Strategic Plan
2026
In 2019, the City established 7 Focus Areas. Each Focus Area contains 4 goals with supporting initiatives and tasks.
The 7 Strategic Focus Areas include:
1. Balanced Budget and Economic Development
2. Communication and Outreach
3. Health, Environment, and Sustainability
4. Housing and Community Development
5. Parks, Recreation and Library
6. Public Safety
7. Transportation Choices and Infrastructure
Strategic Plan - History
Strategic Plan - History
Balanced Budget and Economic Development
▪ Maximize Economic Development Strategies
▪ Partner with other public agencies and non-profits to increase revenue and augment services
▪ Manage pension and other employee expenses
▪ Optimize City assets and Lease Property when
appropriate
Communication and Outreach
▪ Connect with the community with timely and
transparent information
▪ Increase meaningful outreach through quality
engagement
▪ Improve emergency preparedness and public noticing
▪ Promote educational and economic opportunities
Health, Environment, and Sustainability
▪ Update and implement the Climate Action Plan
▪ Support a healthy community through active living
and healthy eating
▪ Create health and education hubs around major
transit stops
▪ Support an age-friendly community
Housing and Community Development
▪ Pursue new housing options at all income levels
▪ Ensure preservation of existing affordable housing
stock
▪ Streamline permitting and improve code compliance
▪ Enhance role in reducing homelessness
Strategic Plan - History
Parks, Recreation and Library
▪ Improve outreach and increase participation
▪ Organize community events and support gatherings
▪ Seek reliable funding and synergize with SouthBay
partners
▪ Develop volunteer program and community services
plan
Public Safety
▪ Reduce overall crime and illegal drug activity
▪ Improve operational readiness and community
resilience
▪ Enhance recruitment and retention and promote
public safety pipeline
▪ Expand community engagement and increase
visibility
Transportation Choices and Infrastructure
▪ Expand mobility choices by improving access to
transit, biking, walking, rolling, and parking
management
▪ Improve traffic safety through traffic calming and safe routes
▪ Update capital needs assessment and funding
strategies
▪ Maintain infrastructure and establish measurable
targets
In 2023, Councilmembers participated in a workshop to set City Council priorities in alignment with the Strategic Plan.
Every year, each Director has worked to develop a work plan and incorporate tasks that align with the identified strategic focus areas for their department.
Currently, departments are prioritizing the following initiatives and highlighting recent accomplishments.
Engineering & Public Works
GOALS
• Create a Culture of Teamwork and
Respect
• Maximize Resources
• Increase Revenues
• Improve Customer Service and
Permitting Process
• Enhance Public Safety and Quality
of Life
Engineering & Public Works
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Cross-Training to Improve Operations
and Emergency Response
• Restructured User Fees
• Improved Communications and Review
Times for Private Development Permitting
• Delivered over $25 million in Capital
Projects since FY 25
• Expanded Quality of Life Crews
Community Services
GOALS
• Community Needs Assessment
• Policies and Fees Evaluation
• Enhance Contracts and Partnerships
• Activate Parks and Recreation Centers
• Team Development
Community Services
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Opened Kimball Senior Center and launched new
senior programs.
• Met increased demand for congregate meals and
welfare checks and meals to homebound seniors.
• Provided new recreation programs and activities.
