2016/01/23 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

January 23, 2016 Discussion ensued regarding the importance of creating a process to support a flexible long-term vision for the community. Council members discussed topics that included gaining an understanding of the grant process; the need for a list that identifies all facility and parks maintenance projects and new projects being considered, placement of each project on a timeline and refinement of a grading system to help staff concentrate efforts; shaping Everett and determining what businesses to attract; looking at the Comprehensive Plan and new expectations for city government (climate change, homelessness); revisit the Vision 2025 statement; the need for historical data; staffing considerations, partnering with other organizations in the community; and the importance of dialogue with the community. Facilitator Posey summarized the Council's plan to review the vision and how to look at capital projects. She stated the process is strategic, operational, and tactical and that revisiting and updating the vision is necessary in any organization. President Murphy suggested the Vision 2025 plan be revisited and asked the Mayor to come back in the next few weeks with a timeframe for planning, i.e., timeline, process, and staffing. The Mayor stated that he would bring forward a concept for revising the vision no later than March 1. Budget— Structural Deficit Update / 1% Property Tax Limitation Susy Haugen, Finance, provided a structural deficit update that included new information and a review of subsequent proposed changes to the 2016 budget. She explained that the surplus for 2015 was the result of an extraordinary year, and she would provide additional information about carry forward at a future Council meeting. Discussion ensued about the importance of using one-time monies for future obligations, a review of the Streets Initiative Task Force and SDAT recommendations, and the impacts of changes to employee health care. 23