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February 20, 1992
THE HOI'IORABLE CIT~ CoUNCIL
PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA
Selgction of Coupe!l Priorities for 1~~
Me~rs ot the Council:
This is the sixth year in which the Council has set aside time to
revie.w the variety of issues of importance to the City and to
determine which issues shall be the focus of Council attention
during the year.
On JAnuary 21, 1992~ Council Members met in study session and
developed a lis;t of potential issues from which the Council
priorities for 1992 would be selected. The product of that study
session, a list of 15 issues, is Attachment 1 to this report.
Yollowing t.he process which has been used in previous years,
Council Members received score sheets on ~hich they individually
assigned points to establish their o~ priorities. The score
sheets have been tabulated and the composite appears as Attachment
2.
Attachment 3 is a list of the issues as Council has now ranked
them. Attac~~ent 3 also indicates the range of points assigned to
various issues and the number of Council Members vho selected each
item. So"'\!.e Council Members suggested that c€=rtain issues be
combined and provided further comments; refer to the footnotes on
Attachment 2.
More than half of all available points (5000 out of 9000) were
assigned to t'Wo items: Palo Alto's economic future (item 1) and
long-range fir.ancial planning (item 6). Every Council Member
assigned points to one or both of these ite~s. The two items have
features in common and Council may 'Wish to designate the components
most important to them and direct staff to rewrit~ the t~o into a
single priority statement.
The next highest priority item 'Was appropriate levels of service/
quality customer service (item 2). Item 10 has a similar theme and
six council Members selected one or the other of these two items.
CMR:163:92
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Tw~ items were extensions of the Council's 1991 priority concerning
people in crisis: item 7 addresses youth and families at risk and
item 3 emphasizes the homeless~ A majority of Co;..:ncil Members
sel~cted o~e or the other of these items.
A final issue attracting a cluster of points was that reflected in
items addressing relation::;hips 'With neighboring jurisdictions,
particularly East Palo Alto (items ( and 14.) Regarding any or all
of the foregoing, Council will need to determine if it wishes to
give a narrow or broad focus to the priorities it selects.
When a previous Council selected its p::iorities in 1990, it set the
following guidelines for the process and Council Members may 1oI'ish
to aqain observe these: be aware of distribution cf staff workload
'When selecting priorities i set goals for assessing progress; be
cognizant of issues where City is already heavily involved; and
acknowledge that the selection of certain issues as Council's
highest priorities should not suggest that other issues ~ill be
iqno:r:-ed.
Because the discussion of council priorities occurs in a Council
study session, the priorities are agreed upon by cons'!:!nsus. No
formal action is taken. FollOwing the stUdy session, staff will
refine the definition and goal statement of each priority selected
and return for approval at a regular Council meeting.
Respectfully submitted,
~4;;e~
Assistant to the City Manager
Attachments: 1. List of suggested iss'L'cS
2. composite score sheet
3. Results of initial scori~g
Related Staff Reports:
CMR:163:92
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CMR: 130: 92
CMR: 139: 92
Council Priorities for 1992, 1/23/92
List of Issues for priority Setting,
1/30 /92
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1.
Attachment. 1
LIST OF SUGGESTED ISSOES FOR PRIORITY SETTING
Palo A~to's economic future~ SuggestEd as an omnibus
priority, it would brin~ tQqether the following issue areas,
both financial and policy: balancing revenues and expenditures
for the long term; management audit./operational review;
economic development/rev~nue enhancement; F-ublic education and
communica tion; long-ra nge f inancia 1 p Iann ing. (CobbjKni 6S)
{also Fazzino, ~~eele=, Simitian)
The Finance Committee is currently working on several
componf::nts or this. Related activl ties are the schoduled
budget retreat, the ongoing Stanford Rese~rch Park study, and
the work of the Eco."lomic outlook committee and the star:!
