Strategic Planning Consulting Services

The City of Lawrence (City) Budget, Strategy, & Performance Office seeks to partner with a Strategic Planning Consulting Service Provider to lead an extensive and collaborative strategic planning process aimed at guiding the City’s operations and decision-making from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2029.

PAST STRATEGIC PLAN

After extensive community engagement (3000 participants), the Lawrence City Commission adopted the strategic plan framework in October 2020. The framework outlines the core components of the Strategic Plan including five outcomes, which represent what our organization is “in business to do” and what we plan to accomplish with our community.

1. Unmistakable Identity
2. Strong, Welcoming Neighborhoods
3. Safe and Secure
4. Prosperity and Economic Security
5. Connected City

Because the way we do our work is as important as what we do, the framework also includes six commitments to how our team will do our work.

1. Community Engagement
2. Efficient and Effective Processes
3. Equity and Inclusion
4. Sound Fiscal Stewardship
5. Engaged and Empowered Teams
6. Environmental Sustainability

In addition to the Mission, Vision, and Organizational Values, the City Commission has identified several Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to track progress. Each KPI is shared between an Outcome and a Commitment. They can be found here: Strategic Plan - City of Lawrence, Kansas .

The City of Lawrence has a Strategic Plan that will serve as the foundation for planning efforts. We are seeking a qualified strategic planning service provider with experience working with local government or municipal organizations that have successfully developed and facilitated a strategic plan process.

RECEPTIVITY TO STRATEGIC PLANNING

The current Strategic Plan has been embraced by the community and organization as a driver of action and priorities and deeply embedded in organizational processes and policies. It also reflects the expressed and diverse values of the community and is a platform for the reconciliation and expression of the values of the community. Therefore, there is an awareness of the opportunity and impact a strategic plan can have on achieving results that match community expectations.

Because of a widely shared understanding that the Strategic Plan is THE path to results, this should increase the participation in developing the next plan for the future. While the current strategic plan is embraced, none of the elected leaders, few of the city's executive team members, and many community members who are active in civic affairs were part of the creation and adoption of the current strategic plan. We believe it is an advantage that the community understands the value and power of a strategic plan. It is also an opportunity to get new perspectives and current "fingerprints" of community members and leaders.

MISSION, VISION AND VALUES

The Mission, Vision and Values were not as extensively addressed in the development of the current strategic plan. These likely need more comprehensive treatment through the upcoming engagement.