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TO: H
ONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: KIM SUMMERS, CITY MANAGER
KRISTEN CRANE, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
JUSTIN CLIFTON, ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER
SUB
JECT: CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP PRIORITIES
DATE: JULY 26, 2024
ABSTRACT
The July 31, 2024, City Council Workshop will be an opportunity for City Council and City staff to review, discuss, and refine City Council priorities. This workshop is a follow-up to the one held on January 11, 2024.
BA
CKGROUND
Cit
y Council has numerous priorities competing for limited time and resources. Reviewing and refining priorities periodically helps to ensure that the work of staff is aligned with the most important projects and programs that City Council wants to complete. Without clear priorities, resources may be inadvertently spent on lower-priority programs/projects. Similarly, a lack of clear priorities and/or frequently shifting priorities contributes to organizational thrash, negatively impacts productivity, and confuses stakeholders and residents.
Th
e January 11, 2024, workshop focused on outlining two to four, high-level strategies tied to each of the six City Council goals. From there, City Council engaged in a prioritization exercise to identify a handful of top priorities from among those strategies. Those priorities, in rank order, were:
• Co
nstruct new Fire Station 6
• Amphitheater Parking Lot
• Expand Los Alamos Soccer Complex
• 215/Keller Interchange
• Complete the Library Expansion
• Build Additional Pickleball Courts
• Plan, program, and create Infrastructure Development
Th
is follow-up priority-setting workshop is an opportunity to review and refine top priorities as well as to create a framework that addresses projects and programs beyond the top two to four strategies under each of the six City Council goals. Review, refinement, and expansion of the January priority-setting workshop are necessary for several reasons, including:
• De
clining revenues create the need to rebalance resource allocation and account for reduced operational capacity.
MEMORANDUM
Received After Agenda Printed
7/31/2024 - Special Workshop
WORKSHOP - AGENDA ITEM WS4
Staff Correspondence
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• This workshop includes a more comprehensive list of strategies that are all competing for limited time and resources.
• This workshop introduces a new framework to account for virtually all City Council priorities while continuing to emphasize the most important ones.
• This workshop begins a process of translating the most important priorities into more detailed workplans that will increase transparency around project/program progress and staff capacity.
Staff has developed a new outline for organizing City Council priorities. This structure was developed with the goal of having a comprehensive archive of all City Council priorities while also maintaining a way to differentiate the most important priorities from the rest. This framework utilizes three tiers:
• Tier 1: Solidified as top priorities by City Council that are fully programmed with strategies, workplans, and dedicated resources.
• Tier 2: Identified priorities by City Council that are partially programmed with conceptual strategies but where additional workplans and/or resource dedication are necessary. • Tier 3: Unprogrammed projects/programs not yet prioritized by City Council pending development of strategies, workplans and dedicated resources.
Within each tier, all projects/programs are divided into large or small projects to roughly estimate the effort they will take to complete.
The additional advantage of a tiered system for organizing priorities is that it provides a foundation for elevating and lowering priorities over time. In simple terms, most new ideas introduced by individual Council Members, members of the public, or staff, would be placed on Tier 3 pending consideration by City Council. The City Council would then elevate select ideas from Tier 3 to Tier 2 during prioritization workshops or through other formal consideration by City Council. Lastly, a select few priorities from Tier 2 would move to Tier 1 as broad strategies are expanded to include workplans and resource allocation.
Tier 1 begins with the six specific projects prioritized during the January 2024 workshop, plus a few other large projects and numerous small projects that are already underway or imminent. Tier 2 includes large and small projects/programs that Council has expressed significant interest in but have not yet been identified as top priorities.
Advancing all projects listed in Tier 1 simultaneously requires deferring progress on items included on Tiers 2 and
3. Even then, the significant number of items on Tier 1 means staff will only make incremental progress on each priority. Making more rapid progress on select projects/programs likely means accepting less progress on others.
This dynamic results from a number of factors, including:
• The vast majority of staff time is dedicated to providing direct services. There are only a handful of select staff members with the skillset and role to advance complex projects/programs. • Even staff members whose roles include advancing large projects/programs dedicate the vast majority of their time to day-to-day work, leaving fairly limited resources for new initiatives. • Staff have substantial administrative priorities beyond the priorities of City Council. A list of administrative priorities has been provided for context. • New projects/programs compete for scarce resources against efforts to improve existing programs and services.
