Environmental Services Strategic Plan 2018-2025
In 2013, Environmental Services became a new department and implemented its first strategic plan. The 2013-2018 Strategic Plan was developed in the Director’s office with the goal of communicating the Director’s vision for Environmental Services staff. In 2017, the Director identified twelve representatives representing each division to develop the 2018-2025 Strategic Plan. This team completed extensive research, listened to feedback from stakeholders and employees, and worked collaboratively to develop the plan and set the direction for our department.
See the Environmental Services Strategic Plan 2018-2025 page for details about the implementation of the plan.
Strategic Planning Team
Alan Aplin, Business Operations, (253) 404-6928
Kurt Fremont, Business Operations, (253) 502-2238
Mike Carey, Office of Environmental Policy and Sustainability, (253) 404-6989
Norm Cook, Operations and Maintenance, (253) 404-6983
Chris Johnson, Operations and Maintenance, (253) 502-2164
Mark Lewis, Operations and Maintenance, (253) 502-2169
Karen Bartlett, Science and Engineering, (253) 502-2257
Shauna Hansen, Science and Engineering, (253) 502-2284
Joe Breer, Solid Waste Management, (253) 594-7816
Josh Knouff, Solid Waste Management, (253) 593-7739
Jessica Knickerbocker, Co-Lead, Science and Engineering, (253) 502-2119
Shane Pettit, Co-Lead, Solid Waste Management, (253) 593-7743
Introduction from Your Strategic Planning Team
This Environmental Services Strategic Plan will serve as our agenda and guide decisions for our department through 2025. We believe that every employee, working together each day on the common direction established in this plan, can help further our efforts to support healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound in our great Tacoma community.
Throughout the development of the strategic plan, we strived to be transparent through open communication and involving hundreds of employees and many stakeholders. Due to the extensive cross-divisional participation, this is truly a department-wide plan that belongs to all of us. It also aligns us with the goals of Tacoma’s strategic plan – Tacoma 2025 – as well as the Equity & Empowerment Framework of the City.
During the planning process, we utilized concepts from Simon Sinek’s The Golden Circle – the idea that truly inspiring organizations first define “WHY” they exist before describing “WHAT” services they provide. In this plan, you will find a WHY statement which describes our purpose, HOW statements that demonstrate how we will uniquely fulfill our WHY statement, and WHAT statements that outline what we plan to accomplish.
Moving forward we are dedicated to continuing our efforts toward transparency and open communication with meaningful contributions from all levels of the organization. We are excited to work together as a department to implement this plan as we support healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound, leaving a better Tacoma for all.
Think Big!
Goals for the 2017 Planning Efforts
What does success look like? What are the end goals?
- Open and transparent
- Support Tacoma 2025 and the Environmental Action Plan
- Equity Lens
- Stakeholder outreach
- Bottom up approach through the department representatives
- Goals and strategies will be:
- The plan will serve as our agenda and guide decisions
- "Think big" and push the envelope
Planning Process
Research Phase
The team started by researching industry trends that other cities and utilities are anticipating across the country. From this, the team prioritized major influences that the department will face in the future, such as advancements in technology, environmental challenges, changing customer expectations, and changes in our workforce.
The City's 2025 Strategic Plan, the Environmental Action Plan, and the Equity & Empowerment Framework were also evaluated to ensure Environmental Services is in alignment with and supports these efforts.
Lastly, the team reviewed customer surveys, employee surveys, the 2013-2018 Strategic Plan, and supporting division implementation plans.
Research Phase Resources
Environmental Services Strategic Plan 2013-2018
Tacoma 2025
Environmental Services Customer Satisfaction Survey Results - March 2017
Environmental Action Plan
April 26, 2017 Retreat Summary
Industry Trend Cards - Big Sort
Tacoma 2025 Overview
Tacoma 2025 Goals Prioritized with Council Direction
Outreach Phase
Outreach began at the Public Works Week barbeque where the team started with WHY. Over 250 people were asked “Why does Environmental Services exist?” This information was put into a word cloud that clearly demonstrates our department’s commitment to serving Tacoma and protecting our environment.
The next step was to dig deeper through conversations with employees about our purpose, our future, and our priorities. To accomplish this, the team hosted employee workshops with over 200 participants and conducted an employee survey that gathered contributions from over 300 of our co-workers.
Why does Environmental Services exist?
Why do you work for Environmental Services?
Stakeholder outreach was completed to provide a clearer understanding of the future vision for Tacoma’s environment, discuss our department strengths and weaknesses, and identify opportunities to collaborate and better serve our customers. The team interviewed other City department directors and leadership teams, as well as key stakeholders such as Tacoma Public Schools, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, Sustainable Tacoma Commission, Neighborhood Councils, and the City Council.
The Environmental Services Commission was a valuable resource to the Strategic Planning efforts. Through two workshops they provided guidance and were an important connection to our external customers. Their insight was captured in this SWOT analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats).
One of the biggest takeaways from the stakeholder outreach was the overwhelming belief that the Environmental Services Department is all things environmental, not just the Solid Waste, Surface Water, and Wastewater Utilities. This belief and many other insights or concerns voiced by stakeholders are incorporated throughout the plan.
Stakeholder Interviews
City Manager's Office
Community & Economic Development
Finance
Human Resources
Information Technology
Neighborhood & Community Services
Office of Equity and Human Rights
Office of Management and Budget
Planning & Development Services
Public Works
Tacoma Pierce County Health Department
Tacoma School District
Tacoma Water
Outreach Phase Resources
June 1, 2017 Environmental Services Commission Workshop
June 21, 2017 Retreat Summary
June 23, 2017 Manager's Workshop Summary
Neighborhood Council Meetings
Development Phase
During the development of this plan, approximately 120 priorities were identified through the research and outreach efforts. These priorities were then distilled down into nine focus areas. An invitation was extended to the entire department to participate in focus groups and over 100 employees and stakeholders stepped forward to help shape the future of the department. These focus groups helped to further develop the WHAT statements and the initiatives that will support them.
Development Phase Research
August 21, 2017 Retreat Summary
August 31, 2017 Manager's Workshop Summary
September 6, 2017 Environmental Services Commission Workshop
September 9, 2017 Study Session Update
Focus Group Meetings-Customers
Focus Group Meetings - Employees
Focus Group Meetings-Operations
Plan Phase
Start with WHY:
We believe everything we do supports
healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound,
leaving a better Tacoma for all
Healthy Neighborhoods + Thriving Puget Sound = A Better Tacoma
This WHY statement defines our contribution: "healthy neighborhoods and a thriving Puget Sound", and the impact we want to have: "a better Tacoma for all".
How we achieve our WHY:
These three statements represent the core values of the Environmental Services Department and our clear focus on: Customers, Employees and Operations.
Customers: Partner with our community on customer-values services to meet the diverse needs of our neighborhoods.
Employees: Foster a safe culture built on trust, conversation and equity.
Operations: Operate using best practices to meet changing environmental and community needs.
See the Environmental Services Strategic Plan 2018-2025 page for details about the implementation of the plan.
Plan Phase Research
September 29, 2017 Retreat Summary
November 2, 2017 Environmental Services Commission Workshop
November 9, 2017 Manager's Workshop Summary
2018-2025 Strategic Plan
Appendix with Full List of Initiatives
The Strategic Planning Team is available as a resource to answer your questions, and they will be looking to you for your valuable input throughout the implementation. If you have any questions or would like to provide any feedback, please contact any of the representatives on the Strategic Planning Team or send an email to
ThinkBig@cityoftacoma.org.