As the calendar year closes out, Eden Ratliff sits down with Brandon Ford and Dave Pribulka to talk about strategic planning in the real world: not as a glossy document, but as a working “rudder” for budget decisions, priorities, and day-to-day execution.

They dig into the tension between aspirational goals (the “why”) and cross-offable action steps (the “how”)—including how to avoid plans that sound inspiring but don’t translate into steps, owners, timelines, or resources.

Along the way, they compare planning approaches in large and small communities, debate when to use consultants vs. doing the work in-house, and talk honestly about what happens when boards turn over and want to toss the plan on the shelf.

Generation on the Rise is produced by Nancy Hess and features Eden Ratliff (Middletown Township Manager, Bucks County PA), Brandon Ford (Lower Merion Assistant Township Manager, Montgomery County PA, and Dave Pribulka (Bellefonte Borough Manager, Centre County PA)

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00:00 - Welcome & Year-End Check-In

00:01 - Episode Introduction: Strategic Planning

00:02 - Brandon's Love/Hate Relationship with Strategic Planning

00:03 - The Chicken or Egg Debate: Aspirational vs. Practical

00:04 - Dave Introduces "Cross-Offable" Action Steps

00:05 - The Comp Plan vs. Strategic Plan Hierarchy Debate

00:07 - Eden's Cascade Model: How Plans Connect

00:08 - Lower Merion's Annual Priorities Workshop Process

00:11 - Strategic Planning for Small Communities

00:15 - Dave: Small Communities Need It MORE

00:17 - Brandon's Reality Check: Need vs. Resources

00:18 - In-House vs. Hiring Consultants

00:20 - Dave on Pros and Cons of Each Approach

00:22 - Eden's Charlottesville Story: Third-Party Facilitation

00:24 - Most Memorable Planning Experiences

00:26 - Eden's 112-Person Strategic Team: "Planning Is Messy"

00:28 - Strategic Plans Cannot Replace Policy Process

00:30 - The Big Question: What When Boards Throw Out Your Plan?

00:31 - Defining AMI and ALICE (Housing Affordability Context)

00:34 - Dave: Sometimes Things Just Change

00:35 - "Failing to Plan Is Planning to Fail" - True or False?

00:37 - Emergency Planning Discussion

00:38 - Dave's Key Insight: Strategic Plans Give Managers "Cover"

00:40 - Final Wisdom: Planning for Communities of All Sizes

00:41 - Closing & Where to Listen

In this episode of ‘Generation on the Rise’, the hosts Dave Pribulka, Eden Ratliff, and Brandon Ford “go there” to unpack the inherent biases present in local government, and how it can impact decision-making processes.

They explore how biases affect hiring practices and public policy formation, emphasizing the need for a culture of challenge and building perspective in leadership. The conversation also touches on the impact of confirmation bias and the necessity of engaging with voices from outside familiar turf to challenge the status quo.

Chapters

02:51 The Meaning Behind ‘Generation on the Rise’

12:06 Understanding Bias in Local Government

23:47 Bias in Hiring Processes and Practices

28:27 Navigating Education Choices in Suburban Life

29:41 Blind Reviews and Bias in Hiring

31:35 The Importance of Diverse Perspectives

33:17 Creating a Culture of Disagreement

35:01 Affinity Bias in Team Dynamics

37:47 The CAO and Assistant Relationship

42:54 Confirmation Bias in Municipal Management

54:58 The Impact of Experience on Management Bias

59:22 Bias in Public Policy Formation

In this episode, Brandon Ford leads the conversation with co- hosts Eden Ratlif and Dave Pribulka. They discuss the challenges of work-life balance in local government, touching on public comment dynamics, the pioneering leaf blower ban initiative, and the importance of personal life beyond work. They explore generational differences in work expectations, the impact of remote work policies, and the recent implementation of a paid parental leave policy. The conversation emphasizes the need for boundaries and support in achieving a healthy work-life balance.

Highlights include: why culture starts at the top (and why “first in, last out” can quietly poison a workplace), why “email jail” keeps people from fully unplugging, what it looks like to structure remote work without creating resentment, and a concrete example of a benefits move that actually supports families: a 12-week paid parental leave policy that includes birth, non-birth parents, adoption, and foster adoption.