• While the list of City Council priorities is comprehensive, it is not exhaustive. The list does not include a large number of smaller projects that nevertheless need to be completed. • Declining revenue limits available funding for CIP projects and for operational support needed to pursue new projects/programs.
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• The exercise of setting priorities highlights tradeoffs, i.e., making more progress on the most important priorities requires delaying progress on lower priorities. • Advancing projects/programs is a dynamic process. Timing is greatly impacted by revenue leveraging, mandates, regulations, staff capacity and more.
At the workshop, staff will provide an overview of the Council priorities, focused on the larger projects between Tiers 1 and 2. Staff will facilitate a number of focused questions needed to gain greater clarity on where to direct efforts over the coming months. Staff will also seek feedback from City Council on moving any project/programs between the tiered lists and the removal of any existing projects/programs or the addition of anything new.
A summary of the City Council Priorities Tiers 1, 2, and 3, is provided attached.
Council Priorities
Tier 1 – Fully Programmed
(Solidified as top priorities by City Council that are fully programmed with strategies, workplans, and dedicated resources.)
LARGE SCALE PROJECTS
Fire Station 6
2-3 ye
ars after start
of design
$10M -
$15M
Description: Build a new Fire Station 6 at the northeast end of the City.
Major
Milestones:
• Acquire property – fall 2024
• Set aside operational expenses estimated at $3M annually • Conceptual design/cost estimates
• Seek grants and explore other funding sources
• When ready to proceed, secure bond funding
• Extend water and natural gas infrastructure
• Complete design
• Construction
Proj
ect Lead: Fire Department, City Manager’s Office
Project Support: Development Services, Engineering
Estimated Council Meetings: 2-5
Amphitheater
Parking Lot
2024- 2
025
$3.5M
Description: Construct parking for the amphitheater including ADA, landscaping, and monument sign.
Major
Milestones:
• Design completed – summer 2024
• Bid process underway – fall 2024
• Construction – fall 2024 through spring 2025
Proj
ect Lead: Community Services Department
Project Support: City Manager’s Office, Engineering
Estimated Council Meetings: 1-2
Los Alamos Soccer
Complex
2024-2028
$10M-$15M
Description: Rehabilitate existing fields, build new fields and related facilities.
Major
Milestones:
• Revise Murrieta Soccer pro forma – fall 2024
• Bond financing – winter 2024
• Rehab existing fields – fall 2024 through summer 2025 • Environmental clearances for expansion – 2024-2026
• Design new fields/facilities – 2026
• Construction – 2026-2028
Proj
ect Lead: City Manager’s Office, Development Services
Project Support: Community Services, Finance, Engineering, Parks Maintenance Estimated Council Meetings: 4-6
Keller Road
Interchange
3 .5 years after start
of design
$4
7M
Description: Build a new interchange at Keller Road and Interstate 215.
Ma
jor Milestones:
• Rights of Way acquired
• Preliminary design completed
• Environmental document approval
• Design Plans/Specs/Estimates
• Secure $29+ million in additional funding
• C
onstruction
P
roject Lead: Engineering, City Manager’s Office
Project Support: Development Services
Estimated Council Meetings: 4-6
Library Expansion
2 024-2026
$6.
5M
Description: Expand Library facility by approximately 4,500 square feet.
Ma
jor Milestones:
• Conceptual design complete – spring 2024
• Funding secured – summer 2024
• Final design – summer 2024 through spring 2025
• Construction begins – summer 2025
• Construction complete – summer 2026
P
roject Lead: Community Service Department
Project Support: City Manager’s Office, Engineering
Estimated Council Meetings: 2-3
Murrieta Hot
Springs Road
Widening
20 24-2025
$1
0M
Description: Widen MHS Rd. between Margarita and Winchester Roads.
Ma
jor Milestones:
• Design complete
• Right of Way acquisition complete
• Construction – winter 2024
• Public Outreach during construction
P
roject Lead: Engineering
Project Support: City Manager’s Office
Estimated Council Meetings: 1-3
Pickleball Courts
20 24 – 2025
$4
00K
Description: Build new pickleball courts to accommodate significant demand.
Ma
jor Milestones:
• Identify and select locations – fall 2024
• Complete CEQA analysis where necessary
• Design
• Construction begins – winter 2024
P
roject Lead: Community Services Department
Project Support: City Manager’s Office, Public Works
Estimated Council Meetings: 2-3
Equestrian Facility
Description: Work with the Sheriff’s Department to explore a long-term partnership for their use of the space and improvements. Also work with the Juniper Trails tenant.
