Report Prepared by: Stephanie R. Dietz, City Manager
Title
SUBJECT: Direction on the Format and Dates for the 2022 Community Town Halls and Strategic Planning Session to Provide Input on the Development of the Fiscal Year 2022/23 Budget
REPORT IN BRIEF
Seeks direction on the format and dates for the 2022 Community Town Halls and Council Strategic Planning Session to provide input on the development of the fiscal year 2022/23 Annual Budget.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide staff with dates for three Community Town Hall meetings and direction on the format and preferred dates for the Strategic Planning Session.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff (identify specific findings and/or conditions amended to be addressed in the motion); or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for consideration of specific items (specific items to be addressed in the motion); or,
5. Continue to a future meeting (date and time to be specified in the motion).
AUTHORITY
Charter City of Merced, Sec. 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
As provided for in the 2021/22 Adopted Budget
DISCUSSION
Every year the City Council holds meetings throughout the community to gather input and comments about how the City is operating, improvements that can be made and programming ideas residents suggest. The results of these meetings are used by the City Council to develop priorities that guide the development of the annual budget.
Council traditionally holds meetings in South, Central and North Merced. Each year the location of these sites rotates between districts, with the annual rotation between districts 1,3 and 5 and districts 2,4 and 6. In 2021 due to Merced County’s COVID-19 Stay at Home Order, and the State of California’s Purple Tier restrictions, Council directed staff to develop virtual Town Halls.
Due to these restrictions being lifted and Council currently allowing for hybrid participation for regular meetings, staff is seeking direction on the format of Town Halls and to select dates that work best for convening.
In addition to Town Hall direction, staff is also seeking direction on holding a Strategic Planning Session to allow for the development of the fiscal year 2022/23 Goals & Priorities.
Considering that community participation will need to be accommodated for all of the above activities, a calendar of current Commission and Committee meetings is attached to ensure that the City’s virtual platforms are available and Translations services can be provided.
Staff is seeking direction on the dates for Community Town Halls, format of the Town Halls and the Strategic Planning Session. Once dates and the format are approved, staff will develop an outreach and engagement strategy to ensure that the Community is aware of the upcoming opportunities to provide input.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
No appropriation of funds is needed.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2022 January and February Commission and Committee Dates