Estevan City Council puts forward strategic plan for 2026 budget and beyond – DiscoverEstevan.com

The latest meeting at the Estevan City Council saw discussions held on the new strategic plan they put in place ahead of the 2026 budget. First mentioned at the previous council meeting, the strategic plan would seek to lay out its priorities by December of this year.

The strategic planning process for the council lays out ten steps to take:

1. Council strategic planning survey: Launch by September 26th, close by October 3rd.
2. Senior leadership/management team survey: Launch by September 26th, close by October 3rd.
3. Analyze data results to develop draft strategic plan: with proposed strategic priorities and performance metrics.
4. Council strategic planning session: completed second half of October.
5. Approval of draft strategic plan in a Regular Council Meeting at the beginning of November.
6. Publish draft strategic plan to the public: Public and Stakeholder Engagement (in person or online) throughout November. Feedback will be implemented into draft strategic plan.
7. Council’s approval of strategic plan in a Regular Council Meeting by the end of the year.
8. Publish approved strategic plan (full plan – summary version for public)
9. communication rollout of strategic plan (press release, social media, etc.)
10. Develop reporting structure: quarterly or semi-annual status reports to Council, annual public report showing metrics and progress against strategic priority areas.

During the council meeting, City Manager Jeff Ward spoke about the plan, stating that a part of it will also help establish best practices for any new councils.

“When councils first get on, there’s about a year where you’re still dealing with leftover items from the previous council term and budget, so I think doing another four-year cycle now, starting for the 2026 year, makes a lot of sense.”

Councillor Shelley Veroba noted her approval of the public reporting aspects of the plan that can keep people up-to-date.

“I really do like that part in here, number 10, with developing reporting structure, because I think that also will help moving forward to the next council that comes on for that first year, then it kind of gets them involved into what the actual strategic plan was from the last council, and gives them an idea if that’s something they want to carry forward or make some changes.”

The council passed a motion unanimously to begin the first stages of that plan.