City of San Leandro
City Council Retreat
April 20, 2024
Facilitated by: Claire Laughlin
MRG Solutions
Welcome!
City Manager, Fran Robustelli
Public Comment
Today we
will…
• Explore the role of City Leadership and the
behaviors that build credibility and generate
confidence in government
• Review and revise as needed, our
commitments as a council for working at our
best together
• Get an update on the City’s long-term
forecast
• Review 2023 Accomplishments
• Evaluate new referrals and align on the City’s
top Priority Areas for 2024
Working Agreements
for Today… • Commit to shared civility • Stay curious, not judgmental • Participate and speak your truth • Ensure everyone gets a turn • Watch your time • Practice active listening • Keep the process going 5 Warm-Up
• What is one thing you are excited to explore today?
• What are you bringing to the conversation today?
Key
Characteristics
of Effective
Council
Members (ILG)
• Successfully transition from candidate to a
member of the council.
• Become a champion of the city. Make
decisions based on the needs and
interests of the community at-large / the
greater good.
• Develop, communicate and support policy
goals and council decisions.
• Demonstrate a willingness to work
collaboratively (as a team) and take a
citywide perspective.
In other
words…
Work well together.
Set policy and priorities – and then trust City
Manager to align resources and get the
important work done.
Work productively with City Manager to
reduce barriers to successful
implementation of policy and achievement
of priorities.
Be supportive of City Staff as they work to
attain the priorities that have been identified
and agreed upon.
Can this be done in a way that models
leadership and builds confidence in
government and elected officials?
How will we do it?
Time Tested Leadership Behaviors*
Model the Way
Set the example by aligning actions with shared
commitments.
Enable Others To Act
Foster collaboration by building trust and
facilitating relationships.
*These are 2 of 5 Practices for Exemplary Leadership developed and time tested over more than 35 years by Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner as part of their work, “The Leadership Challenge”
Small Group
Discussion
(~10 minutes)
• What do residents expect in terms of the
Council member’s leadership behaviors?
• What would it mean for this Council,
collectively, to Model the Way for
residents?
• What leadership behaviors will create
credibility and trust in government?
• Prepare a flip chart and be ready to share
Team
Commitments
(from 2023)
1. Genuine, open dialogue
2. Willingness to get out of comfort zone
3. Don’t villainize / do not support villainization
4. Genuinely consider both sides to understand underlying interest
5. Work toward a solution: something is better than nothing
6. Consider all constituents
7. Stay focused – not every item requires comment
8. Trust the City Manager
9. Be prepared: read packets, prepare questions, help
staff succeed
10. Practice a team mindset: share information, uplift others, be united
11. Commit to holding ourselves and each other
accountable
12. Focus on the issue
How are we
doing?
Small group,
10 minutes
Using our list of team commitments,
let’s evaluate…
• Which commitments did we
uphold consistently?
• Which commitments need to be
strengthened?
• Do any norms need to be changed
or updated?
Updating City
Council Team
Commitments
Out of all we have discussed…
• What behaviors will be most effective at
helping us get the results we have promised?
• What behaviors are you willing to commit
to?
• In your small group, prioritize and prepare to
present.
Break
Financial Presentation
Director of Finance, Michael Yuen
Lunch
Focus yields progress
*Graphics from Greg McKeown, Essentialism
2023 Accomplishments
Remember Covey’s Big Rocks?
Big Rocks First. That’s the Only Way it Works.
Expanding the Number of
Priorities
Councilmember Bowen
City Manager Response
What is the impact on staff and workplans?
Vote!
Choice 1: YES on Economic Development only
Choice 2: YES on Quality of Life only
Choice 3: YES on both
Choice 4: NO on both
New Referrals
Priority areas • New Referrals
Process
• Review current referrals
• Double-check: Does anyone want to withdraw or defer a referral to a future priority work session?
• Dot Vote on the order in which we will discuss these today… • Make your case! (We will review in the order determined.) • Dot vote again
New Referrals
Withdraw? Or defer?
Does anyone want to withdraw a referral?
• Withdraw if this work is not urgent to complete in the next 3 years.
Does anyone want to defer a referral to a future priority work session? o To defer means that it won’t get worked on this year. o (You’ll see it again in 2025!)
o If you don’t defer, then we will discuss and decide whether we work on it this year in lieu of something else, or in the future Let’s dot vote on the
order of discussion
3 dots! Vote for your top 3 items that are most important to discuss! Make your case
In 2-minutes or less answer:
o What is this referral about?
o Why is it important?
o What priority does it fall under?
o Do you foresee this integrating into THIS year’s plan? o What does it take precedence over? What will be de-prioritized to make room for the new referral?
Dot Vote Again!
• This time, we are voting
Green if we want the
referral integrated into
the plan
• Vote Red if this item will
wait for a future
planning session.
• 4 green dots are
needed to take action.
Today we…
• Explored the role of City Leadership and the
behaviors that build credibility and generate
confidence in government
• Reviewed and revised our commitments as a
council for working at our best together
• Got an update on the City’s long-term forecast
• Reviewed 2023 Accomplishments
• Evaluated new referrals and aligned on the City’s
top Priority Areas for 2024
Closing
• What stands out as a highlight from today?
Adjourn