Andrew Murray
City Manager
Discussion and Direction
on City Council 2025
Goal Setting Process
February 18, 2025
Background
• As best practice, governing boards routinely review and update organizations goals.
• The Vallejo Municipal Code (Section 2.02.160) provides direction regarding goal setting:
– The council shall at a regular meeting, or special
meeting called for that purpose, and as soon as
feasible after its annual reorganization meeting each
year, determine its goals and the relative priority of
such goals to which city staff and resources are to be
committed for their accomplishment. The council may
conduct such additional meetings on its goals
throughout the year as deemed necessary or
advisable.
Background (Cont’d)
• During goal setting, Council can also discuss the mission, vision, and values for the organization.
• Over the past few years, Council has met for goal setting early in the year (February, March, April) for a one-day goal setting held offsite, which was facilitated by a
consultant.
– The 2024 goal setting meeting was instead used as a
team building for Council and senior staff.
• Goal setting has also included Council training and team building and detailed work planning.
• In some past years, goal setting and work planning were two-day processes.
Next Steps
• Staff is requesting direction on the following to arrange the 2025 goal setting meeting(s):
1. Location;
2. Number of sessions, date(s), and time(s);
3. Facilitator;
4. Whether or not to address mission, vision, and values (in addition to goals);
5. Whether to incorporate Council training and team building;
6. Whether to identify specific strategies/projects related to goals and how to address City Council referrals that are special projects and staff-identified special projects to improve organizational effectiveness;
7. Whether to identify specific performance measures related to goals and strategies/projects;
8. What materials staff should prepare in advance; and
9. How to incorporate public input.
CONTACT(S)
Andrew Murray
City Manager
Andrew Murray
City Manager
Discussion and Direction
on Council Referrals
February 18, 2025
Background
• City Council referrals are requests for future Council agenda items or miscellaneous projects that Council
directs staff to undertake.
• The current referral process is:
• Council Member requests to agendize consideration of
a referral at a future Council meeting
• City staff agendizes the referral for direction on
whether to scope
• If approved, City staff develops and presents a scope at a subsequent meeting
• If approved, City staff implements the scope
Background (Cont’d)
• There are currently…
– 11 referrals that Council has approved for
implementation and staff is working on
– 16 referrals that have been scoped and are awaiting
direction from City Council on whether to implement
– 13 referrals that are awaiting direction from City
Council on whether or not staff should scope
Background (Cont’d)
• Nine of the referrals that are awaiting Council direction on whether to scope or implement are simply requests
for future agenda items:
– Presentation of marina condition issues
– Update on current state of permitting process with PDS and ways for improvement for the process to be more accessible
– Update on City whistleblower policy and procedure
– Update on the status of negotiations with the Sheriff's Office regarding law enforcement assistance
– Update on the Scotts Valley Band of Pomo Indians casino project – Update on the City's disaster preparedness
– Update on City litigation
– Closed session to review City Manager’s recent performance evaluation – Closed session to review City Attorney’s recent performance evaluation Next Steps
• City staff seeks Council direction on whether to move forward to agendize these requests for future agenda
items and on what timeline.
• City staff recommends that Council consider and provide direction to staff on the remaining referrals, which are special projects, as part of the forthcoming goal setting process.
• Note that the City Council will seat a committee in April 2025 to review Council meeting procedures. That
committee can review the City’s current referral process and provide recommendations to the City Council on
ways to streamline it.
CONTACT(S)
Andrew Murray
City Manager