Tacoma's Strategic Transition - Happening Now

The year 2025 is almost here, which means Tacoma's current 10-Year Strategic Plan, called "Tacoma 2025," is coming to an end, and planning for the next 10 years is underway. 

 

The September 24 briefing to the City Council highlights the accomplishments and outcomes from the Tacoma 2025 plan, and outlines the next steps for developing and drafting the Tacoma 2035 plan with an eye on the evolving needs of Tacoma's growing communities. 

• September 24, 2024, presentation (coming soon)
• September 24, 2024, Council Study Session video (coming soon)

 

Why do we create a Strategic Plan every 10 years?

The Washington State Growth Management Act requires cities and counties to develop comprehensive plans and development regulations for their communities. To meet these requirements, the City of Tacoma develops and updates three strategic plan documents every ten years on the "fives" (e.g., 2005, 2015, 2025, etc.):

• The 10-Year Strategic Plan
• The Comprehensive Plan
• The Transportation and Mobility Plan (formerly Transportation Master Plan)

These strategic plans help guide City of Tacoma leaders and staff on how to thoughtfully and responsibly manage population growth and increased density through smart land use and development regulations, with particular focus on:

• Economic development and job growth
• Environmental protection and watershed health
• Mobility for community members and transportation management
• Balancing historic preservation and new construction
• Designing our City's infrastructure and built environment in ways that promote community safety for all

 

Progress Report: Implementing the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan

Developed in 2015, the "Tacoma 2025" Strategic Plan is the 10-year roadmap currently being used by City leaders and staff, now in its last stages of implementation.

It represents our community’s vision for Tacoma’s future. With defined indicators and other ways to measure progress, it is a plan that guides where the City of Tacoma – as both a local government organization and a community – is going over the next 10 years. It is also a plan that helps us direct our efforts and resources in ways that reflect our growing community’s evolving needs. 

Collaborating with the community, neighboring jurisdictions and other partners regionally, nationally and internationally, the City works hard every day to ensure that the vision of Tacoma 2025 is being implemented in a way that improves the quality of life for everyone who lives, learns, works, and plays in Tacoma. 

 

Explore the Tacoma 2025 Plan at the TacomaStrategicPlan.org website

 

On January 27, 2015, the City Council approved Resolution 39016: A Resolution approving the City of Tacoma's Ten-Year Citywide Strategic Plan and Vision, Tacoma 2025; and establishing the Tacoma 2025 Advisory Committee, to consist of 11 members to be appointed by the Mayor.

Five Key Focus Areas 

Based on the strategic planning process and final Strategic Plan document, community priorities were synthesized by the Tacoma 2025 Advisory Committee into five key focus areas: 

 

Livability

 

Tacoma residents have opportunities and amenities such as connected neighborhoods, accessible and efficient transportation options, and vibrant arts and culture while maintaining affordability.

Economy/Workforce

 

Tacoma Residents can find livable wage jobs in key industry areas. Tacoma will be a place of choice for employers, professionals and new graduates.

Education 

 

Tacoma leads the region in education for youth and adults by producing more graduates from high school and college, linking residents to employment in the region, and investing in lifelong learning opportunities.

 

Civic Engagement 

 

Tacoma residents are engaged participants in making Tacoma a well-run city.  Elected and volunteer leadership of the city reflects the diversity of the city and residents fully participate in community decision making.

Equity and Accessibility 

 

All residents are treated equitably and have access to services, facilities and financial stability.

 

Tacoma 2025 in Action

Setting the strategy for the entire city, Tacoma 2025 is being incorporated into every major planning process, including the OneTacoma plan, the Environmental Services Strategic Plan, the Affordable Housing Action Strategy, and the City budget process. 
 
The One Tacoma plan guides decisions on land use, transportation, housing, capital facilities, parks and the environment, sets standards for roads and other infrastructure, identifies how they will be paid for, and establishes the basis for zoning and development regulations.  

Another example of a strategic plan that incorporates the key focus areas outlined in Tacoma 2025 is the Environmental Services Strategic Plan, which will guide the City’s Environmental Services Department in its decision-making as they work to support healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound in Tacoma.

The City’s Affordable Housing Action Strategy, which was recently developed as an urgent response to a changing housing market that is increasing displacement pressure for residents and a widespread need for high-quality, affordable housing opportunities for all, also incorporates the key focus areas outlined in Tacoma 2025.

During the City’s 2019-2020 Biennial Budget planning process, every City department also incorporated goals relating to the key focus areas outlined in Tacoma 2025 into their 10-year and two-year goals, and they report on these goals quarterly. Learn more about how each Department is contributing to achieving the 2025 goals in the City’s 2019-2020 biennial budget.

 

Get Involved

We can only accomplish the vision of Tacoma 2025 by working together across communities, organizations, and sectors. By aligning our collective efforts to the goals of 2025, we can accomplish incredible things and bring our vision for Tacoma to life.

 

For organizations working in Tacoma, we want to know how your work aligns and contributes to Tacoma 2025, including any specific indicators your organization is working on. By aligning efforts, we hope to support programs and resources to make us all more strategic and effective at improving the quality of life here in Tacoma. Understanding and aligning tracking and measurement of the work that is happening is also vital in order to understand whether we are meeting our targets as a community. Contact Jacques Colon, Chief Strategy Officer to learn more about how we can work together to achieve our community vision. 

  

Partners

Here are some of the many partners and participants that are working together to make this a reality.

 

 

For community members, your continued involvement in local processes and projects is critical to making the city work as well as possible for you. In addition to volunteering on local commissions or neighborhood councils, voting, and participating in city council meetings, we also want to hear what is most important to you and what you would like to see happen to address those priorities. View the Tacoma 2025 flyer and tell us what you think by emailing jcolon@cityoftacoma.org.