Economic Resource Planning Committee. The Council approved
the concept ot an organization~l audit on October 28, ~99~ and
directed that a group from the private sectar be appointed to
assist tbe Finance Commi ttee in the process. The Finance
committee directed an extensive effcrt toward public education
a."ld communication as part of the Appropriate Levels of service
community outreach during 1991. Carryin9 this priority in both
standing committees as suggested vould require some careful
orchestration and assignment or responsibility, to avoid
duplication or effort.
2. Appropriate levels of service! quality customer service.
3.
Continued analysis and determination of appropriate levels of
servica, ~ith emphasis on the delivery systems of such
services to establish higher standards of efficiency and
quality of service to the City's clients. (Andersen)
Thi.s would <:'onstitute a continuation of a 1991 priority,
coupling it with an ef[c-rt to 3.jdress quality C!lstomer service
'that is unde.n.~ay Citywide at the staff level. These issues
will also be addressed in the organizational audit cited in
item 1 aboVe. For a summary of the vork done on Appropriate
Levels of Service during 1991, refer to CMR: 112: 92 (Jamlary
16, 1992.)
People in crisis. Continue the 1991 priority,
emphasis on the needs of the hom~le5s. (McCovn)
'With an
The HUman Relations commission has requested that Council
again designate Pe~ple in Crisis a priority, stating that the
efforts begun in ~99~ can be effectively built upon if the
City attention and resources are main tained. For a summary o~
the work done in 1991, refer to CMR:531:91 (NOvember 27,
199L)
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5.
Relationship ""i th East Palo 1\1 to. Explore neW' avenues fer
linkage.s, involTJing staff, shared resolJrc'2s, j ciI'_t pOlJcrs
agreements, non-governmental service providers. (Faz~ino,
Ande~sen)
Council effort in this area was initiated ~ith a .1988 Council
priority. staff cooperation between the cities occurS,
particularly in Police and community services. city managers
have done pre.liminary exploration of feasibi 1 i ty of joint
economic development ventures.
E1 Camino Real land use planning.
which is of such economic and
co~unity. (Huber/Cobb)
Upg~ading this thoroughfare
phys. i ca 1 importance to the
This issue is dis =us sed in the Gruen+Gruen study WA Planning
Policy Audit of Retail Areas in the City of Palo AltO· which
is also included in this J~nuary 30, 1992 Council packet. If
a major Land use study of EI Camino Real is to be und'ertaken
as a special study during 1992, it would divert resources from
the update of the Comprehensive Plan. S!)ch a study, how6-"er,
could be folded into the workplan for the Comprehensive Plan
update.
6. ~ng-range financial planning. How-to mail".tain service levelS
l.n a lo'W-g-rc'Wth e.nvironment~ Develop a commonly-accepted
database that ~ill serve as a r~(erence for what has occurred
in ~he past and ~ill provide guidance for the changes required
in the future. (Rosenbaum) {also Wheeler, Fazzino)
council Member Rosenbaum's memorandum proposing this priority
provides a list of data which should be compiled as a base for
'the development of a long-range plan. The Director o~ Finance
indicates that some of this data bas already been compiled.
To accomplish the bala~ce will probably r€quire substituting
that effort in place o~ the department budget level in-depth
study scheduled ~or the second year of the 1992-94 budget
cycle ~
'1 ~ youth and families at risk. Work. 'With Human Relations
Commission, Youth Council, Palo Alto Unifi~d School District
and other school communities t~o identify specific problems
that are appropriatel:r: re.medied by City intervention~ Develop
programs to address such problems. (Wheeler/~njersen)
This constitutes a continuation of a 1~91 Council priority~
Refer to the comments on item 3 above.
a~ Public-private partn€rsnips. Define w"hat this means for Palo
~lto~ identify those that might be pursued, and formulate a
process for encouraging such partnerships~ (Cobb/Andersen)
An interdepartmental ad hoc committee is presently "ro'orking to
develop a policy for Council ccnsideration on this subject.
