COUNCIL RETREAT
Saturday, January 25, 2025
www.cityofpaloalto.org
2 AGENDA
9:00 1. Roll Call, Welcome by Mayor & City Manager
9:05 2. Introductions
9:40 3. Discuss Key Inputs: Community Input & 2024 Accomplishments 10:10 Public Comment
10:40 BREAK
10:50 4. Selection of 2025 Priorities
11:30 5. Initial discussion of 2025 Objectives
12:30 BREAK
1:00 6. Discussion of Organizing for Effectiveness
2:30 7. Next Steps
3:00 Adjournment
TO ENSURE A PRODUCTIVE DAY
3January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
We allow time for candid and honest feedback
We seek to hear ideas and perspectives of residents
in our public comments before deliberations
We will adhere to schedule and allow the facilitator
to move the conversation along
Ed
Lauing
Mayor
CITY COUNCIL
Vicki
Veenker
Vice
Mayor
Pat
Burt
Council
Member
Greer
Stone
Council
Member
Julie
Lythcott-
Haims
Council
Member
George
Lu
Council
Member
Keith
Reckdahl
Council
Member
4 5
City Council Intro:
Sharing your “why”
January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
3. KEY INPUTS
JANUARY 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
VIDEO LOOKING BACK AT 2024 & AHEAD TO 2025
JANUARY 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SUMMARY
8January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
• Staff released an Open Town Hall survey through OpenGov and the forum had 578 visitors and gained 431 community responses, compared with 483 visitors and 396 responses in 2024.
• Other inputs:
• Emails to the City Council
• Feedback gained today as part of the public comment period • Palo Alto Community survey results
• Neighborhood Town Hall meetings
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS
9January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Average priorities over 431 responses:
1. Community Health, Safety, Wellness & Belonging
2. Housing for Social & Economic Balance
3. Economic Development & Transition
4. Climate Change & Natural Environment - Protection & Adaptation QUESTION 1: Prioritize the 2024 City Council Priorities.
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SUMMARY
10January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Climate and Environment-Prioritizing electrification and reducing reliance on fossil fuels, clean energy initiatives, such as heat pumps and solar adoption, plus preserving biodiversity, reducing noise pollution, and implementing bird-friendly and dark-sky policies.
Community Building- Investment in programs and spaces, recreational options, plus more civic engagement and communication between the City and residents.
Economic Development- Revitalization of commercial districts like University Ave. and Cal Ave., reducing retail vacancies, increasing vibrant community spaces, plus need for faster permit processes.
Fiscal Responsibility- Comments about use of consultants, cost-efficiencies/budget management, and rising utility rates.
QUESTION 2: What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2025?
COMMUNITY FEEDBACK SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS
11January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Housing- Prioritizing affordable housing, concerns about and support for high-density housing, housing impacts on traffic/infrastructure, and more mixed-use developments near transit.
Infrastructure & Utilities- Enhance mobility such as bike lanes, roads and public transportation, support undergrounding utilities and flood control measures.
Public Safety- Comments about crime, traffic enforcement, and pedestrian safety, plus improving infrastructure to reduce accidents and enhance safety in neighborhoods.
QUESTION 2: What are the priorities you would like to see the City Council adopt for 2025?
PUBLIC COMMENT
www.cityofpaloalto.orgJANUARY 25, 2025
BREAK
www.cityofpaloalto.orgJANUARY 25, 2025
14 AGENDA
9:00 1. Roll Call, Welcome by Mayor & City Manager
9:05 2. Introductions
9:40 3. Discuss Key Inputs: Community Input & 2024 Accomplishments 10:10 Public Comment
10:40 BREAK
10:50 4. Selection of 2025 Priorities
11:30 5. Initial discussion of 2025 Objectives
12:30 BREAK
1:00 6. Discussion of Organizing for Effectiveness
2:30 7. Next Steps
3:00 Adjournment
4. SELECTION OF 2025 COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Introduction to annual priority-setting process
JANUARY 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
COUNCIL PRIORITIES OVERVIEW
16January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Since 1986, this Council has established Policy Priorities Policy anticipates between 3-4 Council identified topics will receive significant attention.
Staff recommends that the Council again, take a longer-term strategic approach, focusing on issues and initiatives over a two-year period to allow for sustained progress and meaningful impacts on priorities.
