Fremont City Council Meeting: 04/12/22 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: City Manager's Office
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Plans, Policies and Studies
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
STAFF REPORT (ID # 4579) DOC ID: 4579
Updated: 4/6/2022 6:04 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
FEBRUARY 2022 CITY COUNCIL RETREAT - Acceptance of the 2022 City Council Retreat Report and Identified Council Priorities
Contact Persons:
Name: Candice Rankin Mumby Christina Briggs
Title: Management Analyst II Assistant City Manager
Div/Dept: City Manager's Office City Manager's Office
Phone: 510-284-4027 510-284-4022
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: On February 25, 2022 a City Council Retreat was held at the Downtown Event Center in Fremont. The purpose of the retreat was to: 1) establish Council priorities for 2022, 2) create consensus on roles and norms for both Councilmembers and executive staff, and 3) maintain a strong dynamic of Council-staff teamwork.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: Councilmembers and staff discussed many priorities determined through pre-retreat interviews that will continue to be addressed by staff. Of those discussed, Council distinguished three top priorities for staff to focus on through a dot voting exercise. The top priorities identified were: 1) Continue to innovate and find solutions to address and respond to homelessness in Fremont, 2) Enhance public safety, and 3) Increase the vitality of commercial corridors. Additionally, Council established a foundational principal of ensuring the financial heath and sustainability for the City of Fremont. The Council’s priorities will be incorporated into the upcoming budget process and staff work plan. Below is a matrix directly linking the Council’s top three priorities to a sample of work currently being completed by City Staff:
Top Priorities Sample of Activities Already in Progress Continue to innovate and address
homelessness
• Establishment of Safe Parking rotational
program.
• Continue to explore opportunities to expand
programs including safe parking, additional
abatement in severely impacted areas, and the
MET Unit.
• Applied for state Project Homekey funding and
continue to work on several other affordable
housing projects in pipeline that will include
units for the homeless or those at risk of
homelessness.
• Continue to provide rental assistance through
the Keep Fremont Housed Program until
allocated funds are fully expended.
Enhance public safety • Continue several initiatives to address Police staffing and reduce the current sworn vacancy
rate. Initiatives include the internal hiring
incentive program, retention strategies,
strategic marking, and participation in the
Staff Report (ID # 4579) Meeting of April 12, 2022
Updated: 4/6/2022 6:04 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
30x30 initiative, which aims to have more
women in law enforcement.
• Utilize technology to reduce crime, including
the Real Time Information Center.
• Continue to develop relationships with the
community through encouragement of
community assistance and reviving the Patrol
Problem Solving Initiatives.
• Continue to work with the Alameda County Fire
Chiefs and County EMS to address emergency
medical transportation issues.
Increase vitality of commercial
corridors
• Providing technical assistance to small
businesses through our Small Business Ally
including site selection, local data, permit
coordination, funding opportunities, workforce
programs, and business development
resources.
• Partnering with a nonprofit that specializes in
community engagement and placemaking on
an activation project.
• Exploring the creation of a Business
Improvement District for Downtown Fremont.
• Implementing a permanent Pop-Up Patio
program for outdoor dining.
Ensure financial health and
sustainability
• Projecting continued, but diminishing, use of
fiscal recovery funds in FY 2022/23 and FY
2023/24 as revenues recover to maintain pre-
COVID-19 service levels.
• Negotiate successor MOUs expiring 7/1/2022
within Council’s budget parameters.
• Continue to promote reinvestment in
community of existing Fremont companies and
support new business additions to Fremont’s
economy.
Additionally, there was a conversation about Council Norms and Protocols at the annual retreat. Norms are the overarching guiding principles that guide the Council’s work together, while protocols pertain to procedures concerning specific issues. Specifically, the Council discussed the norms and protocols related to the issuance of proclamations and resolutions, sharing of Council attended committees at City Council meetings, and efficiently conducting discussions at Council meetings. Upon approval of the City Council Retreat Report, the Council Handbook will be updated with any necessary changes to reflect the norms and protocols agreed upon at the 2022 Retreat.
ATTACHMENTS:
• Fremont Council Workshop Report 2022
RECOMMENDATION: Accept the February 2022 City Council Retreat Report.