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Public intormation. Develop straight-forward communication
techniques and materials_ {Kniss)
Thi$ vas a Council pri6rLty in 1988 and resulted in several
new j..cc;duct;s and activities. Refer to Attach.7lEtlt 1 .. CMR:130:92
(January 23, 1992) .. distrib~ted in Zast wesK's packet. Over
tile past two ye3rs, the Planning Dapartment has re .... ritten
numerous docutr1ents and fcrl1ls to make them "user friendly.
This su.cject is also a cOJt1ponent of the work of the staff
CUstomer service Committee.
1.0. CUstomer service. Ho'-o' can the City l!1ore courteously and
efficiently serve its public? (SirnitianICobb)
Assuring quality cust01!ler service is the goa.l of a staff
initiated commi ttee wl"J.ich has roezrbers :from throughout the Ci ty'
organization. Subcommi ttees are addressing emplcyee training,
cust:omer surveys, improved sir:;nage a~"'a dir~ctories, complaint
tracking, int:erdepartmental coo~ration, and incentives and
commendations for quality service.
11. Update the Comprehen$ive Plan. (Simitian)
A s"taff rept?rt vas distributed in last week's packet "'~hich
describes the stdtus of the Compre~ensi~o Plan update. Refer
to CMR:116:92 (Jatmary 23, 1992.)
12. The future of Cubberley. Finalizing plans for community use,
determining ho~ these uses will be funded, developing
cODU,unity organizations to carry the plans to~ardl assuring
facility will ~e a long-term ass~t for Palo Alto. (Cobb)
An interdepartmental st~ff cou~ittee is meeting regularly to
develop long-range plans for Cubberley such as noted in this
suggested priority~ Identifying ~ funding source is the
critical issue.
l3~ Preserving Palo Alto's unique character in the corr,ing regie,nal
government environment. HoW" do ,.,;e do it .. hila meeting o~!'"
regional responsibilities? (Cobb)
This question is a logical successor to the studie$ conducted
and policies developed as part of the 1991 Council priority
concernLrlg Regional Governance. Because of the gz-oundfol'ork
done in 1991, the-City vill continue to be an active
participant in the work of the county CO~"1gestion Managern(,!nt
Agency and in the process that emerges from SB 797 if j t
becomes enacted legislation~
14~ Economic and social cooperation ~ith Palo Alto~s neighboring
cities, especially East Palo Alto~ (Cobb)
As an outgrowth ot the 1988 and 1989 Council priorities,
council has sought opportunities to "'ork with neighboring
jurisdictions. The Fire Station Location stUdy presented to
Council on January 21, 1992 is a recer,t example. Also refer
t-::l i tern 4 above.
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15. cooperation and
Issues of mutual
Shopping center.
issue resolution 'With Stanford uni ver-si ty.
concern include Sane Hill Road, the Stanford
and st.anford Research Park~ (Cobb)
Activities in each of the areas cited are ongoing: an
app2ication from St:J.!'1ford to cegin the Sand Hill Road EIR
process is imminent; ttJe Gl'"lien .... Gruen report noted in item 5
above directly addresses the Stanford Shoppin.g Center/ the
Stan~ord Rese4rch Park Study is currently in the Policy and
services Committee. These topics a.Le also .fundamental to t~"le
Economic Resource Planning effort which is undez;"ray.
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SCOR1 .nl~R PRICRI%lllR9-I~~&
DIRECTIONs I
Each Counctlmember ha. 1000 poiD~.
column beneath your name, ind!Cate
you view ot p*ttlcul.r importance.
wu~~ing on the iMBU •••
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IS!:tl!; ]
4::.0 fU.trJ.bl,lte 8"''0"9 thll i •• u... In t".hIJ
the pointe you WLBh to ..... i.gn ':.'0 t.he i.au ••
Reter to thH enaloaed liat fex the full
J I 3 3 ~ ." " • . ~
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3 .. ,il :l j! .iI '"
" • ... • • Ii TOTAL
1. Palo Alto'~ economiq futur 'ft
'lctJ/ 2. Appropriate Il1v~l. ot aacY
quality cuetomar oocvie.
a.
