FAIRHOPE, Ala. — The Fairhope City Council moved forward April 14 on a recommendation made in October by a governmental structure committee to develop a strategic plan for the city.

The council took the first step regarding that recommendation at the last council meeting, when it directed the committee’s chairman to outline the steps needed to start the process and appointed an ad hoc committee for that purpose.

“The city does not have a strategic plan, commonly understood to be a five-year look forward including financial projections,” the committee report stated. “Lack of a five-year strategic and financial plan is the largest risk factor affecting the future financial integrity of the City of Fairhope and its utilities.”

The council appointed Chuck Zunk, chair of the governmental structure committee, to chair the ad hoc strategic planning committee. It also appointed Ron Muschel, who served on the governmental structure committee, and Richard Kwapil.

The council is expected to add an additional member, since one appointed April 14 could not serve, Councilwoman Debbie Quinn said.

“We hope to have the first meeting next week,” she said.

Council President Bob Gentle will also be working with the committee, he said at that council meeting.

“Based upon interviews with financial/accounting professionals, the largest financial threat to the city is a series of well-intentioned but capital-intensive infrastructure improvements approved individually without respect for the long-term impact on the city’s financial position,” the report stated. “A review of small cities around the country finds many similar to Fairhope, with little formal long-range planning. But a growing number of progressive cities have strategic plans that include vibrant community involvement components.”

Mayor Tim Kant said the city’s largest capital projects, like borrowing to build the public library, recreation center and airport, were the kinds of projects that the council should include in its long-range planning.

“The biggest challenge I have is when the council does these large capital projects,” he said at the April 14 council meeting. “If we try and do everything, we’ll fail.”

That doesn’t mean the projects aren’t valuable, only that they need to be planned for, he said.

“A strategic plan needs to produce results for the community and add value to the lives of the citizens and businesses that live and work in it,” said Lyle Sumek of Heathrow, Fla., whose business focuses on strategic planning for cities and counties, and was asked by the governmental structure committee last year to send information and advice about the process. “The city develops a 15-year vision statement, which is a clear statement that this is our preferred future of where we want to be in 15 years. Then you develop a five-year plan, which is the map to that destination. Finally, you develop a one-year itinerary of actions steps and doable tasks for that year.”

Sumek said he helped Dothan develop a strategic plan two years ago and they are using it. He also pointed to cities like Sugar Land, Texas, Dubuque, Iowa, and Paducah, Ky., as cities that have made significant economic and cultural progress since strategic planning started.

Sumek did question whether strategic planning done by a city “in-house” would be as effective as using a consultant because of the competing interests of different parts of city government.

“I think having a strategic plan is very good,” Councilman Mike Ford said. “I’m for it as long as we don’t have to go outside to do it.”

Ford also had concerns about writing a plan and then “hiding behind it like we’ve been hiding behind the comprehensive plan.”

Zunk, who is also chairman of the Fairhope Airport Authority, said the strategic planning process would receive input from the council, mayor, staff and the public, and that the finished plan would be modified each year based on new assumptions and changing conditions.

“Implementation of a strategic planning process can be done in phases, done in small pieces that individually will not overwhelm city staff and elected officials,” the committee report stated. “Even at that, a consultant will likely be required for at least the first few cycles to assist with development of the process and plan.”

The Fairhope Governmental Structure Committee final report dated Oct. 7, 2007, is available through a link at the bottom of the city’s Web site (www.cofairhope.com). That link also takes the viewer to a blog on the subject.