HomeMy WebLinkAbout0130.092,
~ sIa'fepxt ________ --,
January 23, 1992
THE: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
coUNCIL PRIQRITI~OR 1992
Members of the Council:
Report in Brief
The Council will begin its annual process of establishing
priorities at a work session scheduled for Monday, January 27,
19S12~ This staff report transmits information which may assist
Council Members in their development of potential priority issues
tor 1992.
Background
At the beqinning ot the 1987 calendar year, the Council initiated
a process for selecting its priorities for the ensuinq year. The
intent ot the process, vhich the Council ~as continued to utilize
each year, is to identify issues ~hich are matters of importance to
Palo Alto and which require the establishment of a Council policy
or wa~rant intensified activity to resolve a p~oblem or accomplish
a goal. Setting priorities on a calendar year basis allows the
opportunity to accommodate them in the p~e~aration of the City's
fiscal year budget and also to coincide wi~~ the Mayor's
administration.
The Process and Proposed sch~_g_ula_
The process for s~tting priorities which the Council has utilized
the past five years enables Council Members to individually put
forth any number of potential issues for consideration~ allo~s time
to independently reflect u?on and rank them, and concludes with a
final ~ork session at ~hich the Council develops consensus on the
t~o or three issues which ~ill be the City's priorities for the
year.
Assuming that the Council intends to repeat the established process
in 1992, the steps and proposed schedule are as follows:
CHR:130:92
, --"",,;.P""!(-..• -c -
~5
:-.:;7"
-
, ,
1'"4-
~ 1:'
'~7~·
.~<'
-
page T\t;-;:;
la At the J.puary 27 ~ork sessioD. develop the list of potential
issues frpm wbich the pri"rities wi~~_c;: __ t:_ed.!!.-The Hayo~
vill calIon each Council Member in rotation to suggest ~
issue for inclusion in the 1992 list. The Mayor continues to
go round the Council as many times as necessary, until Council
Members have put forth all issues desired. It will expedite
the proce •• if council Meaber. will ~rlnq to the work •••• iOD
a ~rl.f written stat ... nt of each i.sue whicb they int.n~ to
8u99 •• t for the li3ta The final page of this report
(Attachment #3) provides a form which Council Members may ~ish
to llse for drafting their suggestions.
At this first 6ession~ there is no debate on any item pzvposed
by a Council Member a Whatever the issue is. it goes on the
list. Council Members may, of course, ask for clarification
of the issue statement4 If a Council Me~r proposes that an
issue statement :be amended or combined -with another issue
st;atement, it must receive the concurrence of the Council
MelDbel' 'Who proposed the oriqinal statement.
2. The January 30 Council packet will contain the compilation of
all the issues sugqested by Council Members at the work
session along with the score sheet for individual
prioritizing.
3. on or before Pebruary 18, Council Members will return their
indi>iidual score sheets to the city Manager's Office. The
intervening period is designed to allow time for the
interested community to become aware of the suggested priority
issues and voice thei~ p~e!erences to Council Members.
4. The F~ruary 20 Council packet will contain the tabulation of
Council Members' individual prioritizing.
54 The tentative da.tE for the second ..... ork se:!!.~ __ ion is Pebruary 24.
At that time, council -will review the rankinqs and proceed to
establish consensus on the priorities for 1992.
~ted Information
Attachment 11 to this staff report is a summary of the priorities
selected by council in previous years.
AttaChment #2 is an editorial which appears in the January 22 Palo
Alto Weekly urging the community to become involved in the Council
i5>elaC'tion of priorities. Accompanying the editorial is a coupon on
which readers can lndicate their preferences among many suggested
by the Weekly staff. Each year, the Weekly has demonstrated an
interest in stimulating community awareness of the Council
priority-setting.
CMR: 130:92
'L
."" c f t
j,..:
;"
i.; Page 3
Respectfully sub~itted,
V1c..~~,
VlCCI RUDIN
Assistant to the city Manager
~. ?
W IAl! ZANER
c· y Manager
Attachments:
1. Council Priorities 1987-1991
2~ Palo Alto Weekly Editorial, January 22, 1992
J. Form: Suggestions for 1992 council Priorities
1
1 ,
city ot Palo Alto
COUNCIL PRIORI~IES
Each year, since 1987, the Council bas devoted time to selecting
its priorities for the ensuing calendar year. The ~ea$on for the
practice is to identify issues which are matters of importance to
Palo A1to and which require some intensified effort or activity in
order to resolve a problem or accomplish a goal.
Listed belOW, in the left column, are the priorities which were
selected in previous )'ears and, to the right, brief descriptions of
the reSUlting accomplishments.
