TO: ARCHITECTURAL AND PRESERVATION COMMISSION
FROM: BRAD JOHNSON, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR
DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2025
SUBJECT:
Title
UPDATE ON CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES AND 2024-26 OBJECTIVES (FUNDING SOURCES: VARIOUS)
Body
SUMMARY
After resident requests to conduct a more robust priorities setting process with community input 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 status of the City Council Priorities and Objectives for 2024-26.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommended Action
Staff recommends the Architectural and Preservation Commission receive and file the update on the 2024-26 City Council Priorities and Objectives.
Body
FINANCIAL REVIEW
The process of updating City Council Priorities was intended to inform the development of the 2024-26 City Budget. In many cases, objectives identified by the City Council required the allocation of funding and/or resources through the budget development process. Accordingly, the financial impacts related to the 2024-26 Council Priorities and Objectives have been accounted for in the City’s 2024-26 Budget.
ANALYSIS
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 status of the City Council Priorities and Objectives for 2024-26.
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, and the 2024-26 Budget.
CEQA REVIEW
This item, a review of existing priorities with no decision being made, 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 Pearl Juarez at pjuarez@claremontca.gov.
Submitted by:
Brad Johnson
Community Development Director
Attachment:
City Council Priorities Update