Roswell Leaders Set Goals During Retreat

The City of Roswell's Mayor, City Council, and staff leadership team recently traveled to Auburn, Alabama, for a four-day retreat, during which they explored governance, economic development, strategic planning, zero-based budgeting, and other topics important to the future of Roswell. Held February 9-12, 2023, the retreat also presented teambuilding opportunities for Roswell's elected officials and City staff to learn more about each other and establish a shared vision.

Mayor Kurt Wilson said the time that Mayor, City Council, and staff spent together in Auburn was invaluable.

"This retreat gave us an opportunity to get our leaders in one place, to collectively reset, refocus, and have meaningful discussions about Roswell's future and how we can better serve our community," said Mayor Kurt Wilson. "Spending this time together also helped us get to know each other better, and ultimately, that camaraderie and interpersonal understanding will lead to a stronger, more successful leadership team for Roswell."

Among the topics discussed during the retreat was an implementation plan for the City's Bond Referendum, which voters overwhelmingly approved in November 2022. Mayor and City Council will continue this discussion during a public Work Session on February 27, 2023. In addition, City leadership discussed an Economic Development Strategic Plan, the configuration of the Big Creek Parkway project, zero-based budgeting, and a review and potential reconfiguration of the City's organizational chart. Elected officials and staff will continue to work through these items during follow-up work sessions in the coming weeks.

Roswell's team also met with Auburn Mayor Ron Anders and City Manager Megan McGowen Crouch and toured the City of Auburn's new Public Safety Facility. This tour gave the Roswell team a chance to generate potential concepts for the City's future Public Safety Headquarters, which will be funded through the Bond Referendum approved in November.

Roswell City Administrator Randy Knighton agreed that retreat was very productive." The retreat enhanced the working relationship between Mayor, City Council, and staff." said Knighton." Staff understands the direction and expectations of Mayor and City Council, and we are all excited to move forward working as a team."