Excellent article!  

As with our own Federal government, the City of Portland seems to have a strategic plan that only extends to the next election cycle.  I can assure you that most businesses of any size, but especially the most successful ones, have strategic plans that lay out where they want their business or non-profit to be in 5 years, 10 years and beyond.  Having served on
a large hospital board of directors and a non-profit retirement community board has taught me that these strategic plans must be set up, implemented, and reviewed on an annual basis to determine if the entity is meeting the goals of the strategic plan, if certain goals have been accomplished, and setting firm deadlines for completion of the goals set forth in the plan.  The city will continue to exist way beyond any particular public officials' term in office.  Shouldn't the goals and desires that are embraced by our  residents in a strategic plan be a continually evolving process over many years?