Special Meeting Strategic Plan 02-07-2026MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS HELD AT OAKTON COMMUNITY
COLLEGE, 1600 E. GOLF ROAD, ROOM 1610, DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS
60016, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2026
CALL TO The Special Meeting of the City Council of the City of Des Plaines, Illinois, was called
ORDER to order by Mayor Goczkowski at 9:00 a.m. at Oakton Community College, 1600 E.
Golf Road, Room 1603, Des Plaines, Illinois 60016 on Saturday, February 7, 2026.
ROLL CALL
PUBLIC
COMMENT
NEW BUSINESS:
Roll call indicated the following Aldermen present: Chlebek, Moylan, Oskerka, Sayad,
Merlin, Walsten, Smith, Charewicz. A quorum was present.
Also present were: City Clerk Dominik Bronakowski, City Manager Wisniewski,
Director of Finance Podbial, Director of Public Works and Engineering Watkins,
Community and Economic Development Director Rogers, Director of
Communications Goodman, Director of Information Technology Wojtaniec, Human
Resources Director Madison, Fire Chief Matzl, Police Chief Anderson, and City
Attorney Peter Friedman
None at this time.
STRATEGIC City Manager Wisniewski provided an overview of the City's strategic planning
PLANNING: process and outlined the purpose of the day's discussion. The focus was on how the
City of Des Plaines will define its purpose and refine the foundational elements of its
current mission statement and long-term strategic vision.
The City Council discussed recrafting the City's mission statement and identifying the
direction the City would like to build toward in the future, with an emphasis on
fostering strong community connections. Council reviewed priorities related to
establishing strategic goals that support financial sustainability, prioritizing effective
leadership, and setting measurable objectives that promote growth in a thoughtful,
balanced, and achievable manner.
Additionally, the City Council identified various goals centered on ensuring long-term
financial sustainability. These included a focus on revenue diversification,
sustainability and development initiatives, improving the City's image and marketing
efforts, and leveraging strategic cooperatives to address multiple goals collaboratively.
Council discussed how these initiatives align under a unified core mission to enhance
and improve the City as a whole.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Merlin, seconded by Moylan to adjourn the meeting. The meeting adjourned
at 2:20 p.m.
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D mik Bronakowski — City Clerk
APPROVED BY ME THIS d nd
DAY OF 2026
7
Andrew Goczkowski, MAYOR
02/07/26