HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011 DRAFT Goals
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City Council 2011 Goal Setting
January 15, 2011
Plaza Inn & Suites
98 Central Avenue
Attending: Mayor John Stromberg; Councilor Carol Voisin, Mike Morris, Greg Lemhouse,
Dennis Slattery, Russ Silbiger and David Chapman.
Staff: Martha Bennett, City Administrator (transcriber)
Session began at 8:35 a.m. and concluded at 4:35 p.m.
DRAFT 2011-2012 CITY COUNCIL GOALS
OVERVIEW
The City Council has set goals for the next 12 to 24 months to continue Ashland’s history as a
community that focuses on sustaining itself and its people. To us, sustainability means using,
developing and protecting resources at a rate and in a manner that enables people to meet their
current needs and also provides that future generations can meet their own needs. The City of
Ashland has a responsibility towards sustainability in five areas:
Economy
Environment
Social Equity
Municipal Organization
Infrastructure
ECONOMY NOTES
Adopt a comprehensive economic development
strategy to: diversifying the economic base of the
community; support businesses that use and provide
local and regional products; increase the number of
family-wage jobs; and leverage Ashland’s tourism
and repeat visitors
Adopt an action plan to ensure City programs and
activities support the overall strategic direction by
June 30, 2011.
Complete the feasibility study for urban renewal Replaces the “Infrastructure Finance”
and tax increment financing as a method of funding goal.
infrastructure, public facilities, and economic
development programs for the Croman Mill Council would like a deadline from
District, the railroad district, and the downtown. Comm. Dev.
City Council 2011 Goal Setting
January 15, 2011
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Increase the clarity, responsiveness, and certainty of Council was clear that they are not
the development process. Develop a specific action committed to adopting all of the
plan to respond to the recommendations of the 2006 recommendations, but they do want a
Zucker and Seiegl Reportsplan to respond.
Council requests that Community
Development staff propose a deadline for
the “specific action plan” that is
reasonable (can be done but does not
delay progress on the goal.
ENVIRONMENT NOTES
Adopt land use codes, building codes, green Council noted that this might be an area
building standards, and fee structures that creates where the City wants to seek a waiver
strong incentives for development that is energy, from State provisions. Also may want to
water, and land efficient and supports a multi-modal advocate at the State level for these codes.
transportation system.
Minor revision deleting “new” in front of
development
Develop a strategy to use conservation and local There was a lot of discussion of this goal,
renewable sources to meet Tier 2 power demands. but no revisions were actually made.
Implement specific capital projects and operational Council Chapman and Mayor Stromberg
programs to ensure that City facilities and want to propose a redraft. Can this be
operations are a model of efficient use of water combined with the “sustainability plan”
goal?
Develop a concise sustainability plan for the Council was split on whether this work
community and for City operation.would be performed by a revised
Conservation Commission or whether the
City would appoint an ad-hoc task force.
Resolving that issue will be the first issue
the Council needs to resolve.
SOCIAL EQUITY NOTES
Decide whether to develop or sell the remaining Council requests the Housing
land on Clay Street. Commission make a recommendation.
Appoint an ad-hoc committee to make
recommendations to the City Council regarding
issues related to homelessness. Includes major
government, non-profit, and faith community
partners on the Committee. Request.
Short-term recommendations no later than May
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January 15, 2011
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1, 2011 to address the more urgent issues that
confront the community
Long-term recommendations about how the way
the City and partner organizations can work
together
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January 15, 2011
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ORGANIZATION NOTES
Develop plan for fiscal stability, manage costs, Council still wants this overall goal with
prioritize services, and insure key revenue streams. the particular issues that you want to work
Adopt policies and targets to use surpluses in ending on in 2011 called out.
fund balances to fund longer-term reserves.
Implement 2010 Council direction on Ending Fund
Balance targets.
Adopt a plan to increase the City’s ability to afford Council should review to see if this
the cost of employee benefits while ensuring that captures the issues that were discussed.
employee benefits remain a tool for recruiting and
retaining a high quality work force.
Recognize and affirm the value of the contribution
of volunteers to the City and the Community.
Move to a biennial budget, with adjustments and Still do the Economic, Cultural, and
policy discussion in the second year, with the first Sustainability projects annually.
two year process for Fiscal Years 2012-2013 and
2013 -2014. Requires changing terms of Budget
Committee members.
Still want meaningful involvement of the
Budget Committee in the “off” budget
year.
Evaluate the need to revise the powers, duties, and Council discussed having two Councilors
membership of the Tree Commission, Housing meet with of these Boards and
Commission, Conservation Commission, Public Commissions to develop
Arts Commission, and Planning Commission. recommendations on revisions.
Administration will coordinate the work
on this goal and will work with each
Commission’s staff person.
INFRASTRUCTURE NOTES
Adopt an integrated land use and transportation Council wants Comm Dev. And public
plan to increase the viability of transit, bicycles, works to propose a specific “end” date.
walking and other alternative modes of
transportation; reduce per capita automobile vehicle
miles traveled; provide safe walking and bicycling
routes to home, work, shopping and schools;
implement environmentally responsible design
standards, and minimize new automobile-related
infrastructure.
Adopt an integrated Water Master Plan that Council expressed concern about
addresses long-term water supply including climate whether this will be fully integrated with
change issues, security and redundancy, watershed the Wastewater and Stormwater master
health, conservation and reuse, and stream health. plans. Council wants to consider asking
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members from the advisory committees
for these master plans to meet prior to
adoption to evaluate further opportunities
for integration.
Council requests a specific end date from
Public Works.
Complete a feasibility and financing plan regarding
renovating the Grove for the Ashland Police station.
Evaluate use of the existing police station for other
City office needs.
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January 15, 2011
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Other items discussed but not adopted
(This page will not go out with the “Adoption” Packet)
Consolidate the financial, human resources, and legal functions between the City and Parks and
Recreation, respecting the autonomy of the elected Parks and Recreation commission established
in the Charter by June 30, 2012. NOTE: Council would like to discuss these issues with the
Parks and Recreation Commission.
Develop an urban design as a first step in renovating the Plaza. NOTE: Council wishes to wait
until after Fire Station #2 is discussed by the voters before taking up this project.
Update and adopt Railroad property master Plan.
Develop an Intergovernmental Agreement with Jackson County about abatement on properties
not yet annexed to the City
Implement a public information campaign about living with wildlife in an urban environment.
City Council 2011 Goal Setting
January 15, 2011