Jordan Burke provided information on that organization. David Lynn and Linda Ford of the Athens Downtown Development Authority gave a tour and overview of development in downtown Athens. No Official Action Taken.

Friday, March 30, 2018 – 8:30 AM Present: Charlotte J. Nash, Jace Brooks, Lynette Howard, John Heard

Absent: Tommy Hunter

The Strategic Planning Session was facilitated by Mara Shaw and Langston Holbrook with the University of Georgia Carl Vinson Institute of Government. No Official Action Taken.

Gwinnett County Board of CommissionersStrategic Planning SessionMarch 29-30, 2018

The University of Georgia Center for Continuing Education

Athens, Georgia

Charlotte Nash

Welcome and Overview

Mara Shaw

• Keep the conversation focused

• Make sure everyone is heard

• Help the group work towards consensus

• Keep a written record (of consensus agreements)

• Answer questions

Facilitator Roles

Thursday, March 29, 2018:

8:30 am Arrival and Continental Breakfast

9:00 am Welcome and Overview

9:30 am Defining the County Priorities

10:30 am Break

10:45 am Continue the Process of Defining the County Priorities

Noon Lunch

Strategic Planning Session Agenda – Day 1

1:00 pm County Priorities – Current Status and Future Expectations

2:45 pm Break and Hotel Check In

3:30 pm Shuttle Departs for Downtown

3:45 pm Tour of Downtown and Small Business Incubator Site

5:45 pm Complete Tour and Arrive for Dinner –

Porterhouse Grill*

Shuttles Provided for Return to the Georgia Center Hotel after Dinner

Day 1 Agenda - Continued

• Ensuring Mobility and Access by providing and maintaining a transportation infrastructure that meets the diverse and evolving needs of the community.

• Cultivating an environment that promotes a sense of Livability and Comfort within every segment of the community.

• Maintaining a Strong and Vibrant Local Economy by engaging with our partners and supporting local businesses to achieve the common goal of a thriving economy

Defining the County Priorities

What does each priority mean and what does it look like?

10:30 am – 10:45 am

• Encouraging Communication and Engagement by seeking to keep every segment of our community and organization engaged in and knowledgeable of County operations

• Maintaining a Smart and Sustainable Government by consistently operating based on sound reasoning with a long-term focus

• Emphasizing a Safe and Healthy Community in all County decisions and actions

Defining the County Priorities

What does each priority mean and what does it look like?

Lunch

Magnolia Ballroom

Salon 5

First Floor

Noon – 1:00 pm

• Mobility and Access

• Livability and Comfort

• Strong and Vibrant Local Economy

• Communication and Engagement

• Smart and Sustainable Government

• Safe and Healthy Community

Current Status of County Priorities

Where are we now on each priority?

• Where do we want to be in two years with each priority?

• What does success look like for each priority?

• How will we know when we get there?

Future Expectations

Break and Hotel Check In

3:30 Shuttle Departure for DowntownMeet in Hotel Lobby

Day 2: March 30, 2018

7:30 am Breakfast

Magnolia Salon 5

8:30 am Session Start

Room K/L

Schedule for Tomorrow

• Where are we now?

• Where do we want to be in two years with each priority?

Safe and Healthy Community

Recap of Day 1 and Overview of Day 2

Welcome and Good Morning!

Friday, March 30, 2018:

8:30 am Final Discussion of Current Status and Future

Expectations – Safe & Healthy Community

Strategic Planning Session Agenda – Day 2

1:00 pm Future Focused: Development of

Strategies and Objectives

2:30 pm Break

2:45 pm Future Focused: Development of

Strategies and Objectives

3:30 pm Review of Next Steps

3:45 pm Closing Thoughts, Evaluations, and

Adjournment

Day 2 Agenda – Continued

Priority: Ensuring Mobility and Access by providing and maintaining a transportation infrastructure that meets the diverse and evolving needs of the community.

Defined: Ensuring Mobility and Access through effective land use planning, and by providing and maintaining an efficient transportation system that meets the the diverse and evolving needs of our community.

Priority: Cultivating an environment that promotes a sense of Livability and Comfort within every segment of the community.

Defined: Cultivating a strong community through collaboration and partnerships that promote Livability and Comfort.

County Priorities Defined

Priority: Maintaining a Strong and Vibrant Local Economy by engaging with our community partners and supporting local businesses to achieve the common goal of a thriving economy

Defined: Grow and maintain a Strong and Vibrantly Connected Economy by partnering with all citizens to foster, expand and support businesses, development and redevelopment to achieve a thriving community.

Priority: Encouraging Communication and Engagementby seeking to keep every segment of our community and organization engaged in and knowledgeable of County operations

Defined: Through active Listening and Engagement with our community, we will tell our story and report our actions through multiple platforms.

County Priorities Defined

Priority: Maintaining a Smart and Sustainable Governmentby consistently operating based on sound reasoning with a long-term focus

Defined: Maintaining a Smart and Sustainable Governmentby consistently operating based on sound reasoning and and best practices with a long-long-term focus.

Priority: Emphasizing a Safe and Healthy Community in all County decisions and actions

Defined: Ensure a Safe Community by providing superior and comprehensive services, engaging partners to create a Healthy Gwinnett.

County Priorities Defined

• Mobility and Access

• Livability and Comfort

• Strong and Vibrant Local Economy

• Communication and Engagement

• Smart and Sustainable Government

• Safe and Healthy Community

Review of Future Expectations

9:45 am – 10:15 amBreak and Hotel Check out

• Mobility and Access

• Livability and Comfort

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, ThreatsGroup 1

Prioritize Future Expectations

• Strong and Vibrant Local Economy

• Communication and Engagement

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, ThreatsGroup 2

Prioritize Future Expectations

• Smart and Sustainable Government

• Safe and Healthy Community

Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, ThreatsGroup 3

Prioritize Future Expectations

Lunch

Magnolia Ballroom

Salon 5

First Floor

Noon – 1:00 pm

Future Focus: Objectives and Strategies

• Mobility and Access

• Livability and Comfort

• Who is responsible?

• Who are your key partners and their roles?

• What is the first step?

Future Focus: Objectives and StrategiesGroup 1

• Strong and Vibrant Local Economy

• Communication and Engagement

• Who is responsible?

• Who are your key partners and their roles?

• What is the first step?

Future Focus: Objectives and StrategiesGroup 2

• Smart and Sustainable Government

• Safe and Healthy Community

• Who is responsible?

• Who are your key partners and their roles?

• What is the first step?

Future Focus: Objectives and StrategiesGroup 3

2:30 pm – 2:45 pm

• Final questions

• Closing thoughts

• 2019 Session – Date?

• Evaluations

• Adjournment

Closing Thoughts, Evaluations, and Adjournment

The Gwinnett Standard

Thank you!