Community Development
• Fill critical vacancies, utilize new officer positions to improve response times and community coverage • Provide advanced technical training & certifications focusing on federal/state regulations; continued participation in regional academies & strategic planning conferences
ORGANIZATIONAL GROWTH (INTERNAL)
• Operationalize recently adopted ordinances
• Explore the Housing Authority’s potential as a developer • Scale programs to address businesses and neighborhoods
ACTIVE INITIATIVES & REGULATORY GOALS
• Digital permitting and application workflows
• Aggressively pursue funding opportunities
• Improve departmental collaboration to streamline project reviews
PROJECT & PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
Community Development
HOUSING AUTHORITY
• 1,163 Section 8 vouchers
• Kimball Highland Apts
• HUD 5-Year Public Housing Authority Plan &
CPD 5-Year Consolidated Plan
• Secured & programmed $3.1M grants and inkind resources • 1st regional shelter-bed operating agreement in
the County
BUILDING & PLANNING
• 37 discretionary applications, 6 adopted
ordinances
• Online permitting system for Solar & Energy
Storage
• Increased in-house plan checks
• Streamlined updated application materials
NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES
• Tobacco Retail, Short-Term Rental, & Westside
Business Compliance Program
• Abated high-priority nuisance properties
• Permanent housing solutions for
unsheltered individuals
• Staff education & certifications
• Collaboration with community partners on
beautification efforts
Fire • Finalize Ground Emergency Transport Program
• Explore Funding Options For Fire Station 33
• Cost Recovery & Grants
• Enhance Statewide Emergency Response Program
• Enhance Community Risk Reduction to Promote
Public Safety and Education
Fire
• ISO Class 1 Designation
• Fully staffed Community Risk Reduction Division, created a Fire Alarm Coordinator position • Succession Plan for all Divisions and Ranks
• Grants (EOC Modernization with Satellite Communications, SCBA Fill Station, Extractors, CERT, Radio Communications)
• Adopted fire inspection, biannual inspection ordinance, and new California fire code • Modernized station alerting equipment and fleet, leveraged technology to increase productivity • Conducted and recorded an EOC training series; enhanced public education efforts • Partnership with PLNU to host flu clinic for community • Spanish language CERT, Listos, Stop the Bleed, First AID/CPR & You are the Help Until Help Arrives
• Worked in collaboration with SDSU Sage Project for emergency management Police
Recruitment and Retention
• 22 new hires in 2025, new positions approved by Council • New Pilot Program: 6-month patrol schedule
• Expanded Officer Wellness Program
Training and Succession
• Continued focus on professional development & training • Provide opportunities for acting assignments
Facility Upgrades
• Police Range
• Million Cycle Gates
• Defensive Tactics Room
• Legacy Committee Enhancements
Additional Needs/Pending Projects
• Investigations Division Remodel (CIP)
• Senior Volunteer Program
Police
Crime Reduction
• Large Scale Operations for Prostitution Activities (HTTF, GET, Patrol Operations) • Additional Deployments of Officers in Strategic Locations to Deter Crime • Intelligence Based Deployment of Resources (CAU)
Operational Readiness
• Development of Officers; Training Opportunities for Each Rank; Individual Unit Training (SWAT, Range, CNT, MFF, Peer Support, etc.)
• Watch Commander Vehicle Build-Outs
• Technology Upgrades (MDC's, Software & Hardware Integration) Community Outreach & Engagement
• Launched Community Outreach Team (2 officers)
• Addition of 2nd PERT Clinician
• Volunteer/RSVP and Cadet Programs
• Social Media Footprint
Library
• Community Engagement and
Inclusion
• Implementing Innovative
Technologies
• Preserving Local Archives
• Implementing a new Integrated
Library System (ILS)
Library
Community Engagement & Inclusion
• Expanded Cultural Programming (Filipino American History Month, Pride) • Significantly expanded collection offerings with a wide range of new titles to better reflect community interests and diversity
• Expanded Outreach
Implementing Innovative Technologies
• Laser cutter, coding, 3D printing classes, and a variety of new tools • New options for viewing and reserving items online
Preserving Local Archives
• Partnership with SDSU and CA Revealed to complete a collection assessment for upcoming digitization projects • Integrated the library’s digital collections into the Online Archive of California • Increased public access hours to the Local History Room Integrated Library System (ILS) Upgrade
• Implementation of a new, fully online ILS, including a new mobile app and online catalog (launching July/early August)
Human Resources
• Workforce Planning
• Classification & Compensation Equity
• Talent Acquisition & Retention
• Policy Modernization & Compliance
• Employee Engagement & Development
Human Resources
Major Accomplishments
• Completed negotiations with Management and Firefighters Association (3-year contract) • Hosted 300 attendees at the City Benefits Fair Luncheon • Filled 44 positions agency-wide, including notable recruitment of three Director positions • Closed 66 claims in Risk Management
• Completed 5 reclassification studies
Looking Ahead
• Improve transparency and compliance by reinforcing consistent recruitment practices, ensuring proper approvals and mitigating risk; reduce overall organizational risk
• Continue evaluating classification structures and staffing models • Address employee relations matters, investigations and performance management • Launch Munis HRIS and Payroll
Finance
• Finalize Projects (audit’s, ACFR,
labor negotiations, etc.)
• Project Activation (pay code/salary
tables, contracts, etc.)
