VILLAGE OF NILESSTRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

REVIEW & PRESENTATION OF OUTCOMES

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January 2021

Mel Henriksen, MPP, Assistant Director, Public Management and Training, CGSJeanna Ballard, MPA, Senior Research Associate, CGS

NIU Center for Governmental Studies

OVERVIEW OF THE STRATEGIC PLANNING PROCESS

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• To conduct the Village’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan, the NIU-CGS team led the Village through a multi-phased approach:

Phase I: Collected and analyzed stakeholder feedback and incorporated it into the process;

Phase II: Facilitated two half-day leadership strategic planning workshop sessions;

• Identified the future vision and direction of the Village and established goals and priorities

Phase III: Reviewed and prioritized the strategic goals; and, Phase IV: Conducted an action planning launch of consensus goals to

establish a path forward for the Village and enhance organizational accountability.

Overview of the Strategic Planning Process

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Strategic Planning Process – Review of Steps I. Phase I: Pre-workshop - Stakeholder Input Gathering Sessions

The NIU-CGS project team conducted a virtual focus group with front-line Village staff along with two online surveys that were administered to the Finance and Planning and Zoning Committees.

The focus group and survey results were reviewed and themes were identified and shared with the Board and senior staff during the workshop sessions.

The themes represent important topic areas that the Board and senior staff used as they created goals at the workshop - alignment between the focus group themes, discussion exercise results, and goals is natural and expected.

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Strategic Planning Process – Stakeholder Input Themes

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Strong Government & Quality Resources

Economic Development

Beautification/Open Space

Communication/Collaboration

Safety

Infrastructure Improvements

Organizational Development

Strategic Planning Process – Review of Steps II. Phase II: Leadership Strategic Planning Workshops The group was led through the following exercises: Visions of the Future,

Important Topic Areas, SWOT Analyses, Goal Development and Classification Several themes emerged as a result of these discussions.

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Family-oriented Inclusion & Diversity

Development/ Redevelopment

Communication/Brand Awareness

Become a Destination Sustainability Technology

Strategic Planning Process – Review of Steps III. Phase III: Goal Development & Prioritization With the preceding workshop sessions as a foundation for goal setting, a healthy

group discussion of goals and/or action items needed to achieve the future visions occurred

As a reminder: • Short-term goals were those goals that could or should

be completed or substantially underway in the next 1-3 years.• Long-term goals were those goals that could or should be

completed or substantially underway within a 3-8+ years. Prioritization:

• Online survey ranking tool sent to Board members• Required “forced” ranking to determine high/medium/low goal scoring

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Strategic Planning Process – Review of Steps

Short-Term Goals – Top Three High Priority1. Undertake a financial analysis to explore revenue enhancement options.2. Complete the Golf Mill Shopping Center redevelopment agreement and

phase 1 of construction.3. Identify incentives and strategies to attract developers for development

and redevelopment opportunities throughout the Village and specifically in the TIF Districts.

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Strategic Planning Process – Review of Steps

Long-Term Goals – Top Three High Priority1. Implement revenue enhancement strategies identified in the financial

analysis.2. Implement economic development strategies aimed at attracting new retail

development, offering experiential entrepreneurial incubators to residents and businesses and enhancing development around the potential train stop.

3. Finalize Grainger re-development plans, select developers, and complete builds to improve Touhy Triangle redevelopment.

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Strategic Planning Process – Review of Steps

IV. Phase IV: Action Planning Launch The NIU-CGS’ project team worked with the Village’s senior staff taking the

outcomes of the strategic plan and operationalizing the goals. The Action Planning launch represented a conversion of goals into administrative

and policy actions necessary for accomplishment. This final component included the following steps:

Goal Review and ClarificationEstablishment of Structural Assignments and Goal Coordination ResponsibilitiesScheduling of Start Dates, Milestones and Status Reports Initial Discussions on Approaches for Action Steps/Work Plans

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Strategic Planning Process – A Snapshot• As a result of the entire strategic planning process, five key strategic

priority areas were identified highlighting activities and initiatives that the Village should focus on in both the short- and long-term.

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Diversified Economic

Development

Infrastructure Planning &

Funding

Marketing & Communication

Foster Community

Identity

Financial Stability &

Transparency

Next Steps

• Undertake monthly or quarterly “check-ins”• Build out, monitor, and update the action planning document with

staff• Conduct annual reviews of progress• Check-in every 3-5 years to determine renewal of

the process

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Questions & Contact Information

Mel Henriksen Assistant Director of Public Management and Training

Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental StudiesEmail: mhenriksen@niu.edu

Phone: 815-753-0323

Jeanna BallardSenior Research Associate - Public Management and Training Northern Illinois University’s Center for Governmental Studies

Email: jballard5@niu.eduPhone: 815-753-5310

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