TO: TRAFFIC AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
FROM: MARIA B. TIPPING, CITY ENGINEER
DATE: MARCH 27, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND 2024-26 OBJECTIVES
Body
SUMMARY
After residents requested that a more robust priorities-setting process with community input be conducted prior to the development of the 2024-26 Budget, staff engaged the Mejorando Group to facilitate a City Council Priorities process. The process included a community survey, three community focus groups, and a City Council workshop.
At the workshop, the City Council reaffirmed the seven existing priorities, which had been previously approved in April 2022. In addition to the seven long-term priorities, the City Council identified 27 objectives that include policies, projects, and programs that staff will work on during the 2024-26 budget cycle.
The 2024-26 City Council Priorities and Objectives were approved by the City Council at its April 23, 2024, meeting. At that time, the City Council also directed staff to provide biannual updates in January and July of each fiscal year. The attached City Council Priorities Update reflects the current status of the City Council Priorities and Objectives.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Traffic and Transportation Commission receive and file this report.
Body
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The staff cost to prepare this report is estimated at $200 and is included in the operating budget of the Community Development Department.
ANALYSIS
2024-26 Priorities and Objectives
In November 2023, the City began a public engagement process to gather community feedback on City Council Priorities. The City conducted a community survey that asked participants for their opinions on City programs and services, priorities for the City Council, and suggestions for improving City operations and programs. Additionally, the City hired Patrick Ibarra of the Mejorando Group to facilitate three community focus group meetings (held in December 2023 and January 2024) and a City Council Priorities Workshop, which was held on January 27, 2024.
At the workshop, the City Council reaffirmed the seven existing priorities, which had been formally approved in April 2022:
• Preserve Our Natural, Cultural, and Historic Resources
• Maintain Financial Stability
• Invest in the Maintenance and Improvement of Our Infrastructure
• Ensure the Safety of Our Community Through Community-Based Policing and Emergency Preparedness
• Increase Livability in Our Neighborhoods and Expand Opportunities for Our Businesses
• Promote Community Engagement Through Transparency and Communication
• Develop Anti-Racist and Anti-Discrimination Policies and Plan to Achieve Community and Organizational Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
The City Council also requested additional information on several work plan items or “objectives” that it would like to further consider, all of which the City Council provided additional direction on during its March 12, 2024, regular meeting. Based on the direction that has been provided, at its meeting on April 23, 2024, the City Council approved the 2024-26 City Council Priorities and Objectives document, which informed the Budget development process for 2024-26 (July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2026). At that time, the City Council also directed staff to provide biannual updates in January and July of each fiscal year.
The City Council Priorities Update (Attachment) reflects the current status of the City Council Priorities and Objectives.
RELATIONSHIP TO CITY PLANNING DOCUMENTS
Staff has evaluated the agenda item in relationship to the City’s strategic and visioning documents and finds that it applies to the following City Planning Documents: Council Priorities, Sustainability Plan, Economic Sustainability Plan, General Plan, Youth and Family Master Plan, and the 2024-26 budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item is not subject to environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
PUBLIC NOTICE PROCESS
The agenda and staff report for this item have been posted on the City website and distributed to interested parties. If you desire a copy, please contact Nadia Ramirez at nramirez@claremontca.gov.
Submitted by: Prepared by:
Maria B. Tipping, P.E. Maria B. Tipping, P.E.
City Engineer City Engineer
Attachment:
City Council Priorities Update