CC_Minutes_2012_0130 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

City Council Strategic Planning Meeting Monday,January 30,2012 Page 14 Councilmember Willmus noted the overwhelming support around the table for the Parks renewal program and the Parks Master Plan, as well as continuation of the CIP Program; however, he noted the need for the City to be more vocal in lobby- , ing transportation efforts in the NE metro area,to avoid being overlooked. In addressing Mr. Miller's comments regarding businesses, Councilmember Willmus suggested that be parlayed into a Finance Commission to look at long- range financial planning for the City, perhaps even encompassing an economic development component and utilizing business leaders in the community to help focus and maximize the City's tax base. Councilmember Willmus also addressed his goal to establish a Park Board, mod- eled after the City's HRA and having more direct control over their budget and funding, and providing greater clarity to the public of where their dollars were be- ing spent. Councilmember Willmus spoke in support of continuing to re-evaluate staffing levels and job duties, with some departments already having done so, and wishing to see that same process on the communications and administrative portions of the City. While noting that there had been considerable discussion tonight on percep- tion, and the survey information indicated that the City was doing things very well, Councilmember Willmus noted that in paring that down, there remained is- sues related to communications and marketing between the City and the public that needed to be addressed, and more transparency for residents to know where their tax dollars were going. c. Mayor Roe (Attachment Item 9.e, dated January 30,2012) Mayor Roe asked for Parks Director Brokke to address short- and long-term goals for volunteer management in his written comments and questioned him not in- cluding that as a highlighted goal in his verbal comments, given the high and po- tential impact to those goals. Mr. Brokke advised that this was a carry-over from last year's goals, but would require an additional staff person to coordinate those volunteers. While having volunteer coordinators in the past, Mr. Brokke noted that it was difficult to retain them, and the role needed to coordinate a variety of tasks consistently. Mayor Roe noted that this was an area of concern — retaining volunteers across the community — in a number of capacities, not just Parks and Recreation; and opined that it should remain under discussion. Mayor Roe confirming that Mr. Brokke didn't eliminate it from his highlights because he didn't think it was im- portant. Mayor Roe reviewed his goals, based on his written submission and from the lenses outlined by Councilmember Pust: Control: Impact: and Resources.