Ma
jor Milestones:
• Determine needs of the Sheriff’s Office
• Determine needs of Juniper Trails
• Draft MOU outlining roles and responsibilities
• Review and revise site leases
• Complete or oversee site improvements
P
roject Lead: City Manager’s Office, Community Services Department Project Support: Public Works, Development Services
Estimated Council Meetings: 2
Madison Specific
Plan/Infrastructure
Development
20 24-2025
$
500K
Description: Partner with Rancho Water/Western to use ARPA funds to extend water and sewer and plan the area for economic development. Additionally, a Specific Plan would be developed to promote economic development.
Ma
jor Milestones:
• Secure funding for a Specific Plan from City Council (Measure T) - winter 2024 • Issue RFP for specific plan preparation + CEQA document – winter 2024 • Community Outreach – spring 2025
• Draft Specific Plan and CEQA document – fall 2025
• Public Hearings – fall 2025
P
roject Lead: Community Development Services
Project Support: Engineering, City Manager’s Office, Economic Development Estimated Council Meetings: 2-4
General Plan
Cleanup
20 25-2026
$41
0K
Description: Major elements of the update include revising the City’s Climate Action Plan, traffic model, Safety Element, mapping/graphics updates, other miscellaneous document updates, updated noise ordinance, and updated lighting ordinance.
Ma
jor Milestones:
• Revisions to various General Plan elements – spring 2025 • Public Outreach
• CEQA Document Preparation – winter 2025
• Draft General Plan Document Preparation – winter 2025 • Public Hearings/Final Documents – spring 2026
P
roject Lead: Community Development Services
Project support: Other stakeholder departments.
Council Meetings: TBD
SMALL SCALE PROJECTS
ADA Improvements Preparation of the ADA Transition Plan is complete. Annual curb ramp, sidewalk, and traffic signal retrofit per consent decree. Additional improvements are required at parks, facilities, trails, and other programmatic and physical areas.
Projects will take place over 25 years and are estimated to cost $62 million.
Improvements at
the MIC
Expanding resources at the Murrieta Innovation Center (MIC). Grant funds are awarded, and the design is complete. Construction and installation are estimated to begin in fall 2024.
Tot Lot Replacement Four (4) additional tot-lots to be designed and constructed.
City Hall and Fire
Generators
Replacing emergency generators. Grant was acquired. The design is complete.
The contractor is on-board, and installation is scheduled for fall 2024 and are estimated to cost $800K.
Public Works
Modular Offices
Extending water and sewer to the Public Works facility. Water District annexation is underway. Design, procurement, and placement of modular offices expected in summer 2025.
Fire Station #1
Concrete
Replacement
Project to replace concrete driveways at Fire Admin/Station 1 and connect the facility to the sewer system. Construction is scheduled for spring 2025 and estimated to cost $1.1M.
Library Flooring and
Soundproof Walls
Installation of new flooring and soundproofing panels. Work to be coordinated with Library expansion to minimize disruptions.
Glen Arbor Dog Park Construct a large and small dog area, provide ADA accessibility, and construct a new parking lot. Construction to begin fall 2024.
Murrieta Hot
Springs and Alta
Murrieta
Intersection
Eastbound right turn lane into Murrieta Plaza shopping center. Design and right of way acquisition complete, award construction contract in September and begin construction in October 2024; construction estimate is $850,000.
Various Storm Drain
Trash Interceptors
Install trash interceptors in existing catch basins within multi-family, commercial and industrial zones, as required by the NPDES permit.
Traffic Signal Sync Traffic signal modifications to optimize traffic flow- utilize AQMD funds.
Hillside Ordinance Reviewing and adjusting regulations for development on hillsides. The ordinance is due back to City Council by spring 2025.
6th Code Update Various Code revisions to be considered by City Council by spring 2025.
Code Enforcement
Revisions
Facilitating meetings of the City Council Code Enforcement Ad-Hoc Subcommittee. Next steps for any action items will be determined based on the future City Council workshop on this topic.
Surplus Lands Act City staff is examining opportunities with various city holdings.
Public Safety CFD An effort to create a new assessment district to ensure the City’s public safety agencies can maintain standards as the City grows.