Priorities
• eqi9D&1 Governance~
the review, evaluation, and
deve.lopment of Council policy
related to the various regional
governance proposals; in
conjunction with the issue of
reqional governance, work to
strengthen relationships with
neighboring communities;
establish a mechanism for
council Members to regularly
share information with each
other related to the various
regional bodies on which they
serve as liaisor.s,
Accomplis~ent •
Developed Council position on
the proposal of the Bay Vision
2020 commission and. exercised
leadership in the study of
regional governance by the
Santa C"lara county Cities
Association. Monitored related
legislative proposals. Mayor
testified at hearing of
Governor's Int~~agency Council
on Growth Management. Held
joint Coul'.eil-Planning Com
mission study sessions on the
issues of regional air quality,
transportation, and land use
planning. council Members
adopted procedure and form for
regularly reportinq to their
colleaques on their particular
liaison responsibilities.
Established mechanism for
assuring interdepartmental
cooraination of issues involv
ing reqional and subregional
relationships.
--~-
I
r!
:1
" ,
J ;
I
I
I
1
Page 2
Priqriti ••
people 1D eri.is;
services for families in
crisis; assessment ~nd follcw
up action on access to services
for the homeless; fostering
better public/private partner
ships to provide services.
Appropriate Service Levels:
establish appropriate service
levels consistent with
available funding; improve
communications with the public
r.e.qarding the funding levels
required to provide needed
service levels ..
•
__ , .. <...,.." .. _-.... ___ .. flO""
~eeomplishme~ts
Held focus group meetinqs yith
representatives of htm;an ser-
vice agencies to ~ssess
community needs.. Directed
funding to respond to identi
fied needs: i.e., on-site
counseling programs at Gunn and
Palo Alto high schools, partial
support for caseworker to work
with homeless, and assistance
to agency providing shelter and
support to victims of domestic
violence a Laid groundwork for
child care slots for children
of homeless familiesa Sched
uled semi-annual meetings of
human service orqanizations tor
purpose of sharinq resources
and developinq local alliances.
Worked with PAAIRS to evaluate
and improve its effectiveness.
Compiled a comprehensive inven
tory of departmental services
provided to the publica Held a
series of community meetings to
solicit comment, nLW ideas, and
debate from the users of City
services. Finance committee
developed a format to be used
in prioritizing serv-ices and
assembled lists of long-term
and short-term proposed action
items tor Council consider
ationa Ne~ revenue-raising
options ~ere explored and a
process for an organizational
review of the city structure
was approved.
1
I
Page 3
Priorit-ies
Palo Alto" Econo.i~ ruture:
become proactive in quiding
Palo Alto's. economic future;
develop an econo~ic strategy~
Sub.tanc. Abuse,
develop recommendations for a
long-term, coordinated
community-wide strategy with an
emphasis on prevention, inter
vention, and ec1ucationj seek
continued support and funding
for reqiona 1 enforcement; share
proqram experiences and
partiCipation with neighboring
jurisdictions~
1989
Regional Ispact3 and Relation
ships,
work for creation of a mech
anism that will mandate
cooper-ation among jurisdictior.s
when the land use decisions of
one community have the
potential to impact another;
support efforts to create one
effective intergovernmental
organization in Santa Clara
County~
An Economic Outlcok committee
~as estaDlished, to draw upon
com~unity professional
resources to assist the City in
forecasting. The 1990-92
budget incorporated ~ new cost
recovery based user fee
method.ology~ Carmell adopted a
real property asset management
policy for City-o.....-ned property.
The City assumed a leadership
role in the commu.nity-wide Palo
Al to Substancl2 At:Iuse Prevention
Partnership {no~ called Palo
Alto SAFE.) city and s~hool
district jointly participated
in state-funded substanc'5! abuse
counseling program~
City has been active partici
pant iT. regional (ABACI HTC,
and BAAQMDl planning efforts
related to transportation and
air qt.l!!lity. Worked with
League of California Cities on
development of growth manage
ment policy. COUncil assumed
leadership role in restruc
turing the Santa Clara County
Intergovernmental Council to
render it more capable of
handlinq substantive issues,
and appro .... ed consolidation of
several bodies into the new
Santa Clara County Cities
Association.
"--··~~~·---""-'''jz ... n.T_JC
page "
priorities
?alo Alto'. Bconoaic ~~tur.;
develop better understanding of
the economic forces behind the
city's financial situation;
CQmpa~a local with regional
trandsj correl~te to council
decisio!ls; evaluate all revenue
sources.
It.cyclinq.
place emphasis upon increasing
recycling of the City's waste
stream to 25 percent.
