COMMENT: Need: Please demonstrate how these plans are all connected. According to the narrative, the Master Plan is a guiding document of the Strategic Plan and the CIP with its progress were included. Are the goals/objectives the same for all three documents or how are they tied?
RESPONSE: The Master Plan represents PRC’s original guiding document establishing the long range plan and policy for future open space and recreational needs while also recommending specific solutions to short term needs. When PRC staff managers establish their goals and objectives for the year as part of the strategic plan review, they often refer to the Master Plan for guidance. The Master Plan provides the strategic framework that informs the County’s five-year capital program.  The best way to demonstrate how all these plans are connected is by providing an example.

Example:

• The Master Plan cited the need for resurfacing the trailway of the North County Trailway See page # V-33 of the Master Plan-Phase I Report (EOC 3)
• The 2019 Strategic Plan, Conservation Division – Goals and Objectives cites the following objective “Repave and address drainage and other issues along the North County Trailway”
• The Capital Improvements Program allocated an appropriation in the 2019 budget to fund drainage and paving improvements to the North County Trailway. See EOC 11 – Excerpt from 2019 Westchester County Capital Budget.
  

COMMENT:  What timeframe does this plan document cover?
RESPONSE: PRC Division managers submit their goals and objectives at the beginning of each year. They are reviewed and codified into one Strategic Plan for the Department. Timeframes are for single or multiple years but are reviewed on an annual basis.

COMMENT: What are the proposed implementation timeframes for each goal and the associated objectives?
RESPONSE: Implementation timeframes vary by month, quarter, year and on-going.

COMMENT: If this document was just approved in October 2023, what strategic plan was in place prior to this timeframe that would demonstrate the agency was utilizing a previously approved strategic plan that covered their accredited period prior to October 2023 and would demonstrate the agency’s efforts to review their strategic plan annually and demonstrate progress toward achieving the plan’s stated goals.  Westchester should provide their previously approved strategic plan and evidence that it was reviewed annually and progress made for implementation. 
RESPONSE: The 2023 Strategic Plan that was submitted as evidence of compliance outlines the overarching goals and objectives for the various divisions within PRC.  Intended to be a general blueprint for strategic planning for the Department, this document did not include timeframes, status or assign responsibilities.
As mentioned previously, PRC division managers submit their goals and objectives for their individual divisions at the beginning of each year. They are reviewed and compiled into one Strategic Plan for the Department. This detailed Strategic Plan includes columns for timetables, status and assignment which allows the Department to review and monitor the Plan for progress on an annual basis. The review/approval dates are provided at the bottom of each document. See EOC 12 – Annual Strategic Plans (2018-2024).
Please note that the Covid-19 pandemic had a profound impact on strategic planning for many municipal agencies including this Department. Therefore, no Strategic Plans were prepared for the years of 2020 and 2021.