Chicago MWRD adopts five-year plan with metrics and reporting commitments

Chicago MWRD adopts five-year plan with metrics and reporting commitmentsThe Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago approved its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan by a unanimous vote on 17 September. The plan will be supported by action plans, measurable targets, quarterly updates, annual reports and a new dashboard.

The Board of Commissioners approved the 2026-2030 Strategic Plan 9-0 after the item had been deferred from the 3 September meeting.

The plan is structured around four pillars, 11 pillar objectives and associated key results, according to Executive Director Murray.

Initial measures of success have been included, with further metrics to be developed as the District establishes baselines and advances implementation.

The District plans to give the board an annual strategic-plan report each October, present findings during the November annual budget meeting, and continue quarterly updates.

Staff expect initial scorecard information by the end of March 2027, many metrics by June 2027, and remaining work by the first quarter of 2027.

The Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago (MWRD) has unanimously adopted its 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, adding commitments on performance measurement and reporting following questions from commissioners about how its goals would be tracked. The Board of Commissioners voted 9-0 to approve the plan on 17 September, after it had been deferred from the 3 September board meeting. Executive Director Murray said the plan had been developed with input from commissioners, employees, the public and organisations responding to surveys and commenting on the draft document. Nearly 60 staff members helped create it, he said. The plan is organised around four pillars, 11 pillar objectives and specific key results. Murray described the key results as the outcomes the District seeks to achieve during the five-year period. Each will be backed by an action plan containing initiatives and measurable targets. Some action plans have already been set, while others require further analysis to establish baselines against which progress can be measured, Murray said. Responding to public and commissioner feedback, the District incorporated measures of success aligned with the four pillars and 11 objectives. Additional metrics will be developed during implementation. Commissioner Sharon Waller asked whether strategic-plan goals would have annual measurable benchmarks. Murray replied that they would. Waller also asked for the process and schedule for developing a scorecard that could underpin both an online dashboard and annual progress reports. Murray said information needed to begin developing the scorecard would be available by the end of March 2027. Plant statistics and related information needed to establish baselines are expected by the end of 2026, while many metrics are expected by June 2027. Work not completed by then is to be finished in the first quarter of 2027. The District will provide an annual report to commissioners every October and present findings from it during the annual budget meeting in November. It will also retain quarterly strategic-plan updates and produce a new dashboard for the plan. Commissioner Cameron Davis said measurement was “part of the ingredient to success” and supported using annual budget hearings as part of the reporting approach. Waller thanked staff and fellow commissioners for allowing additional time through the earlier deferral. The final approval was moved by Commissioner Precious Brady-Davis and seconded by Vice-President Patricia Theresa Flynn.