Parking: The public is allowed to use any lot, however Cal Maritime suggests Lots “L” and “M” https://www.csum.edu/about/media/campus-map.pdf in front of the PEAC building. There are pay machines directly in the lots. Click here for daily rates and parking rules and regulations.
Hybrid Options are available for members of the public to participate. To participate remotely:
https://ZoomRegular.CityofVallejo.net
Option to join by phone:
Dial (669) 900-6833
Enter Meeting ID: 914 0075 0676#
Press *9 to digitally raise your hand from the phone
For additional instructions on how to speak during public comment, please visit, www.cityofvallejo.net/publiccomment
PUBLIC COMMENT: Members of the Public may provide public comments during the City Council Meeting via ZOOM (https://ZoomRegular.Cityofvallejo.net), or via phone, by dialing (669) 900-6833.
For additional instructions on how to speak during public comment, please visit, www.cityofvallejo.net/publiccomment
VIEW THE MEETING:
There are four different ways you can view this public meeting:
In-person
Watch Vallejo local channel 28 and 29
Stream from the City website: www.cityofvallejo.net/Streaming Join the Zoom webinar: https://ZoomRegular.Cityofvallejo.net
This AGENDA contains a brief general description of each item to be considered. The posting of the recommended actions does not indicate what action may be taken. If comments come to the City Council without prior notice and are not listed on the AGENDA, no specific answers or response should be expected at this meeting per State law.
AGENDA
VALLEJO CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING
8:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.
CAL MARITIME
MARKETPLACE –
COMPASS ROOM (3rd Floor)
200 Maritime Academy Drive, Vallejo
MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WILL BE
ABLE TO PARTICIPATE IN-PERSON OR
REMOTELY VIA ZOOM
APRIL 11, 2022
MAYOR
Robert H. McConnell
CITY COUNCIL
Vice Mayor, Rozzana Verder-
Aliga, EdD
Tina Arriola
Hakeem Brown
Pippin Dew
Mina Loera-Diaz
Katy Miessner
Notice of Availability of Public Records: All public records relating to an open session item, which are not exempt from dis closure pursuant to the Public Records Act, that are distributed to a majority of the City Council will be a vailable for public inspection at the City Clerk’s Office, 555 Santa Clara Street, Vallejo, CA at the same time that the public records are distributed or made ava ilable to the City Council. Such documents may also be available on the City of Vallejo website s ubject to staff’s ability to post the documents prior to the meeting. Information may be obtained by calling (707) 648-4527, TDD (707) 649-3562.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE VALLEJO CITY COUNCIL:
You are hereby notified that I do hereby call the Vallejo City Council in special session to consider only the matters stated on the agenda listed below.
NOTICE: Members of the public shall have the opportunity to address the City Council concerning any item listed on the agenda before or during consideration of that item. No other items may be discussed at this special meeting.
1. CALL TO ORDER & WELCOME BY THE MAYOR
2. ROLL CALL
3. PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING COUNCIL GOAL SETTING
NOTICE: Members of the public wishing to address the Council on Goal Setting may do so in person by submitting a completed speakers card to the City Clerk or via ZOOM (https://ZoomRegular.Cityofvallejo.net), or via phone, by dialing (669) 900-6833. Enter Meeting ID: 914 0075 0676#. Press *9 to digitally raise your hand from the phone. For additional instructions on how to speak remotely during public comment, please visit, www.cityofvallejo.net/publiccomment. Each speaker is limited to five minutes pursuant to Vallejo Municipal Code Section 2.02.420. In person speakers will be recognized first.
4. AGENDA REVIEW
5. COUNCIL GOAL SETTING DISCUSSION
6. SECOND PUBLIC COMMENT REGARDING COUNCIL GOAL SETTING NOTICE: Members of the public wishing to address the Council on Goal Setting may do so in person by submitting a completed speakers card to the City Clerk or via ZOOM (https://ZoomRegular.Cityofvallejo.net), or via phone, by dialing (669) 900-6833. Enter Meeting ID: 914 0075 0676#. Press *9 to digitally raise your hand from the phone. For additional instructions on how to speak remotely during public comment, please visit, www.cityofvallejo.net/publiccomment. Each speaker is limited to five minutes pursuant to Vallejo Municipal Code Section 2.02.420. In person speakers will be recognized first.
6. WRAP UP
7. ADJOURNMENT @ 4:00 p.m.
___________________________________________________________________________________________
ADDITIONAL CITY INFORMATION
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Dated: Monday, April 4, 2022
Robert H. McConnell, Mayor
I, Dawn Abrahamson, City Clerk do hereby certify that I have caused a true copy of the above notice and agenda to be delivered to each of the members of the Vallejo City Council, at the time and in the manner prescribed by law and that this agenda was posted at City Hall, 555 Santa Clara Street, CA at 5:00 p.m., Monday, April 4, 2022.
