CITY OF SIMI VALLEY
MEMORANDUM
August 4, 2025
TO: City Council
FROM: Office of the City Manager
SUBJECT: APPROVAL OF CITY COUNCIL PRIORITY FOCUS AREAS
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council approve the City Council priority focus areas identified during the City Council Retreat held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND OVERVIEW
On June 10, 2025, the City Council held a retreat to collaboratively identify and prioritize key focus areas for the next six months. The retreat’s informal format encouraged open discussion and idea-sharing, allowing Council Members to review and rank priority areas.
The outcome was a unified set of short -term priorities to guide City efforts through December 2025.
To provide structure and ensure alignment with the City’s long -term vision, each focus area was organized under one or more of six overarching categories, or strategic themes, that reflect the core strengths and aspirations of the City of Simi Valley:
1. Fiscal Stability – Maintain a balanced budget, manage debt effectively, diversify revenue streams, and make strategic investments to ensure long -term financial health.
2. Economic Vitality – Support business growth, job creation, tourism, and workforce development to strengthen the local economy.
3. Public Safety – Invest in crime prevention, emergency response, and community partnerships to maintain a safe and secure City.
4. Thriving Community – Promote a high quality of life through inclusive programs, vibrant public spaces, and opportunities for community connection and services.
5. Excellent City Government – Deliver responsive, transparent, and customer - focused services that build public trust and improve community outcomes.
6. Reliable Infrastructure – Maintain and upgrade roads, facilities, and technology systems to ensure safe, efficient, and resilient public services.
AGENDA ITEM NO.
9C
2 These six categories serve as the foundation for Simi Valley’s strategic approach and represent the qualities that define and distinguish the community. The City Council’s priority focus areas, which were developed during the retreat , are aligned with one or more of these categories, ensuring that near-term efforts remain consistent with the City’s overall vision and direction. This alignment provides a clear framework for guiding departmental work, resource allocation, and future decision-making.
Although the Fiscal Year 2025–26 budget was adopted on June 9, 2025, these priorities provide a complementary framework for resource planning and operational alignment with Council direction. A Council Workshop will be scheduled in late 2025/ early 2026 in preparation for the 2026 -27 City Budget process, and it is recommended that these priority areas be revisited and re-evaluated in alignment with that process.
The priority focus areas identified during the City Council retreat are as follows:
1. Pursue economic development opportunities to attract investment, support business growth, and revitalize key commercial areas, starting with the Simi Valley Town Center. (Economic Vitality and Thriving Community)
2. Evaluate opportunities to enhance efficiency and cost -effectiveness in City service delivery, including through potential public-private or non-governmental partnerships. (Fiscal Stability)
3. Promote film production and tourism to boost local economic activity and enhance Simi Valley’s regional visibility. (Economic Vitality)
4. Strengthen code enforcement and proactively address egregious violations. (Public Safety)
5. Ensure competitive compensation and succession planning for Police Department and City staff. (Excellent City Government)
6. Pursue cost recovery strategies for school-related services. (Fiscal Responsibility)
7. Explore the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to improve service delivery and reduce operational costs. (Excellent City Government)
8. Evaluate a Transient Occupancy Tax (TOT) increase to enhance City revenues , (Fiscal Stability)
9. Support the development of local, independent water sources, including the exploration of groundwater desalination. (Reliable Infrastructure)
Upon adoption of the priority focus areas, City staff will evaluate each area to determine resource needs, financial impacts, and implementation timelines. Progress will be reported to the City Council twice a year, with updates and adjustments as needed. The next update will be in late 2025/early 2026 at the Council Workshop.
3 As new ideas or requests come forward in future City Council meetings, it may be helpful to consider them in the context of available staffing and budget resources. To support continued progress on the Council’s established priorities, staff recommends using a reprioritization process for significant new initiatives. This approach can help maintain alignment with Council direction while allowing flexibility to address emerging needs.
FINDINGS AND ALTERNATIVES
The following alternatives are available to the City Council/Board of Directors/Board of Trustees:
1. Approve the priorities as identified during the City Council Retreat held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025;
2. Provide staff with alternative priority focus areas;
3. Provide staff with further direction;
Staff recommends Alternate No. 1.
SUGGESTED CITY COUNCIL MOTION
I move to approve the priorit y focus areas as identified during the City Council Retreat held on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
SUMMARY
On June 10, 2025, the City Council held a retreat to collaboratively identify and prioritize short-term focus areas to guide City operations. Council Members reviewed and ranked topics submitted by both the Council and staff, resulting in a set of priorities organized under six strategic categories: Excellent City Government, Thriving Community, Reliable Infrastructure, Ec onomic Vitality, Fiscal Stability, and Public Safety. Therefore, it is recommended that the City Council approve the priority focus areas identified during the City Council Retreat and included in this report.
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Samantha C. Argabrite
City Manager
Prepared by: Heather Sumagaysay, Deputy City Manager