What to Expect at a Port Strategic Planning Meeting

You may know the Port of Whitman County Commissioners meet regularly on the first and third Thursdays of the month, but did you know the Commission also meets quarterly for “strategic planning” meetings? So how are these meetings different, and what should you expect?

During a regular meeting, the Port Commission approves meeting minutes and vouchers and votes on routine matters, such as renewing leases or expiring contracts. Regular meetings also include discussion on topics important to the long-term success of the Port, but the agenda for a strategic planning meeting only includes these big-picture planning discussions.

That’s why strategic planning meetings sometimes take five or more hours. In my 24 years as Executive Director, the longest strategic planning meeting I can recall lasted about 1.5 days. If you’re primarily interested in just one topic, I recommend taking note of its scheduled time on the agenda. Agendas are always posted on our Agendas & Minutes page two business days prior to the meeting.

Some examples of prior strategic planning meeting agenda items include state legislative session strategies, budgeting and capital projects.

Other public port districts call these meetings “work sessions,” “study sessions” or “retreats,” but the purpose is the same: to give your elected officials the time to discuss the strategies that will propel the district’s economy into the next decade.

The Port of Whitman County’s next strategic planning meeting will take place at 10 a.m. Monday, January 25, 2021. Depending on current public meeting restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting could be held remotely, in-person or by a combination of virtual and in-person meeting elements. The final location will be posted on the meeting agenda.

For the dates and times of future strategic planning meetings, please visit the Port calendar.

About the Author: Joe Poire is the Executive Director of the Port of Whitman County.