Report Prepared by: Jennifer Flachman, Senior Management Analyst
Title
SUBJECT: Direction on the Format and Dates for the 2025 Community Town Halls and Strategic Planning Session to Provide Input on the Development of the Fiscal Year 2025/26 Budget
REPORT IN BRIEF
Seeks direction on the format and dates for the 2025 Community Town Halls and Council Strategic Planning Session to provide input on the development of the fiscal year 2025/26 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 2024/25 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. Staff is again seeking direction from the City Council on the format of Town Halls and to select dates that work best for convening to assist in outreach to the community and securing the necessary facilities.
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 2025/26 Goals & Priorities.
Considering that community participation will need to be accommodated for all 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.
In summary, staff is seeking direction on the dates for Community Town Halls and the date for holding the Strategic Planning Session. Once dates 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. 2025 January and February Commission and Committee Dates