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Purpose of Strategic Planning
Strategic planning is a useful tool in helping a diverse set of stakeholders, such as the member cities of the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments, develop a plan of action to pursue a common purpose. Rather than focusing on differences, strategic planning emphasizes the development of clear, concise goals and objectives to achieve a specific mission. By increasing transparency and accountability and developing coordinated and sequenced objectives, strategic plans have widely been found to increase the effectiveness of organizations.
Strategic Planning Process
When the SGVCOG was first formed in 1994, its founders had a very clear vision of the issues that needed to be addressed by this newly formed organization. After more than ten years in existence, with many of these goals having been accomplished, the SGVCOG Governing Board members determined that its was appropriate and necessary to revisit the organization's goals and develop a formalized plan for the future. To accomplish this objective, the SGVCOG began its strategic planning process in June 2006 at its bi-annual retreat. At this retreat COG members began the strategic planning process by crafting the following revised mission statement:
Mission Statement
“The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments is a unified voice to maximize resources and advocate for regional and member interests to improve the quality of life in the San Gabriel Valley.”
In December 2007, SGVCOG further expanded upon its mission statement by developing the followin Vision Statement and set of Core Values:
Vision Statement
“By 2012, the San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments will be recognized as the leader in advocating and achieving sustainable solutions for transportation, housing, economic growth and the environment.”
Core Values
The San Gabriel Valley Council of Governments values…
- Reflecting the diversity of our member communities
- Accountability
- Mutual respect
- Honesty and Integrity
- Unity of common goals and objectives
- Focus on the greater good
- Collaboration
- Fiscal responsibility”
This mission statement was then used to develop a list of five major goals that would lead the COG through 2009. The goals needed to be clear, measurable, and achievable and the group identified the following:
1. Obtain additional local, state and federal funding to ensure our fair share
2. Improve regional transportation
3. Strengthen the long-term financial position of the COG and internal and external working relationships
4. Improve the environment
5. Assist members to meet a full spectrum of housing needs and economic growth
In order to achieve these goals, COG members worked to create specific objectives that must be completed. Like the objectives, each objective must be clear, measurable and achievable. Additionally, the group identified a specific date by which each objective was to be completed and a specific individual or group that was responsible for ensuring its completion. Click here to see the latest update of the SGVCOG Strategic Plan.
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