Wheaton residents could see new measurable targets for city services, traffic improvements and fiscal discipline under a draft 2026-2028 Strategic Plan that went before the City Council on Monday, Aug. 10.
The planning session at City Hall, 303 W. Wesley St., was the first under City Manager Raymond Munch, who started July 27 after the retirement of longtime manager Michael Dzugan. A July 27 planning session had been canceled for lack of business, making Monday's session the council's first planning session since June 22, a gap of nearly seven weeks.
Mayor Philip J. Suess presided. The sole substantive agenda item was a review of the draft plan, prepared by Assistant City Manager William Kolschowsky. According to the staff memorandum, the council asked at its June 22 session for more detailed outcomes and measurables. The Aug. 10 draft adds those.
Five priority areas
The plan organizes city goals into five strategic priorities:
- Financial Stability — maintain fund balance reserves above 100% of policy targets and keep operating spending below revenues each budget year, with expenditure increases capped at composite inflation benchmarks.
- Enhanced Infrastructure — improve maintenance of existing infrastructure, prioritize transportation management and identify revenue to fund capital needs.
- Responsive and Efficient Services — report 100% of service areas quarterly via performance dashboards, hold staff retention above 90% and improve at least four services or processes for cost or time efficiency.
- Community Safety — implement traffic improvement projects at poor-performing intersections, enhance online service access, update the ADA transition plan and complete a Continuity of Operations Plan.
- Environmental Sustainability — eliminate two paper processes, implement two energy-savings initiatives, continue the LED street light conversion and ensure the new Zoning Ordinance provides for sustainability.
Survey data drives priorities
A 2025 Community Satisfaction Survey informed the draft. The survey's largest gaps between what residents rated important and what they rated satisfactory were neighborhood traffic speed and volume, traffic signal timing on major streets, parking availability and stormwater management. Each gap is linked to a specific initiative in the plan.
No adoption yet
The draft is labeled "8/10/26 DRAFT" and has not been formally adopted. Planning sessions under Wheaton's format are discussion-only; adoption requires a vote at a regular council meeting.
Kolschowsky's memo states the council was asked to provide feedback on goals, initiatives and outcomes, and that an updated plan will be considered for adoption at a future meeting. No date has been set.
Official minutes from Monday's session had not been posted as of Tuesday, Aug. 11. The city's agenda center shows the minutes column blank.
What's next
Based on the council's biweekly schedule, the next regular meeting would fall on Tuesday, Aug. 18, though no agenda had been posted as of Aug. 11. Residents can check for updates and view the draft plan at wheaton.il.us.
