HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 163-08TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUB3ECT:
HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
CITY MANAGER DEPARTMENT: CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE
MARCH 17, 20087 CMR: 163:08
ADOPTION OF COUNCIL "TOP 4" PRIORITIES AND MILESTONES
FOR 2008: CIVIC ENGAGEMENT: CLIMATE PROTECTION;
LIBRARY PLAN/PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING; AND ECONOMIC
HEALTH
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council adopt the 2008 Council Top 4 Priorities and milestones as
identified on Attachment A.
BACKGROUND
On January 12, 2008, the City Council held its annual retreat and identified its Top 4 Priorities
for the upcoming fiscal year (2008/09). The Council took an informal vote on these priorities
during the meeting which resulted in unanimous support. Three of the priorities remain
essentially the same as last year, with revised titles: Climate Protection, Economic Health and
Library Plan!Public Safety Building. The Council also added a new priority, Civic Engagement,
to this year’s list. Staff has developed the attached list of proposed milestones (Attachment A) to
address the Council’s priorities.
DISCUSSION
Staff has had preliminary discussions with the group of citizens and civic organizations who
brought the civic engagement priority forward to the Council at its January retreat, as well as
soliciting the advice of Ed Everett, the former manager of Redwood City, who led his
organization in a focused effort on civic engagement and community building. As a result of
those discussions, staff would propose to the Council the following as premises for this priority:
Civic engagement/community building is a multi-year commitment, involving skill
building, increased understanding, the cultivation of mutual respect and trust, and a
reorientation in working relationships between staff and the community
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Staff training and buy-in are pivotal to the success of the priority, since a simple
customer/service-provider model deals with only a part of engaging the community in
problem solving and imaginative planning
The new City Manager will need to lead the effort as soon as s/he is on board; this wil! be
a strategic opportunity for that person to introduce him or herself to the Palo Alto
community and staff; consequently, the first 6 months of the workplan lay the
groundwork for programs that wilt enable the new city Manager to respond to this City
Council priority and move it effectively forward
RESOURCE IMPACT
The proposed milestones for the Council Top 4 Priorities, if approved by Council, will be
included in the proposed FY 2008-09 Budget.
ATTACHMENTS
The Proposed Top 4 Workplan FY 2008-09
PREPARED BY:
EMILY HARRISON
ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
FRANK BENEST
CITY MANAGER
CMR: 163:07 Page 2 of 2