The Cleveland City Council and mayor gathered last week for a 2025 planning retreat, a focused, two-day session to assess current progress and chart the city’s course for the years ahead.
The retreat, held at Lake Lanier Islands from May 14 to 17, was facilitated by Pete Pyrzenski and Emily Davenport, Member Services Consultants with the Georgia Municipal Association.
Cleveland Mayor Josh Turner opened the session Thursday morning by welcoming participants and setting the tone for strategic planning. City staff and department heads then delivered detailed presentations covering current initiatives, infrastructure projects, public safety efforts, and budget priorities. One of the highlights was a budget presentation by Finance Director John Solmon, including fiscal projections for 2024–2026 and capital improvement plans funded through SPLOST.
City Administrator Kevin Harris said on Friday, the mayor, council members, and administrative staff remained for a more in-depth planning session. Led by the facilitators, the group revisited and refined the city’s Vision and Mission Statements. Strategic goals were outlined in key focus areas such as infrastructure, economic development, public safety, housing, and parks and recreation.
Harris said, “A SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis followed, helping frame the city’s future challenges and opportunities. Using insights from Thursday’s reports, participants worked collaboratively to develop actionable tasks for the upcoming year.”
According to Harris, the annual retreat plays a vital role in shaping Cleveland’s policy direction and ensuring alignment between leadership and city operations.
“As the city looks ahead, the priorities and plans forged during the retreat will guide both short-term actions and long-term growth,” said Harris.