COUNCIL PRIORITIES: SHARED VALUES
17January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
1. Balance revenues and expenses, now and in the future.
2. Are environmentally sustainable, now and in the future.
3. Will integrate equity into our decisions, considering how decisions affect people differently based on their identity or circumstances.
4. Create a healthy, safe and welcoming community for all.
5. Will safeguard public trust through transparent practices and open communication.
6. Will embrace innovation.
The Palo Alto City Council will make decisions that:
DEFINITIONS
18January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Priority- One of the 3-4 focus areas that the City Council has selected for specific attention in order to address community needs.
“Umbrella” Strategies- A new term this year, reflecting an overarching approach to managing an issue, reflecting a long- term or multidimensional perspective.
Objective- A strategic project or milestone intended to be achieved within the year.
“Umbrella” Operating Strategies for 2025
Mayor’s Suggestions
19January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
• Reduce employee vacancy rate by further accelerating the rate of filling open positions so staff is in place to execute on priorities.
• Take a more cautious approach to budgeting decisions in light of economic uncertainty and a new administration. • Increase effectiveness and channels of communication
to/from our residents.
• Structure committees for optimum effectiveness.
Housing for Social & Economic Balance
2024 COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Climate Change & Natural Environment-
Protection & Adaptation
Community Health, Safety, Wellness &
Belonging
Economic Development & Transition
PRIORITIES
DISCUSSION
21January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
What are the Council’s 2025
Priorities?
22 AGENDA
9:00 1. Roll Call, Welcome by Mayor & City Manager
9:05 2. Introductions
9:40 3. Discuss Key Inputs: Community Input & 2024 Accomplishments 10:10 Public Comment
10:40 BREAK
10:50 4. Selection of 2025 Priorities
11:30 5. Initial discussion of 2025 Objectives
12:30 BREAK
1:00 6. Discussion of Organizing for Effectiveness
2:30 7. Next Steps
3:00 Adjournment
5. INITIAL DISCUSSION OF 2025 OBJECTIVES
www.cityofpaloalto.orgJANUARY 25, 2025
COUNCIL OBJECTIVES OVERVIEW
24January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Following Council selection of annual priorities, staff will return with recommended Objectives tied to SMARTIE Goals:
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Relevant
Time-bound
Inclusive
Equitable
OBJECTIVES
DISCUSSION
25January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Discuss initial input to staff on
objectives. Staff will return to
Council on Feb 24 with
recommendations based on
resources available.
BREAK
www.cityofpaloalto.orgJANUARY 25, 2025
27 AGENDA
9:00 1. Roll Call, Welcome by Mayor & City Manager
9:05 2. Introductions
9:40 3. Discuss Key Inputs: Community Input & 2024 Accomplishments 10:10 Public Comment
10:40 BREAK
10:50 4. Selection of 2025 Priorities
11:30 5. Initial discussion of 2025 Objectives
12:30 BREAK
1:00 6. Discussion of Organizing for Effectiveness
2:30 7. Next Steps
3:00 Adjournment
6. DISCUSSION OF ORGANIZING FOR
EFFECTIVENESS
JANUARY 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Strategic Issue: Council Engagement
29January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
• How do Committees advance priorities and support Council efficiency and effectiveness?
• Additional options for Council engagement:
• Designating a Council Liaison to a topic area (e.g. senior living communities) rather than individual organizations • Combining committees with related topics
Possible Guidance on Ad Hoc Committees
30January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
• Ad Hocs facilitate efficient Council meetings by vetting complex topics in advance
• Priorities and assignments, including Ad Hoc missions, will be made by the full Council to ensure transparent
management of resources
• Ad Hoc recommendations proceed directly to the full
Council (not heard by more than one committee)
• Recommendations from Ad Hocs will be developed in
public
STRATEGIES
DISCUSSION
31January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
How does the Council envision its
engagement in advancing the Priorities?
If involving ad hoc committees, what should
the committees be and what specific goals
will be assigned to each committee?
STRATEGIES
DISCUSSION
32January 25, 2025 www.cityofpaloalto.org
Are there research projects or strategic
questions that need to be answered in
order to advance Council’s vision for
each priority?
7. NEXT STEPS
www.cityofpaloalto.orgJANUARY 25, 2025
www.cityofpaloalto.org/connect
27 ADJOURNMENT
www.cityofpaloalto.orgJANUARY 25, 2025