cover
TO: Mayor John Laesch
FROM: Brian W. Caputo, Chief Operating Officer
DATE: July 16, 2026
SUBJECT:
A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc., for the Provision of Strategic Planning Consulting Services
PURPOSE:
The Administration desires to develop a new strategic plan to establish strategic objectives for the city's direction for the next five to seven years and formulate supporting departmental objectives. We would like to engage a firm specializing in governmental strategic planning to support the strategic plan development process.
BACKGROUND:
The city has had strategic plans in various forms since at least 2007. A strategic plan is a high-level roadmap that defines an organization's long-term direction, key priorities, and measurable goals. With the installation of a new City Administration, we would like to undertake a deliberate, structured, and comprehensive strategic planning activity supported by a consultant having experience with other municipal governments to enrich our process.
DISCUSSION:
On February 24, 2026, the city released the attached request for proposals (RFP) to obtain the services of a qualified strategic planning consultant. Nineteen firms responded to the RFP by the March 31, 2026, deadline. An evaluation committee consisting of the following individuals reviewed the proposals.
>Jason Bauer, Director of Public Works/City Engineer
>Shannon Cameron, Chief of Staff
>Brian Caputo, Chief Operating Officer
>Alison Lindberg, Director of Sustainability
>Tony Martinez, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer
>Nicole Mullins, Chief Community Services Officer
>Stacey Peterson, Chief Financial Officer
>Nicholas Richard-Thompson, Deputy Chief of Staff
>Matt Thomas, Chief of Police
The evaluation committee initially assessed the firms based upon the following criteria:
1. Their Organization, Personnel, and Staffing
2. Their Qualifications and Experience
3. Proposed Project Approach
The evaluation committee selected five firms as semi-finalists. The committee remotely interviewed those semi-finalists and identified two finalists. The committee then remotely interviewed the finalists and identified Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc., as the preferred vendor. The evaluation committee assessed the semi-finalists and the finalists based upon the same criteria specified above. Raftelis distinguished itself based upon their thoughtful project approach, extensive experience in strategic planning consulting for municipal governments, and apparent interpersonal skills. Three references checked were all highly positive.
Raftelis' previous strategic planning clients in municipal government include, but are not limited to:
>City of Avondale, Arizona
>City of Cedar Falls, Iowa
>City of Elgin, Illinois
>Village of LaGrange, Illinois
>City of Winston-Salem, North Carolina
In general, the city's strategic planning engagement will consist of the following phases.
>Launching the project.
>Discovery and Consultant's Engagement with Internal Stakeholders
>Developing Strategic Priorities and Goals
>Supporting Implementation and Evaluation
>Preparing Final Deliverables
Major outcomes from the engagement are expected to be the articulation of a vision for the city's future, the development of strategic priorities, the establishment of departmental and divisional goals to support the strategy, and the identification of performance measures to gauge success.
The process of developing a new strategic plan for the city is expected to take three to four months to complete.
Sufficient resources to cover the costs of this engagement are provided in account no. 130-1002-413.32-20 (Contracted Services in the Transformation Fund).
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This strategic planning project will help the city develop high-level principles and an operational framework to guide the efficient and effective delivery of city services for the next five to seven years.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council approve the attached resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc., for the provision of strategic planning consulting services in an amount not to exceed $97,950.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
title
A Resolution Authorizing the Execution of an Agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc., for the Provision of Strategic Planning Consulting Services
body
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City of Aurora (the "City") desires to engage a highly qualified consultant to support the development of a new strategic plan to guide the efficient and effective delivery of City services for the next five to seven years (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, the City solicited proposals for strategic planning consulting services for the Project; and
WHEREAS, nineteen (19) firms submitted proposals to do the Project; and
WHEREAS, the City has identified Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc., as highly qualified and the preferred firm to do the Project; and
WHEREAS, funding for the project is budgeted in account 130-1002.413.32-20.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: That the Mayor of the City of Aurora or his designee is authorized to execute the attached agreement with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc., for the provision of strategic planning consulting services in an amount not to exceed $97,950.