Reqional Xmpaots and Relation
sbips.
balancing the influence of
communities in santa Clara
county and san Mateo County;
the interrelationships of
development issues; the
appropriate level of invol ve
ment in reqional and joint
power agencies.
Aecompli.Ulnta
Council's Finance and Public
Works Committee met twice
monthly, qiving heightened
attention to issues of finan
cial reporting, auditing, new
revenues, economic forecast
ting, and budgeting. City
Manager directed special
assignments to staff which
focused on developing an under
standing of the physical,
economic and personnel issues
that will affect the city in
the neAt decades.
The City achieved 70' partici
pation in the residential
curb::; ide recycling program.
Added curbside compost and
cardboard collection. Began
recycling program for downtown
businesses. Launched pilot
project for polystyrene recy
cling. Adopted city preference
policy for purchasing recycled
products~
Palo Alto became a major
participant in the Golden
Triangle Task Ferce for
transportation and land use
planning in northern Santa
Clara County. Council has met
periodically with the councils
of Menlo Park and East Palo
Alto to discuss issues of
ltiutual interest.
Page 5
irlorit.iu.
1.88 (Continued)
co_uuic.tion. an4 PulIlic
In~or.aatioD proqraa:
goals, objectives., and the
co~poncnts of a program.
Neiqhl>orhood Li vahiH ty and
Scale of Developaentl
criteria and planning mech
anisms for development in
residential zones.
1!.!l
city/school Relationship.'
financial assistance and shared
services; comprehensive plan
ning for children's policies
an~ programs; long-range plans
for surplus school district
lands.
Long Tara 7inaneial and
Infrastructure PlanniDq:
budgetinq, fundinq criteria,
and study of expenditure
limitations and condition of
infrastructure elements.
IU:COllpl i alll!!ent.
New features of the public
information program included
publicatio~s (k~ual Report ~o
the community, cityScape
quarterly newsletter I Financial
Highlights Report, Budget
Summary tor resiQents), t~e
Mayor's State of the City
Address, the Town Hall K~et
inqs, and the goverp~ent
channel on cable television4
Adoptee comprehensive revisions
to single family residence
regulations 4 Published zoning
guidebook for si~gle family
property o~~ners and builders.
Completed major revision of
multi-faffiily zoning ordinance 4
Negotiated long-term lease
agreement with PAUSD for 35-
acre CUbberley site and
covenant that district 'Would
not sell or redevelop surplus
school property. Extended day
child care provided at 1.1
elementary schools. Refur
bishea playing fields at 13
school sites. Implemented
youth counseling project.
Implemented a new computerized
financial database system.
Utility users tax authorized:.
Accelerated the pavement main
tenance and replaceMent pro
gram. Conducted utilities
infrastructure analysis and
prepared long range plans for
the water, gas, electric,
waste'Water, r-efuse, and storm
drain utilities. Initiated a
two-year budget process.
-..0-__ ~~,.. __ .... _ ......
'i
[ji
'"
1
" .
Pcge 5
prioritlu.
Bvaluetinq Service Llve18:
the relative importance of
existing services; what are
acceptable service levelsj
criteria for providing and
funding new services; how well
are services evaluated~
Park. Kanag_ent:
appropriateness of amenities,
controls, and staffing.
Accompli·hm ent •
Raviewed and prioritized all
City s~rvices, examined alter
natives, and implemented per
manent reductions in employee
positions and non-salary
expenditures. Conducted a
comprehensive cost alloca.tion/
user fee study, analyzing
direct and overhead costs
associated with all City
operations and services.
Re··designed picnic areas and
instituted reservation and
supervision proqrac to control
capacity use of community
parks~
.'.F-
~.
"f"'~
'--'j,,~;.-,
~~~:t?~{~{--.
" : '.
l_·.~ ~~~,~;'1~Jff7_.
~ ~ ... .-..--.~-,~.., ...... ~,---~
J ____________ _
~. Editorial
Council priorities
for 1992
ft'. that Ii"", of year for the City Council to
look beyond its weeldy agendas and e~tablish
some brooder goals.
Althoo&h nOI one of lhe best prognostkattons of whal the
City Coonci1 wiD actually spend its time Oil clur:ng the 1l~X.1
year, the: Counci] will follow tr&ditioa oe~ Monday aight
and try \0 agree on three priorities for 1992.
l.n 1991, the prioritie~ were regio~ go ... cmancc. families in
aisl:i and derenrunin,g appropriate kvc:l~ of city services. Ie
theory,that :Dunt that extra time and atteutioo 'II,,"as devoled 10
those issues, rather than the Council merely reacting to con4
b'tIVe1sics brmlgllt before it by the public or staff.
