City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: INFORMATION REPORTS
Lead Department: City Manager
Meeting Date: August 18, 2025
Report #:2508-5034
TITLE
2025 City Council Priorities and Objectives Q2 Update
RECOMMENDATION
This is an informational report that provides progress updates on the 2025 Council Priorities and Objectives approved by the City Council on May 5, 2025. No action is needed.
BACKGROUND
On January 25, 2025, the Council held its annual retreat to approve the 2025 Council Priorities.1 The Priority Setting Guidelines define a priority as a topic that will receive unusual and significant attention during the year. At the conclusion of the retreat, the City Council approved the following priorities:
Climate Action and Adaptation, & Natural Environment Protection Economic Development & Retail Vibrancy
Implementing Housing Strategies for Social & Economic Balance Public Safety, Wellness & Belonging
Over a series of meetings, the Council reviewed the proposed Objectives and on May 5, 2025, Council approved all the 70 Objectives meant to reflect potential Council actions, be measurable and time-bound to make real progress in advancing Council Priorities.2 These are summarized in Attachment A of the report.
ANALYSIS
Progress on Council Priorities is measured by the accomplishments of its subset objectives and reported on a calendar quarterly basis. Calendar Q2 spans the months January through June 1 January 25, 2025 City Council Annual Retreat:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=15926 2 City Council Meeting, May 5, 2025:
https://cityofpaloalto.primegov.com/Portal/Meeting?meetingTemplateId=16065
2025. A summary table of all 70 objectives is listed in Attachment A, including an estimated completion date, which is also measured in calendar quarters. A narrative on each objective update is found in Attachment B, it includes:
Project Description- Describes overall project goals and outcomes which may span beyond the calendar year.
2025 Milestone- Describes activities and outcomes planned for the calendar year as some projects are multi-year in length and are broken up into phases.
Project Status-
Completed - Project as described in the 2025 milestone is overall complete, though some minor/non-substantive follow-up may still be needed. On-Track- Project is expected to be completed as specified. Any changes in project scope or timing due to Council direction or action will remain labeled On Track with the new estimated timeframe.
Behind - The project estimated completion date may be delayed due to operational issues, capacity constraints (such as vacancies in staffing), or project has not started by the estimated completion date.
Hold/Dropped - Project is not actively in progress or will no longer move forward in the current year. Reasons may include the issue is no longer relevant, operational constraints, or is stalled/dropped due to council direction.
Estimated Completion - The calendar quarter in which the objective is expected to be completed.
Department Lead - Identifies the lead department and project manager responsible for coordinating progress.
Quarterly Update - a brief progress update on the project describes work reflected in the respective calendar quarter. Any delays or project issues will be reflected in this section.
To date, of the 70 Council objectives supporting Council priorities, in the second quarter, a total of 14 (20%) have been completed, 52 (74%) are on track with original scope or with new Council direction, 3 (4%) are behind, and 1 (1%) is on hold. Objectives with a revised estimated completion date are notated with an asterisk (*) in the revised estimated completion quarter and explanation in the Quarterly Update section of the objective summary in Attachment B.
Council Priority Completed
On
Track Behind
On Hold/
Dropped Total
Climate Action and Adaptation, &
Natural Environment Protection 4 20 0 0 24
Economic Development & Retail
Vibrancy 3 6 2 1 12
Implementing Housing Strategies for
Social & Economic Balance 5 15 0 0 20
Public Safety, Wellness & Belonging 2 11 1 0 14
TOTAL 14 52 3 1 70
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Resource impacts for the objectives’ 2025 milestones have mostly been identified and resourced through the FY 2025 and FY 2026 budget processes; however, any changes to scope may result in additional resources needed. Staff will assess any scope changes and bring forward recommendations for additional resources if needed as part of the FY 2026 Mid-Year Budget Review.
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
On May 2025, Council approved the community engagement strategies associated with the 2025 Priorities and Objectives. There are various levels of community engagement and communication strategies to support each project, including internal coordination among City departments.
The City uses the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) as a guide to structure community participation and align that participation with the type of input or feedback needed based on the project/issue. Workplan engagement typically fit within these general focus areas:
Inform: Fact sheets, webpages, blog posts, information sessions, open houses, frequently asked questions, community briefings, and website feedback forms Consult & Involve: Surveys, focus groups, questions and answer sessions, office hours, public meetings like community meetings, town halls, panel discussions, workshops, and polling Collaborate & Empower: Working groups, ad hoc groups, feedback groups, boards, commissions and committee meetings, community advisory panels, advisory groups, digital engagement platforms, and voter ballot measures.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Council informational report on this item is not a project as defined by CEQA because the Council review of 2025 Priority Objectives is continuing administrative or maintenance activity.
CEQA Guidelines section 15378 (b)(2).
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment A: 2025 Council Priorities and Objectives Summary Table Attachment B: 2025 Council Priorities and Objectives Q2 Update APPROVED BY:
Ed Shikada, City Manager