• Policy Updates
• Training and Future Projects
(capital budgeting)
Finance
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
• Completed audits; issued the final Annual
Comprehensive Finance Report (ACFR)
• Published budget document
• Labor Negotiations
• 2025 Fee Study
• MUNIS ERP PH I
▪ Time, commitment, trust, planning, training, dedication ▪ Living Standard Office Procedures (SOP)
▪ Vendor and Retiree payments electronically processed
through ACH
LOOKING AHEAD
• 2025 audits and Annual Comprehensive Finance
Report (ACFR) Issuance
• 2027 Budget Process
• MUNIS ERP PH II (Payroll and Human
Resources)
• Project Accounting, Salary and Benefit
Projections
• Policy Review and Updates
• Continue to evaluate and implement efficient
procedures
Budget Schedule Fiscal Year 2027
City Clerk’s Office
• Records Management Program
• Public Records Act
• Passport Facility
• Training and Development
• Website
• 2026 Election
• Succession Planning
City Clerk’s Office
Public Records Requests
• Received 956 Public Records Requests in 2025 (busiest recorded year)
Passport Acceptance Facility
• 1,982 accepted applications
City Council & Compliance Support
• 51 City Council Meetings,10 City Council Policies reviewed and updated
• 233 FPPC filings managed (Form 700 and Campaign/PAC
Committees)
Boards, Committees & Commissions
• 18 BCC appointments processed – recruitment,
appointment, and training
Staffing, Training & Systems
• Secured Records Program Specialist position
• Implemented eFILE system, replacing NetFile for FPPC filings • Led staff training on eSCRIBE, Laserfiche, NextRequest, and BCC Liaison responsibilities
Looking Ahead
• Election November 3, 2026 – Mayor, Districts 1 and 3
• Expanding electronic records and website access to reduce future PRA workload
• Implementing the SB707 requirements, building on public access to City Council and their appointed BCC meetings.
City Attorney’s Office
• Code Enforcement
• Public Records Requests
• Labor Negotiations
• Flood and Cannabis Litigation
• Economic Development Initiatives
• Staffing, allocating legal time effectively
• Effectively initiated multiple Code Enforcement actions, including nuisance abatement and business compliance issues
• Regularly advise on and assist with PRAs, including efforts to improve and streamline the process
• Assisted in reaching labor agreements with all three represented groups • Oversee all City litigation, including shepherding flood litigation and resolving cannabis litigation • Finalizing CarMax property transactions
• Encourage standard templates and improvements to workflow processes to effectively manage limited staff time
City Attorney's Office
City Manager's Office
(I.T., Economic Development, Public Information)
I.T. Priorities
• Modernize Core Infrastructure
• Enhance Network Performance &
Connectivity
• Improve Communication & Collaboration
Systems
• Strengthen Public Safety & Security
Infrastructure
• Enhance Operational Systems & Mobility
I.T. Accomplishments
• Deployed new Enterprise File and Data Storage System
• Deployed advanced CCTV Video Server
• Installed additional CCTV Cameras
• Upgraded Network Distribution Switches
• Installed Council conference room audio/video
equipment
• Upgraded laptops and mobile devices to support remote work and field operations
Economic Development Priorities
• Revenue diversification and modernization
• Strategic activation and leasing of City
assets
• Targeted economic development
partnerships
• Corridor-based revitalization and business
districts
Economic Development Accomplishments
• Advanced gross receipts tax and revenue
modernization efforts
• Positioned Bay Marina parcels for interim use
and redevelopment
• Strengthened Port and regional partnerships
• Improved economic development coordination
and systems
PIO Priorities
• Improve City website, collaborate with I.T. to
address new website contract
• Provide additional stream of communication to
the public by relaunching NatCity News online
newsletter (Summer 2026)
• Standardize brand guide and City collateral,
emphasize key messaging
• Highlight City-supported programs and projects,
local resources, and initiatives
• Improve overall internal communication and
update policies related to communications
PIO Accomplishments
• Produced official City press releases – and
collaborated on releases with City
partners/stakeholders
• Re-launched Twitter (X) and City News area of
website
• Centralized social media roles, increasing City
visibility and social media growth
• Reintroduced City brand guide,
provided Communications/Social Media training to
educate staff on best practices
Approval of 2026 Strategic Plan
Next Steps/Conclusion