The CoWh."il Wl11 meet in • sttldy session on Jan. 29 to select
goats lot the upcoming )lea.'!', and we encourage residc:nts to use
this opportunity to express their OWD views on lhc-importaJll i$..
SUC5 facing the oommunity. Use the mail.in coupon on the ~ .
posi.e page lo indicate your preferences. or attend the meetmg m
"''''''' As one of the many observers of the community and tbe 9o'oik
ofthc: alY Council, be!O'A' we offer Out own 4SSessment of prior.
lties for consioeration, Wc havc oot incllldW three tasks lilat
should J;,e, cumpleted lhis )'eM but thai are internal to the fu.1C-~
tioning of dty hall: a managemeru .audit lIlat examines tile C~ of
government in Palo Aha and the degrec of effLCiency wi~ which
the city ii opc:ratillg. the preparation of .. complete anal~1S of 1."e
rok the city-owned Tltilities play in lhe f'tnancial picturt for lIle
whole city, and complction of .. balanced proc:ess that actuaDy
succeeds in [t:fled1llg dry-wide priorities lnsl~ad of the lobbying
skills of vanl)l.!S c:onsriruencies. AccompfIshlng Ihese: three tasks
will g:r«tly improve the way city g(lVernment operates in Palo
AlIa and bow it is Wlderstood by :residents.
Our choices for me top three prioriti.:s for 1992:
---... ,cr-.. -->_ ....... .
'!t::~·
:,<""
-
1. Assisl youth and ramilies at risk. Palo ,AJt .. r.s tu ... ,: cxcccd~
ingl~' hjg~ (XpectaliOIlS fl)! their chDdren: an~ as cconom;c~-
ali tics force mos: paref1.ts to work (many m blgh-powered, hlg~
_~tres.s jobs), tbe re art few f~_mjlies tiloll !Iell 't • "at risk" at pmh
lem.s--some minor and scm .. sigoificant ~ r.e-cenl 5oa!"",), of
Palo A.1!O tee os rcvea'!s 50tartling Ie-,'cls of s,lr'",...$S aDd rela ~ d prob
lem.s alld conCt:rm .. Commllniry efIorts !o support t~f ned.'\' of
youlh in PaTo Alto ha"'e nev(r fe-iOn), gonc beyond trying to creale
a Ic'CD ccnt~r 11-..: City Counci1 ClUj'! begin 10 solve thcse })rob
Ie~s, bur iz can serve U I Ciltalys.l ror broadcl communil), ;lc:10n
2, Build ties with F-ltS1 Palo Aho.1c's timc (Of the Cily Colln.
dl 10 le::-:! the ccmmuoily inlo realizing thO!r we :!>..iivC' an impof
tm! role to ptay ill helping East P.llo AIlo to be: I s,,"e~(u!
commullirv. Govemmero!-to.govemmc;:iI assi5otarlce, soch as
lo.o.lled' poilu or Join1 frenatiOD plOgn>ms .is l help, bUl the key is
to establish relalionsnip5o between alllinds of irutitl.Hions i!1ll1e
~'O ci!ie~, Again, the City COIUlCll can 'I build much more than
artificial bLlrtaucratk relatiom; with East Palo Ahe. Bt,;! iI can
use its in!1ue~ to mobili.;:e community and business le.aders to
-:auncb a p!Jblic-privalt partnership aimed al bringing the peoplc
o( ('cur tv.'o dries toge ther. _
3. Cnal-.! a~ !!COMmie dewlop-meal pIaD thai ",ill aaa.u
milt t&l: l'e\,eIlUICS 10 till!' cily without detrimeatat traffic: or
other Impacts. Untill1:t revenues began !o .... an-=-a couple .Of
years ago, Palo Allo paid no artefl!}oll tn what killds of busllle~es
chose to locau: ill Palo . .fJto or how they were welcomed. Bu! ilie
ro~ that sales tax~producing bl!5in!5o.Ses pl.!)' in (unding oW'
eX1raordinary high level of oommunil)' services is no"" b.:roming
dear to most re5oidents.. With"ut compromising or S4l:rificing .any
of our zoning practices.., P"Jo A110 needs to tmplernc nl & strategic
pIa~ for rccruiling and .a.s.si~ling big tax I'tvenue prod\lctrs.
One o( our g:-e.a[es;t hope~ for the "new" City CouncIl is that it
will call on thc comr:'lunil,)' more 10 a~t~ in solvwg probJe:ru.