Council Priorities
Tier 2 – Partially Programmed
(Identified priorities by City Council that are partially programmed with conceptual strategies but where additional workplans and/or resource dedication are necessary)
LARGE SCALE PROJECTS
Public Safety
Training Facility
$20M - $2
7M for
Phase I
$18M f
or Phase II
Description: Phase I: Construct a fire tower, indoor shooting range, and classroom space for regional public safety and education agencies. Phase II: Construct additional storage space and a multi-story commercial training facility.
Majo
r Milestones for Phase I:
• Conceptual design complete
• Seek funding partners
• Design – including value engineering to reduce costs
• Construction
• May require relocation of the Public Works Yard
Fire Stations 1, 2,
and 3 Remodel
$5.6M
Description: Stations need updating and coed facilities added.
Majo
r Milestones:
• Funding secured for Station 1 - $1.6M
• Secure funding for Stations 2 and 3 - $4M combined
• Design
• Construction
Fire Station 5
Permanent
Structure
$4M
Description: Adding a permanent structure at Station 5 to replace the modular.
Majo
r Milestones:
• Secure funding
• Design/selection
• Construction
Comm
unity Pool
Redesign
$10M -
$13M
Description: Locate and construct the Community Pool.
Majo
r Milestones:
• Extensive community outreach completed
• Draft conceptual plan developed (though not yet presented to Council since work on the project was stopped based on prioritization and resource availability) • Secure funding
• Design
• Construction
Line F Drainage
Improvements
$9M
Description: Improve Line F to address area flooding and enable property development.
Majo
r Milestones:
• Plan and permit with environmental agencies
• Secure funding
• Design
• Construction
Line G Drainage
Improvements
$10M
Description: Plan and permit work to improve Line G and address area flooding and public safety concerns.
Major Milestones:
• Plan and permit with environmental agencies
• Secure funding
• Design
• Construction
Line D Box
Culvert
Extension
$1.5M
Description: Extend Line D box culvert to allow the widening of Murrieta Hot Springs Road.
Major Milestones:
• Design
• Construction
Open Channel
Drainage
Maintenance
Permit
$1.25M
Description: Permit the City to perform regular maintenance of open drainage channels within the City.
Major Milestones:
• Get a permit to perform work
• Secure funding
• Create an operations plan to perform maintenance
Jefferson St. and
Magnolia St.
Traffic Signal
$1M
Description: Traffic signal installation to address increased traffic volumes; project cost estimate of $1M utilizes DIF – Traffic signals.
Major Milestones:
• Funding secured
• Construction
SMALL SCALE PROJECTS
PD Building
Improvements
Funding for paint and locker rooms secured.
Traffic Bureau funding pending (estimated to be $250k).
Murrieta Creek
Drainage
Improvements
Army Corp of Engineers project; Phase 2B Rancho Cal Road to Winchester Road is scheduled to begin construction in late 2024. Phase 3 is unfunded and the schedule is unknown at this time.
Various Traffic
Signal Upgrades
Ongoing program to modify existing traffic signals as needed; $150,000 utilizes Measure A and Gas Tax for maintenance operations.
Storm Drain
Master Plan
Prepare citywide drainage plan to identify deficient drainage facilities to address flood control needs - $250,000 budgeted.
Council Priorities
Tier 3 – Unprogrammed
(Unprogrammed projects/programs not yet prioritized by City Council pending development of strategies, workplans, and dedicated resources.)
LARGE SCALE PROJECTS
Parking Structure Consider assessing the need, identifying a site , and constructing a parking lot or parking structure to support downtown.
Civic Center
Development
Space plan for future expansion of City Hall and other potential uses.
Expand PD
Facility
Needed to accommodate growing staff – funding for this project should be in place by FY30 – estimated at $10 to $15m. PD site has room for expansion.
Murrieta Youth
Center Phase 2
The original construction of the Youth Center contemplated a future Phase 2 expansion.
Develop
Pioneer Park An opportunity to meet the growing demand for park amenities.
Murrieta Creek
Regional Trail
Connecting existing regional trail segments . The Trails Master Plan will address this topic.
Loan Program for
Water/Sewer
Connections
A potential strategy to offset the high costs of extending infrastructure in some locations.
Keyhole Specific
Plan
Develop a Specific Plan for the “keyhole area,” comprised of 51 properties in the area bordered by Clinton Keith Road, Whitewood Road, Baxter Road, and the City boundary on the east. The area lacks water infrastructure and consolidated planning, hindering development.
Tour de Murrieta An opportunity to make Tour de Murrieta a marquee annual event for the City and the best cycling race in the state.
