The Keene City Council adopted its 2026-2027 City Council Goals at its December 4, 2025, meeting. The specific goals are high-level strategic priorities set by the Council to guide Keene’s growth, services, and financial direction. These goals help the City Manager and staff ensure that day-to-day operations align with the Council’s priorities.
1. Strengthen Financial Stewardship and Organizational Efficiency
- Clearly communicate budget, CIP priorities, and financial decisions (making it easy for the average person to understand).
- Modernize systems and streamline internal and external processes to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary steps.
- Increase transparency regarding the use of resources, including staffing, contracts, grants, and consultants, using tools such as dashboards.
- Expand online payment options and digital services for improved customer self-service.
2. Enhance Resident Well-Being and Emergency Preparedness
- Proactively identify and address resident needs, emphasizing prevention and intervention strategies.
- Evaluate and improve access to resources for the unhoused population (ex, food sources, bathroom facilities).
- Support more direct outreach efforts regarding the unhoused population.
- Support activation of “third spaces” and recreational opportunities.
- Strengthen emergency response systems and interdepartmental coordination.
- Communicate changes in the FEMA flood maps.
- Improve readiness, response, and recovery planning for emergencies and major disruptions.
3. Support a Vibrant Local Economy, Arts, and Cultural Community
- Reinforce Keene’s identity as a welcoming, innovative, and business-friendly community (open for business).
- Maintain support for businesses, the art community, and nonprofits during major infrastructure and downtown projects. (ex, micro festivals and other festivals during the downtown infrastructure project)
- Advance public art initiatives, including expanded display opportunities in municipal facilities.
- Re-establish the City College Commission.
4. Invest Strategically in Infrastructure and Asset Management
- Continue long-term asset management strategies across transportation, utilities, parks, and public facilities.
- Improve pedestrian access and connectivity, particularly to parks and public spaces.
- Expand community-based maintenance initiatives where appropriate.
- Advocate for sustained state and federal investment in local infrastructure.
5. Expand and Preserve Diverse Housing Options
- Encourage new housing development and communicate economic incentives and other housing development tools.
- Protect and preserve existing housing stock.
- Support regional housing development.
- Leverage City-owned and State land, private/public partnerships, and zoning tools to promote housing variety.
- Monitor and report housing trends and development progress.
- Encourage partnerships with employers, developers, and lenders to support housing growth.
6. Advance Environmental Sustainability and Resilience
- Expand clean energy deployment, green infrastructure, and climate-resilient practices.
- Strengthen conservation partnerships, invasive species management, and natural resource stewardship.
- Evaluate development impacts on existing renewable energy assets (ex, new tall buildings shading existing solar arrays).
- Develop a sustainable street tree program.
- Keep the City’s Energy plan refreshed and relevant.
7. Improve Public Communication, Engagement, and Education
- Ensure City information and services are customer-centric, accessible, timely, and easy to understand.
- Use multiple platforms and outreach methods to effectively reach diverse audiences.
- Increase public understanding of City services, emergency procedures, and municipal career opportunities.
8. Ensure a Strong, Engaged, and Supported Municipal Workforce
- Attract and retain a skilled workforce through competitive compensation, succession planning, benefits, workplace culture and professional growth.
- Pursue additional ways City Council can recognize employee contributions and promote workplace well-being.
- Expand leadership development opportunities.
- Establish a coordinated volunteer strategy to lessen workload.
- Strengthen workforce pipelines through partnerships with schools, colleges, and community organizations.