The re!.Cc,·oir of caring and taj~nlt1 ~opte in P.lo Alto is C:1-: of
the-Ieatures lIlat nuke Our ccmmunity $0) unique. The sc'hool dis
trict 11 .... mllde tremendously effecti .. 'c u:;c eftha! t.a.len! in dealing
wilh iu. mJjor cnanenges over the years., out the City Council bas
ruel)' rumed 10 ""blue n'bbon" committees 10 hflp ~ diffi.
OJ'll issues. Nlnc-CouIX."ll member!: and I stlIf of publJC ern~
ployee5o "'-00 mosl1y live ill other c-ommun;ties will nol, sol.ve our
problems. 1I'.s time 10 create. new model for communlty 111-
... otvemcnt
F'a~ •• Jiln~r)i 22. 1992. Palo All0 Wt"t"kI~
•
• ,
1
J • I
I
1
r----------------------------------------------------~
City Council priorities for 1992:
Mail this coupon to the City Council.
EV'Cf}' year. ~ hlo Alb my CouBCil d:ctmnina.. rlSt 01 tht"' ilrforilie.'S 10 iI Cl.!l c:ooccntrate on aitio:::al isslleJ &dna the c:ommw:Uty. The priorilH:s for 1991 were regieD.&! go, lnce., familie.<. i.e crisis and defcrmlIting
~ scnice level$.. 'The. Cmmcil is sc.hcmUe<llo dis.:us.s pr;'~;iLr~ &1 7.J{) p.m. on W..om!,ty. :-. ... 21 in tt.c City
Q:IaaQl ch.tmbeB a.! ell)' HaD..
Lt!!.he Oty Council know what you think the: priorities sho:Ud be. Mark tbe [is! bel{1w lIo'llh your top three or
fow-ph. Of wri!.e iD.}0W" own. 'Theft mIJ1 it by this Friday to Ml)'OI" Fazzino.
_ Regional pc:rnaDCt (1991 goal)
__ Families iD aisis (1991 awQ
__ DmrmiDicg sclVice levels (1991 soar)
__ Assisting youth and families II risk
__ BuildIng ties wiLh .East Palo Allo
__ ere..tins economic developmenl plan
__ ExpaDding rctrUitioo. progrl.Dl!
__ Expanding enviIcnmtllta.! PlQgr.iJIU
__ ~g the dty's rcsideotiaJ dwactc[
_ Provldin& dnog/alcobol &~ programs
__ Ioc::usittg chJld care
_ .... dding homeIes! programs __ Lowcnn,: lue&., city urvic:e5.
_OpenlDIl foothill!. Park
__ En~ into joillt '\Icn~ wiLh schoob.
__ 1DC:reasin1 supfX)l1 for publlc art
_ Reducing neighborhood 1nffic
__ Provicfu1J; I!lOI"( alt.ero.ative transpolUliotl
Hc.J¢Dg fuzldtaisc for Olbbcrk:y ~nter = Bal~g the budget
Yo.r Name (optI"".r):
__ Pr.:r.'iding mere affordatle 'housing
__ Reopening Palo Alto harbor
__ Boos!ing crime prevenriOn programs
__ Sholdjn~ A'nphitbuter Ilntsc reduction
__ Keeping utility rates tow
__ lna-cuing pubLic ""rely
__ MaintaininG library $en'ice
__ Improving rei.ati<ms 'With locaJ business
__ lnaea.sing flood protection
__ &al:tifying EI Camino Rea.!
__ Providing mor~ rccyctlng progrtms
__ Maintaining cit)' .sc.r ... i~
~_ Providing safe pl3ce fo! youth to ha.ng Oklt
__ Performing maoagemen! efficiency lumt
__ Extending Sand Hill to El Camioo
__ Other -Please specify:
AU~: ________________________________________ ___
,
, , ,
Mall 10: Mayor Cal)' Fazzino, CIt)' HaD, 250 HamJlton Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301. , , • ___________________________________________________ J
•
i
j
!
BUGGZSTIONS poa 1992 COUNCIL PRloalTIZS
Althouqh Council Members will p::esent their suggestions orally to
their colleagues during the study session, it is very helpful to
start it the actual wQrkinq of the proposed priority is drafted in
advance. A title phr~se and a sentence or two describing the foc~s
of each priority vill assis~ staff in more rapidly compiling the
sU9gestion3 put forth by Council. This form is provided for your
convenience.
Council Member
priority title
Description:
Priority title
Description:
(name)
~~====~=======:==========~=====
~=======-==========-=============,.,.===============
priority ti tle ________________________ _
Description:
Priority title ____________ ___
Oescr-iption:
US. the ~ack it more space is required.