Development
Approval Process
Deep Dive
An opportunity for a more elaborate examination of current staffing and processes to identify opportunities for improvement.
Create a Public
Art Program
An opportunity to beautify the community and reinforce community connection. An internal staff working group has developed ideas for a smaller -scale pilot program .
Work on this program has been on hold in light of recent budget reductions.
Regular
Community
Cleanup Events
An opportunity to beautify the community. Involves City staff facilitating community clean-up events with volunteers.
Develop BMX
Pump Track An opportunity for new recreational facilities
SMALL SCALE PROJECTS
Alderwood Park
Splash Pad
Creates an opportunity for water -related play . Availability of funding will be determined after the construction of pickleball courts.
Vacant Land
Planning Addressing needs and potential opportunities with City-owned land.
Whitewood
Widening Hunter
to Clinton Keith
Addition of second northbound lane to complete four -lane section; recently requested TUMF funding to offset costs; utilize DIF – Streets for design and construction.
Roadside
Memorial Policy Requested by some residents to create a policy governing roadside memorials.
Replace Kitchen
at the
Community
Center
Project consists of renovating the kitchen at the Murrieta Community Center, including bringing issues into compliance, upgrades to commercial appliances, and overall renovations. Project on hold due to funding and priority.
City Hall HVAC
Replacement Needed to address aging facility.
City Hall Roof
Replacement Needed to address aging facility.
Vintage Reserve
Restroom
A new project listed on the DIF schedule to replace existing porta -potty at Vintage Reserve Park and construct permanent facility. Work to include new water service.
Support New
Community
Events/Holiday
Events
Interest in creating new community celebrations and connections.
Greater
Activation of
Amphitheater
An opportunity to expand programming using the City’s Amphitheater.
Sidewalk Vendor
Policy New regulations addressing street vending.
Revamp PEG
Channel Enhance public outreach content
City Council Priorities Tiers 1, 2, and 3 Summary
Provide a High Level of
Innovative Public Safety
Aggressively Pursue
Economic Development
Maintain a High -
Performing
Organization…
Plan, Program & Create
Infrastructure
Development
Coordinate & Develop
Responsive, Effective
Community Services
Foster & Promote an
Engaged Connected &
Caring Community
TIER 1 TIER 1 TIER 1 TIER 1 TIER 1 TIER 1
Fire Station 6 Madison Specific Plan City Hall and Fire Generator Replacement
Amphitheater Parking Lot Los Alamos Soccer Complex TIER 2 Fire Station 1 Concrete
Replacement
Improvements at the MIC Public Works Modular Offices Keller Road Interchange Library Expansion TIER 3 Public Safety CFD Surplus Lands Act TIER 2 Murrieta Hot Springs Road Widening
Pickleball Courts Create a Public Art Program
TIER 2 TIER 2 TIER 3 ADA Improvements Equestrian Center Support Community Events New Holiday Events
Public Safety Training Facility TIER 3 Civic Center Development Murrieta Hot Springs and Alta Murrieta Intersection
Tot Lot Replacements Greater Activation of
Amphitheater
Remodel Fire Stations 1,2 & 3 Loan Program for Water and Sewer Connections
Replace the kitchen at the
Community Center
Various Storm Drain Trash
Interceptors
Library Flooring and Soundproof
Walls
Sidewalk Vendor Policy
Fire Station 5 Permanent
Structure
Keyhole Specific Plan City Hall HVAC Replacement Hillside Ordinance Glen Arbor Dog Park Revamp PEG Channel PD Building Improvements Tour de Murrieta City Hall Roof Replacement General Plan Cleanup Traffic Signal Synchronization TIER 3 Downtown Parking Structure Development Services Process Deep Dive TIER 2 6th Code Update
Expand PD Facility Vacant Land Planning Line F Drainage Improvements Code Enforcement Revisions Line G Drainage Improvements TIER 2
Line D Box Culvert Extension Community Pool Redesign
Open Channel Drainage
Maintenance Permit TIER 3
Jefferson St. and Magnolia St.
Traffic Signal
Murrieta Youth Center Phase 2
Murrieta Creek Drainage
Improvements
Develop Pioneer Park
Various Traffic Signal Upgrades Murrieta Creek Trail
Storm Drain Master Plan Regular Community Cleanup
Events
TIER 3 Alderwood Park Splash Pad
Whitewood Road Widening
Hunter to Clinton Keith Road 3
Roadside Memorial Policy
Vintage Reserve Restroom
Develop BMX Pump Track