2026 Strategic Plan

The Palmdale Water District (District) is accepting proposals from qualified professionals to work with its Board of Directors, District staff, and stakeholders to develop the 2026 Strategic Plan. It will be an update to the 2022 Strategic Plan, as approved by the Board of Directors in October 2022, in the Attachments . Additionally, the proposal should include an evaluation of the mission, vision, and core values of the 2006 Strategic Plan, as found in the Attachments .

The District's desired outcomes for this process are to be transparent with constituents about the District's direction and commitments; to have clear policy direction for the Board when setting priorities and allocating resources; and to provide staff with actionable guidance for execution, along with shared goals and objectives that enable collaboration and define performance expectations for staff.

The District conducted a workshop with the Board of Directors and staff to develop this RFP. Based on the workshop, the following were identified as key elements and design principles for the 2026 Strategic Plan:

1. Core Components:

• Mission, Vision, and Values as foundational statements
• SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Actionable, Relevant, Time-bound)
• One-page format for conciseness and accessibility
• Visuals could include charts, graphics, or infographics

2. Design Principles:

• Simplicity and clarity
• Implementable and measurable, not merely aspirational
• Regular reference tool that guides decisions
• Summary version for the community and Board Directors
• Full version with detailed SMART objectives for staff to reference/track achievement paths

3. Time Horizon:

• 3-to 5-year strategic goals
• 1-year SMART objectives

4. Deliverables:

• Detailed Summary (staff-centric)
• Simple Summary (public-centric)

Tentative Process and Timeline:

Two workshops are envisioned to complete the 2026 Strategic Plan. The first would be a one-day to one-and-a-half-day workshop for the Board of Directors to develop the 3-to 5-year strategic goals. Staff recommendations on these goals will then be collected to help develop the one-year SMART objectives. These will be the subject of a second Board of Directors workshop to discuss and adopt. The process is estimated to take three to four months as described below:

• Phase 1 requires one to two months for preparation, the 1.5-day vision session, and synthesis.
• Phase 2 needs two to three months for staff to develop SMART objectives through facilitated processes.
• The Board will then review and finalize the SMART objectives. Completion by April 2026 will enable staff appraisals and goal setting, as well as integration with the budget process for the next calendar year's budget.

Engagement in Process:

It is expected that the community and District staff will engage in the process. The proposal should include successful, cost-effective options to engage the community and staff. Proposals should include a scope and an estimated fee for each proposed option for the District staff to select. The engagement effort will be coordinated with PWD’s Public Affairs Director.

The Palmdale Water (Irrigation) District was formed in 1918 under the provisions of Division 11 of the Water Code of the State of California to supply irrigation water to the approximately 4,500 acres of agricultural land within its boundaries. Under this Division, the District’s primary functions were, and continue to be, to acquire, control, conserve, store, and distribute water for the beneficial use of inhabitants and water users within the District.

The Palmdale Water District (District) is an independent special district governed by a five-member Board of Directors who serve the public by division. Special districts provide accountability and a means to vote selectively and provide customers the opportunity to express their preferences more precisely. The most basic virtue of a special district is to allow citizens to customize government to suit their needs.