Murrieta City Council
October 13, 2026

City Council Priorities
Workshop
July 31, 2024
Received After Agenda Printed
7/31/2024 - Special Workshop
WORKSHOP - AGENDA ITEM WS4
Staff Presentation
2 • Includes projects, programs, and policies
• A way to identify the most important/urgent items
• A way to align resources
• An expansion from the previous priorities workshop in January 2024 • The beginning of a process to establish workplans
What is Priority Setting?
3 • Clarity and focus = productivity
• If everything is a priority, nothing is a priority
• Helps to set ambitious but realistic expectations
• Establishes a process to introduce, elevate, and lower priorities • Declining revenue creates new challenges
Why Set Priorities?
4 • Ideally part of an annual or semi-annual process
• Reviewed whenever new initiatives are introduced
• When greater urgency for certain priorities is needed When does prioritization
occur?
5 Introducing a three-tiered framework:
o Tier 1: Fully Programmed – Solidified priorities by City Council with workplans, and dedicated resources
o Tier 2: Partially Programmed – Identified priorities by City Council with conceptual strategies but where additional workplans and/or resource dedication are necessary
o Tier 3: Unprogrammed – Projects/programs not yet prioritized by City Council pending development of strategies, workplans, and dedicated resources
How is prioritization
done?
6 • Priorities are best measured by what you’re willing to sacrifice – especially other priorities
• Most staff capacity is dedicated to day-to-day operations • Staff also have administrative priorities
• New projects/programs need to be balanced with efforts to optimize existing projects, programs, and services
Important Context
7 • Current efforts to capture City Council priorities are comprehensive but not exhaustive
• Declining revenues not only limit funding but negatively impact operational support to pursue priorities
• Priority setting highlights tradeoffs
• Establishing priorities is dynamic and changes frequently Important Context
8 • Review and discuss large projects/programs on Tiers 1 and 2 • Seek clarification where necessary
• Align on a strategic approach to large projects on Tiers 1 and 2 • Discuss elevating Tier 3 priorities to Tier 2 or Tier 1 (this may require lowering other priorities on this list)
• Discuss any new ideas not yet introduced to Tier 3
Workshop Goals
9