Title
Align City Commission Strategic Goals and Initiatives with City Commission Standing Committees and the Community Redevelopment Agency (B)
This item is a request to align the City Commission strategic goals and initiatives with City Commission Standing Committees and the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to promote efficient and effective communication streams between elected officials, City staff and Gainesville residents concerning the implementation of the City's Strategic Plan.
Explanation
At a Strategic Planning Retreat held in December 2007, the Gainesville City Commission identified goals and initiatives that reflect the needs of the community. The Commission's goals and initiatives created the foundation of the City of Gainesville Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2009/2010, which was adopted on July 28, 2008.
The City of Gainesville Strategic Plan is a living document which features a framework that can be adjusted based on the current needs of the community. The development and sharing of this document with the community lets citizens know that city government is responsive to its citizens and their needs, and that it is a high priority to provide appropriate service levels.
The strategic planning process was augmented this year with the addition of a follow-up retreat in early June 2008. During the follow-up retreat, there was discussion to assign a City Commissioner to co-champion each strategic goal or initiative. This led to the alignment of the strategic goals and initiatives with Standing Committees and the CRA. The Standing Committees and the CRA provide a valuable link between elected officials, City staff and Gainesville residents. By aligning strategic goals and initiatives to Standing Committees and the CRA, elected officials and City residents will have the opportunity to receive quarterly updates on the progress of each strategic initiative and give policy direction on the implementation of the strategic plan throughout the year.
With the adoption of this item, City staff responsible for the implementation of the strategic initiatives (Champions & Strategic Planning staff) will be able to go directly to the Standing Committees and the CRA without a referral from the City Commission for the following purposes:
1. present the plan for the initiative at the beginning of the fiscal year,
2. receive policy direction, and
3. provide the Standing Committee or CRA with a mid-year update.
Fiscal Note
None
Recommendation
The City Commission: 1) adopt the alignment of City Commission strategic goals and initiatives with Standing Committees and the CRA; 2) authorize City staff who are responsible for the implementation of the strategic goals and initiatives to go directly to the appropriate Standing Committee or CRA for policy direction; and 3) authorize City staff who are responsible for the implementation of the strategic initiatives to provide the appropriate Standing Committee or CRA with two updates throughout the fiscal year.
Alternative Recommendation A:
The City Commission: 1) recommend changes to the alignment of City Commission strategic goals and initiatives with Standing Committees and the CRA; 2) authorize City staff who are responsible for the implementation of the strategic goals and initiatives to go directly to the appropriate Standing Committee or the CRA for policy direction; and 3) authorize City staff who are responsible for the implementation of the strategic goals and initiatives to provide the appropriate Standing Committee or CRA with two updates throughout the fiscal year.
Alternative Recommendation B:
The City Commission does not adopt the alignment of City Commission strategic goals and initiatives with Standing Committees and the CRA and suggests an alternative system/strategy.