Council finalizes edits to 2025–26 priority list; senior hubs elevated and other adjustments made
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Summary
City staff brought a draft list of 41 council priorities for 2025–26 to the May 5 meeting; after discussion council directed changes including elevating senior hubs to a one‑year priority and scheduling follow‑ups on food‑truck and oversized‑vehicle enforcement.
City staff presented a draft City Council priority list for fiscal year 2025–26 at the May 5 meeting, and councilmembers provided final direction on edits, time horizons and follow‑up work that staff will incorporate before formal adoption with the 2025–26 budget.
Assistant City Manager Christina Horzberger reviewed the list of 41 priorities and explained edits made since the council’s February “blue sky” session: completed items were removed, related items (for example, several lagoon and stormwater priorities) were combined into longer‑range efforts, and time horizons were updated to reflect near‑term completions (for example, wastewater treatment plant work and the Marina Library project). Horzberger said the city would adopt the list with the budget at the June meeting.
During council discussion members requested several changes and clarifications. Councilmember Sorko Goditsky asked that the senior‑hubs priority (originally planned as a longer‑range item) be moved into the one‑year horizon to respond to federal and nonprofit funding reductions; several council members agreed and staff accepted that change. Councilmember Goditsky also offered to move the proposed evaluation of a retail cannabis storefront to a lower priority; that change garnered support.
Councillors debated the community budget process for anticipated Measure CC revenue. Some members expressed caution about creating a large new discretionary program in the current fiscal environment; others emphasized the city’s commitment to Measure CC promises. Council indicated a preference to scale the initial budget allocation and to retain the process item on the 2–5 year horizon while staff refines recommended funding levels.
Other directions and requests from council included: - Keep youth service officers in schools (priority item) as a high priority and pursue district partnership options. - Staff to return with a transportation update in June (already scheduled) that will include bicycle master plan progress and related quick‑build projects. - Council requested a study session on mobile‑food vending and a separate study session on oversized‑vehicle (RV) parking enforcement; staff agreed to prepare options and timelines for return in the coming months. - Staff will refine item language on EV charging and move the city’s vehicle‑fleet electrification target to a more feasible horizon (2035) while continuing planning now.
Kevin Simpson and other public commenters urged speed surveys and stronger enforcement tools to reduce dangerous driving; staff indicated the city will initiate those surveys as part of the transportation work plan. Several council members also asked staff to return with more detail about the Bay Meadows neighborhood parking enforcement item after recent community outreach.
Assistant City Manager Horzberger said staff would incorporate council edits and present the final priority list alongside the city budget for adoption at the June meeting.
Ending: Council provided direction on language and time horizons, elevated the senior hubs priority to year‑one, requested study sessions on food vending and RV enforcement, and asked staff to return with a final priority list for formal adoption with the 2025–26 budget.
