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Council receives final update on 2023—24 priorities; Heather Farm projects and public-safety programs highlighted
Summary
Deputy City Manager Carla Hansen delivered the council's final quarterly update on the five priorities the council set for 2023—24, covering DEIB, economic development, sustainability, Measure O infrastructure and public safety.
The City Council received the final quarterly update on the five priorities adopted in February 2023: diversity, equity, inclusion & belonging (DEIB); economic development and job creation; environmental sustainability and climate action; parks, facilities and Measure O infrastructure; and public safety and social wellness.
DEIB: Carla Hansen summarized staff work with the consultant ReadySet, a citywide staff survey and focus groups, and next steps to develop a DEIB strategy and training for managers. Staff said employees reported pride in city work and interest in DEIB initiatives; ReadySet recommended leadership-focused strategy, talent management and communication steps.
Economic development: Staff said the economic-development action plan is underway and that a new Economic Development Manager will start in January 2025. The city adopted updated nonresidential design standards and launched an update to the sign ordinance; staff described permit-streamlining work as "in progress." Council members noted more work remains to streamline permitting timelines.
Sustainability and climate action: Staff reported adoption of the sustainability action plan (July 2023) and a July award (Beacon Spotlight platinum). Near-term work includes an electric-vehicle strategic plan, outreach and research on a gas leaf-blower restriction set to begin in early 2025, and consideration of building "reach" codes in advance of the 2026 building-code cycle.
Parks, Measure O projects and Heather Farm: Staff reiterated that the Heather Farm aquatic center and community center is the city's largest current project and that construction documents, plan check and bidding will take place across 2025, with construction beginning in 2026; ballfield reconstruction and field lighting work at Heather Farm is under way (approved earlier in the meeting) and will keep portions of the park under construction through 2026 and 2027.
Public safety and social wellness: Staff highlighted A3, the countywide behavioral health response system, and reported a decline in police-handled involuntary psychiatric-hold calls since A3 implementation; police briefed ongoing retail-theft enforcement efforts (technology-assisted analysis) and traffic-safety/ DUI enforcement during nighttime hours. Council also discussed homelessness outreach and regional coordination.
Council discussion: Members asked about training schedules for DEIB topics, the city's ability to meet EV and grid needs in coordination with PG&E, ongoing permit-streamlining work, and continued safety and retail-theft enforcement. Staff noted a planned greenhouse-gas inventory and a comprehensive sustainability update in 2025.
Takeaway: The presentation summarized two years of project initiation and planning across broad priorities and framed 2025 as a year of implementation for plans previously adopted by the council.
