County seeks public input in strategic planning effort

Special workshop set for Jan. 10 in independence

As part of the effort to develop a first-of-its-kind strategic plan, the County of Inyo is asking for public input and participation.

An online survey is now open for members of the public to provide information, ideas, and feedback on potential projects and which efforts should be prioritized, as the county and board of supervisors works to determine where resources should be focused over the next several years.

The survey tool can be accessed at https://bit.ly/ InyoStrategicPlan).

Respondents will need to complete a basic registration (supplying Name, Email, and Place of Residence) before they can submit or comment on existing ideas submitted by department heads.

The data collected through the tool will be reviewed on Jan. 10 as part of the first of two public workshops/special meetings with the Board of Supervisors.

During the meeting, the board of supervisors and staff will review data collected and begin the work of creating high-level strategic priorities based on common themes and ideas suggested through the tool.

Examples of some ideas submitted so far include downtown revitalization and linking commercial districts to the recreation economy; water and sewer systems infrastructure investment; and determining the highest and best use of county-owned property.

Submissions will be most helpful if received by Dec. 31, so that staff has time to review all feedback prior to the workshop with the board of supervisors.

While Inyo County has made an effort to establish a legislative platform and effectively determine priorities based on budgetary allocation, it has never conducted a complete strategic planning exercise.

Strategic planning, according to county staff, allows an organization to “clearly articulate a vision for its future, and ultimately allocate the resources necessary to execute that plan.”

Given the large number of significant projects being undertaken by Inyo County, and a limited set of resources, developing and adopting a multi-year strategic plan will greatly help staff and the board ensure that the right priorities are being focused on, and the appropriate resources are assigned to make sure that initiatives can be effectively executed.

The Jan. 10 workshop is slated to begin at 9 a.m. in the Board Chambers, County Administrative Center, 224 N. Edwards

St., Independence.

The meeting will also be available via Zoom at https://zoom. us/j/868254781 or at the following numbers: (669) 900-6833; (346) 248-7799; (253) 215-8782; (929) 2056099; (301) 715-8592;

(312) 626-6799.

The webinar ID is 868 254 781.