Dated: Monday, April 4, 2022
Dawn G. Abrahamson, City Clerk
1730 MADISON ROAD • CINCINNATI, OH 45206 • 513 861 5400 • FAX 513 861 3480 MANAGEMENTPARTNERS.COM 2107 NORTH FIRST STREET, SUITE 470 • SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA 95131 • 408 437 5400 • FAX 408 453 6191 3152 RED HILL AVENUE, SUITE 210 • COSTA MESA, CALIFORNIA 92626 • 949 222 1082 • FAX 408 453 6191 AGENDA
City of Vallejo
Council Goal Setting
Cal Maritime
April 11, 2022
8:30 am to 4:00 pm
Workshop Objectives:
• Review and discuss governance roles, norms and strengthen teamwork. • Discuss best practices and develop Council meeting management protocols. • Establish Council priorities for 2022 and multiyear goals.
City Council
City Staff
Mayor Robert McConnell
Vice Mayor Rozzana Verder-Aliga
Cristina Arriola
Hakeem Brown
Pippin Dew
Mina Diaz
Katy Miessner
Mike Malone, Interim City Manager
Veronica Nebb, City Attorney
Terrence Davis, Interim Assistant City
Manager
Gillian Hayes, Interim Assistant City Manager
Facilitators: Christine Butterfield, Senior Manager and John Bramble, Special Advisor
1. Welcome
• Welcome and call to order – Mayor
2. Review Workshop Agenda and Ground Rules
3. Review and Discuss Behaviors of High-Performance Teams
4. Review and Discuss Characteristics of Effective Governing Bodies • Review ILG article (see attachment)
Break for Lunch
5. Interim City Manager Comments
6. Celebrate Recent Accomplishments
7. Review Key Upcoming/Ongoing City Projects
8. Discuss and Establish Council’s 2022 Priorities
9. Discuss and Establish Council’s Multiyear Priorities
10. Public Comment
11. Wrap Up and Next Steps
• Staff will take the priorities and prepare an action plan and return it to the Council
Adjourn at about 4:00 pm
1 Leading public organizations and governing with colleagues on a council is a challenging art of community service. The Institute recognizes that many aspects of leadership and governance are not intuitive. This piece is intended to provide councilmembers and city managers insight into the attributes of exceptional councils as well as provide practical tips to help them become exceptional.
1. Exceptional councils develop a sense
of team – a partnership with the city
manager to govern and manage the city
The mayor, councilmembers and city manager see
themselves and work as a team as they undertake a
series of tasks to further their common purpose. The
individual team members work in a coordinated and
collaborative manner with a high degree of respect, trust and openness. The team values diversity in style and
perspective. The team thinks and acts strategically as it examines issues/situations and decides on a course of
action serving their city’s mission and goals.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
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 have a
citywide perspective.
BEST PRACTICE TIPS
Build capacity to create a more effective team. The governance team (mayor, councilmembers and city manager) should get to know each other; how each person approaches issues, decision making style and so on. This can be accomplished at annual meetings or workshops through-out the year.
In the event that councilmembers disagree, clear ground rules (norms of behavior and practice) can help quell acrimony before it becomes a problem. It’s important to remember that trust is built around understanding and respect, not necessarily agreement.
Attributes of Exceptional Councils
Attributes of Exceptional Councils
2 2. Exceptional councils have clear
roles and responsibilities that are
understood and adhered.
Exceptional councils understand their role is to serve as policy maker - to represent the values, beliefs and priorities of their community while serving in the community’s best interest. They carry out a variety of responsibilities including:
developing and adopting a vision for the city; focusing and aligning plans, policies, agreements and budgets in furtherance of this vision; and holding themselves and
the city manager accountable for results.
Exceptional councils understand that the city manager
is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the city.
The city manager is responsible for undertaking and
accomplishing the policy objectives of the council.
Exceptional councils recognize the subject matter expertise of staff and utilize their knowledge and experience to
guide and inform decision making.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Understand the role of local
government and their responsibilities.
Know their role- to set vision and policy,
avoid micromanagement.
Councilmembers should strive to be
informed about the issues facing the
city and be prepared to ask questions of
staff and each other.
BEST PRACTICE TIPS
Create a shared understanding of the city manager’s role and the council’s expectations to optimize the working relationships. This shared understanding is informed by local charter and ordinance provisions that provide the overall framework for the relationship. The council should make time to have conversations during retreats and or study sessions to define and/or reveal and refine their role and responsibilities. Since role clarity between the city council and city management is critical to mutual success, having clear protocols helps avoid misunderstandings.