500 5'()O
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L/Oo ioo Z5"O
~()O
a.
750 zoo 1'00 100 ~c.:
--. h. I -
15'0 zoo,
'0 1 375"0 0
/100
~ People in cri.i., omph •• i,
~'-' O.l.twn.hip w,th Eo.t Pol
15. El ('",,,,I.no Real 1lI11.,d UII8 pi
I--~--~---
\6. LQnq-ra~q~ financ~a\ plann
1n9 homele9B
'0 Aito ---
annInq
in9
. -->-l 300 d.;-100
.20C _
o ~ .200 I
c. !/~ol
I -~-~
Pioo i 100 100 15'0 .3;0
25'''-j
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370
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a. IO~ __ I/OO
: 100 100 i'), Youth and t'alllil.i.1I'1I aT. risk
I
8, Public-private partnor.hip '--'-t 100
.200 :.:
++-++
'01/,z5'O I
00 700 , ) -r-i
+(00 I,>
9. Public information
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ID. Cu8tomll~ Service
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11. Update the Compr8henalv8 Plan
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! --I ~, i 1~ __ LJ I_L __ r 30'0 .J l~q_1 tj'50 ! I~
Not:~ = Footnotes are on seclmd page of Rt':Ol'"e shp.et.
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J2. The future of cubb9rley
~~~ P'IQRITIIIK~
P6q8 Two
T~ ~ ~ • " " • l N .li .!1 ;5 • .:! .6 Il
100
1). Jtrfl!!lecvlng Pal.:. Alto'a unique character I
in regional environment d. I
0 ,
14. ~conomic and Racial cooperation with
neighboring citlfto c. 100 --_ ..
15. CoopAration/ie8ufI rft~oluti~n
with Stanford I d.
i ! 3 ~ " I j • z ~ ~
'i • • • :II , ~ ~ ~ TOTAL I '"
I, /00
e. I
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/00 1
'"1
100
rd. I
, 1/001 i -1-.~~ __
11000 I,OO~OO~OOO 11000 '1000 :000 1,0:] 10.001 ~~ 9000
'---.
~~!'!9.:rES
a. Combtnp, items 1 and 6.
b. COrT',l1ine itema 2 il'1d 10,
c. Combine it~m8 4 ~nd 14.
d.
P.
f,lIglJ~Btion th~t items 13, :14, and 15 be combine(l, perhaps-also with item 4, in an illflbitiou.'3
priority Rtat_e(l as "Regi.mal Boci~J and economic-eoop~ration with a gpeCiill ~n'phi]sis on
bordering entities: Menlo Park, East Palo Alto, Stanford University, Mountain View, Los
Altos and I,os Altos Hills."
Combine items 5,11, ana 13.
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ltE'SOLTS 07 INITIAL ___ ~~9RING
points
A,_~iqned
1. Palo Alto's economic future
6, Long-range fina~cial planning
2. Appropriate levels of service/
quality custo~er service
7. Youth and families at risk
4. Relationship ~ith East Palo Alto
11. Update the comprehensive Plan
5. El Camino Real land use planning
3. People in cz-isis, enphasil:ing hODH=less
10. ~~stomer Service
14. Economic and social cooperation with
neiqhboring cities
15. Cooperation/issue resolution with
Stanford
s. Public-p~ivate partnerships
12. The future of Cubberley
13. Preserving Palo Alto's unique
character in regional environment
9. Public information
3750
1250
1100
700
500
450
350
;;;: 5(1
150
100
100
100
100
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~tt&ohm.ent 3
I of Counoil XeMbers
Seleet_JMm_Issues
5
5
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1
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1
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~ The number shown here also includes Council Member(s) ~ho did not assign
points to item, but suggested it be combined with another item. Refer to
the footnotes on the composite score Sheet (Attachment 2).