The Turlock City Council voted unanimously on Tuesday to accept a plan that will allow the city to better communicate with residents.

Over the course of 12 months, Slate Communications developed a strategic communications plan that defines goals, strategies, and tools to ensure information is delivered in a timely, accurate, and transparent manner while promoting two-way engagement with residents.

“Currently, the city does not have a formal strategic communications plan in place,” said Anthony Sims, the city’s economic development director. “This plan establishes a clear and consistent framework for how the city communicates with residents, businesses, and stakeholders.”

The total cost of the Strategic Communications Plan is not to exceed $49,875.

“I think the most important thing we did was come out here and spend a few days in Turlock and actually talk to people,” said Kim Newcomer, founder and CEO of Slate Communications. “One of the things about our firm that I’m most proud of is that we work with cities, counties, local governments across the country, which gives us a really good understanding of baseline communications. But there’s nothing like actually getting to community and talking to people and talking to staff and talking to councilmembers.”

Newcomer recommended that the city divide its communications more efficiently and cater to specific audiences.

“Your business community may be interested in some things, while your residents may be interested in others,” said Newcomer.

Additionally, it was recommended that the city embrace both traditional and non-traditional communication tools.

“We’re online, we’re on social, we’re doing print, we’re doing in-person communication,” said Newcomer. “Everybody’s styles are a little bit different, and you do have a wide range of demographics and interests here in Turlock. We really want to make sure we’re at least meeting everybody at some place where they are.”

Included in the revised communications strategy is a redesign of the city’s website and more emphasis on the city of Turlock app.

In her interviews with city residents show clearly that residents have deep pride in the community.

“You can see that tonight,” said Newcomer. “Everyone is here because they like Turlock. They have a love for this community; they want it to be better. And that actually is really different than a lot of places. A lot of places you see a little more apathy. But here, the sense of community is palpable and that’s something we really wanted to capture in this plan.”

Earlier in Tuesday’s meeting, the city honored Turlock Fire Department Division Chief of Operations Michael Harcksen, who will retire officially on Aug. 7 after 22 years of service.

“I want to thank my wife and my two boys for supporting me throughout this career,” said Harcksen. “I was doing some math, and there’s seven years that I did not spend at home with my family through the course of my time. The schedule did afford us time to do things with our family that we wouldn’t normally have, but it is a pretty big gap. But at the end of the day, thank you to the city of Turlock for offering me the opportunity to serve in this capacity.”