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January 18, 2025 <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />The Council retreat recessed for a break at 11:44 a.m. and reconvened at 12:17 p.m. <br /> <br />Additional discussion ensued regarding annexation. <br /> <br /> <br />Organized Retail Crime <br /> <br />Mike Johnson, Washington Retail Association, provided a presentation on organized retail crime. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding theft, police stings, and federal advocacy to tackle retail crime. <br /> <br /> <br />Committee Structure - 2025 Options <br /> <br />Kathy opened a discussion regarding Committee structure. Council members discussed their <br />options for this year’s committees: combining meetings/committees, having budget meetings <br />first, comprehensive plan meetings, possible overlap of topics at multiple meetings, implications <br />of staff time, and annual goals for committees. <br /> <br /> <br />Council initiated policy process and analyst support options <br /> <br />Kathy led a discussion regarding Council initiated policy process including staff time on legislation, <br />prioritization, and having Legal evaluate Council requests and process improvements going <br />forward for Council legislation. Council then extensively discussed analyst support options. <br /> <br />The Council retreat recessed for a break at 2:06 p.m. and reconvened at 2:17 p.m. <br /> <br /> <br />2025 Newsletter <br /> <br />President Schwab stated he wanted to discuss the newsletter and efforts going into the <br />newsletter in the new year. Council discussed the creation of the newsletter, future ideas for <br />keeping citizens informed, and processing of the newsletter. <br /> <br /> <br />Focus Direction for 2025 <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding the following suggested top priorities: budget, public safety, <br />emergency management, economic development, homelessness and housing, and cost of living