City of Clearwater Strategic Plan

City of Clearwater Vision

A community that thrives from Bay to Beach.

City of Clearwater Strategic Plan Mission

Clearwater is committed to quality, sustainable, cost-effective municipal services that foster and sustain a healthy residential and economic environment.

The city of Clearwater began a multi-year process to update the citywide Strategic Plan, commencing in 2020. The planning process included several project phases, including community engagement workshops, internal and external stakeholder surveying, service demand and demographic analyses, and a review of opportunities and challenges facing the city.

The first Strategic Planning Workshop with the Mayor and City Council was held on Oct. 20, 2020 to identify key strategic priority areas. The City Council’s collective vision during this workshop identified several critical focus topics that required further community engagement efforts.

A virtual Community Workshop was held on Oct. 6, 2021 to seek resident and community partner input on municipal services, projects, or critical topics to be incorporated in the Strategic Plan. Four supplemental Community Workshops were held in April and May of 2022 to further solicit additional resident and neighborhood feedback.

The process was supplemented by two workshops with city leadership, the first occurring on Nov.17, 2022 to identify departmental priorities and projects for the fiscal years of 2022 and 2023.

A second Strategic Planning Workshop was held on Dec. 8, 2022 with City Council to finalize the strategic priorities and provide policy direction for key objectives to be included in a final planning document.

The Strategic Planning Process culminated in a final Strategy Workshop, held on March 20, 2023 to gain preliminary City Council approval of five strategic priority areas, and a draft vision and mission statement for the City of Clearwater Strategic Plan.

The city of Clearwater 2023 Strategic Plan establishes five priority areas that are approved by the City Council:

• High Performing Government: Deliver Effective and Efficient Services by Optimizing City Assets and Resources
• Economic & Housing Opportunity: Foster a Prosperous and Enduring Economy That Promotes Opportunity for All
• Community Well-Being: Ensure Exceptional Communities and Neighborhoods Where Everyone Can Thrive
• Environmental Stewardship: Implement Proactive Solutions and Emerging Technologies for a Sustainable and Resilient Community
• Superior Public Service: Promote a Diverse and Talented Workforce Through Competitive Opportunity, Employee Wellness, and Rewarding Career Growth

Below is a list of common terms and definitions that are utilized in the Strategic Planning document:

• Vision: An ideal statement that describes where the organization is heading and expresses an aspirational view of a desired state.
• Mission: A general statement that describes why the organization exists, the purpose and objective of the City, and clearly articulates the services provided and the desired outcomes.
• Values: Themes that are incorporated throughout the City of Clearwater’s Strategic Plan and that are reflected in all our daily activities. Execution of all Strategic Priorities should advance and support the identified values of Clearwater.
• Strategic Priorities: Broad policy areas in which the Council wants the City Team to invest public staff and fiscal resources to accomplish the Vision and Mission of the Citizenry.
• Strategic Objectives: Outcome-based goals toward which effort will be directed by the City Team to advance a Strategic Priority. More than one Objective may be developed for each Strategic Priority; each Objective drives the departmental actions and projects that comprise the work plans for the City Team.

Themes that exist within the city of Clearwater’s Strategic Plan and that are reflected in our outcomes include:

• Integrity, Trust, and Empathy: We serve each other and the public with respect, honesty, empathy, and transparency. Clearwater provides employees, the community and Council with timely and reliable information, and takes responsibility of its commitments to the Citizens and Public.
• Adaptability and Inclusivity: We are dedicated to better reflect the communities we serve across all staffing levels and functions. Clearwater cultivates and preserves a culture that empowers employees and residents to engage and learn from each other.
• Innovation and Creativity: We are committed to an adaptive, collaborative, outcome-oriented work plan that is responsive to community needs and opportunities. Clearwater values its internal and external partners for its innovative thinking and problem solving to improve service delivery.
• Safety: We pledge to maintain a safe and well-prepared community. Clearwater provides employees the necessary resources to protect the people they serve and engage the community to improve public safety awareness.
• Resiliency and Sustainability: We strive to develop a community that is prepared to withstand environmental and economic challenges. Clearwater prioritizes a proactive community that promotes energy stability, ensures food security, and establishes economic security.