Attributes of Exceptional Councils
3 3. Exceptional councils honor the
relationship with staff and each other
Exceptional councils understand that a good working
relationship with staff is vital for the city to be run successfully. Exceptional councils treat each other and staff with dignity and respect. They act with civility and a high level of professional decorum. Councilmembers
build trust by not playing the “gotcha game” and strive to have a no secrets, no surprises approach as an operating norm. Finally, they respect the diversity of styles and perspectives among their colleagues and staff and are
open to new ideas.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Councilmembers have the ability to
respectfully disagree (to disagree
without being disagreeable).
They are able to leave it at the dais;
debates are about policy, not
personality.
Exceptional councilmembers reflect
positive decorum/model of leadership
by providing respectful tone with
colleagues.
Establish a set of behaviors ahead of
time, potentially documented in a code
of conduct, to help promote civility and
respect.
BEST PRACTICE TIPS
Set council priorities and strategic goals at an annual meeting; these goals and priorities are a tool to guide the city manager and staff on where to focus their efforts. This annual meeting provides time for the council to reflect on community priorities as well as offer an opportunity to discuss thei r decorum and their relationship among each other and the relationship between the city manager/staff and the council.
4. Exceptional councils routinely conduct
effective meetings
Open and public meetings are central to democratic
decision-making. Exceptional councils master the art
of effective meetings. They develop and adhere to meeting protocols and processes. They spend time planning and
organizing the agenda with the aim of having a more
focused meeting. They allocate the council’s time and
energy appropriately (focused on the council’s role and responsibilities) and meeting short- and long-term priorities.
They honor the public’s participation and engagement
and they generally start on time and are held during
reasonable hours.
Exceptional councils use public meetings not only for their intended purpose, information sharing and decision-making,
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Councilmembers are respectful of each
other, the public and everyone’s time.
Councilmembers use engaging body
language as a way to demonstrate
respect.
Issues are not personalized, thoughtful
dialogue is the objective.
Agenda packets are read,
councilmembers come prepared and
have an open mind
Respect is demonstrated for varied
opinions.
Everyone strives to be civil and act with
decorum.
Attributes of Exceptional Councils
4 but they also use the meeting to demonstrate respect and civility for each other, staff and the public. Exceptional councilmembers prepare in advance of the meeting, remain focused on the city goals and objectives and mindful of their role and responsibilities.
BEST PRACTICE TIPS
Develop and adopt (with regular reviews and updates), guidelines for conducting meetings and making decisions. These governance protocols typically address meeting procedures (agenda preparation, how to put issues on the agenda, debate and voting procedures (parliamentary rules) and standards of decorum (civility)). As part of a regular self-assessment, councils should evaluate their meetings and their effectiveness and adjust behavior and practices for better results .
5. Exceptional councils hold themselves
and the city accountable
Exceptional councils operate openly, ethically and work to engage the community in a myriad of decisions impacting the prosperity and well-being of their community. Toward that end, exceptional councils consistently provide short- and long-term strategic direction and goals, as well as provide budget, program and policy oversight.
Exceptional councils hold themselves accountable for the conduct, behavior and effectiveness of the council. They establish clear priorities and goals and hold the city
manager accountable for results. And finally, they embrace accountability as a process and tool to calibrate ongoing efforts to address and meet policy and program objectives.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Councilmembers operate ethically and
with integrity.
Councils conduct team building / goal
setting exercise to track progress
towards mutually agreed upon goals
Councils taking responsibility for the
results (good and bad).
Councils celebrate success.
Councilmembers hold themselves
responsible for adhering to operating
protocols and codes of conduct.
BEST PRACTICE TIPS
Annually evaluate council and city manager performance toward achieving the city’s priorities and goals (consider having this be part of an annual goal setting meeting). Council should consider assessing its own behavior and effectiveness as part of its annual self-assessment.
Attributes of Exceptional Councils
5 6. Exceptional councils have members
who practice continuous personal
learning and development
Governance is not intuitive. In addition, the policy and economic environment impacting cities are ever changing.
Exceptional councils continually provide the opportunity to build their knowledge and skills, to enhance their
understanding of key issues, increase their awareness
of best practices and sharpen their leadership and
governance skills.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
Stay informed on key issues
Gain key insights and knowledge on all
aspects of governing, from budgets to
plans and everything in between.
Learning to listen is sometimes more
important than learning to give a
speech.
BEST PRACTICE TIPS
Seek out national, state and local professional growth and educational opportunities. These opportunities can focus on the nuts and bolts of governing to helping you gain valuable information and/or insights on key policy issues facing your city. In addition, city run orientations for newly elected officials provide a good way to acclimate new members to the council’s norms and protocols as well as the budget and key policy issues.