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Healdsburg council adopts FY 2025–26 goals after debate on housing sites and park amenities
Summary
The council unanimously adopted 44 city goals for fiscal year 2025–26 that span housing, infrastructure, climate, public safety and community services. Debate focused on whether to direct staff to study housing on city‑owned sites (West Plaza, community center), to pursue a feasibility analysis, and whether to ask staff to explore competition‑level sand‑volleyball courts; council approved the overall goals and left several study requests to staff for later reports.
By a unanimous roll‑call vote the Healdsburg City Council on Monday approved its strategic goals for fiscal year 2025–26, a work plan of 44 projects grouped across seven strategic categories including economic diversity, environmental stewardship, affordable housing, infrastructure, governance, public health and community services.
Assistant City Manager April Mitz presented the goals and said they were developed from a goal‑setting workshop and refined to include projects aligned with the city’s climate mobilization strategy and prior council direction.
Council debate focused on housing and parks. Council member Kelly asked for clearer direction on whether the council wished staff to evaluate potential housing on city‑owned parcels such as West Plaza and the community center and suggested a feasibility or capacity analysis as the logical first step, not immediate rezoning or construction. Several members agreed feasibility work could be useful but cautioned about staff capacity and competing capital needs; the council did not authorize construction but supported follow‑up study and incremental steps where at least two members signaled interest.
Another sustained exchange concerned an exploratory request to study competition‑level sand volleyball courts (rough 4‑court estimates of about $150,000–$160,000 were discussed). Some members supported directing staff to research potential locations and cost ranges; others urged prioritizing deferred maintenance and the two major park projects already in design. Council ultimately left the broader parks‑and‑rec prioritization to staff and the Parks & Recreation Commission, asking for initial research rather than an immediate capital commitment.
Why this matters: The adopted goals set city priorities for the coming fiscal year, including water and transportation infrastructure, park redevelopment and housing initiatives tied to state housing‑element obligations. The council’s emphasis on feasibility studies aims to create a pipeline of shovel‑ready projects without committing to large new expenditures immediately.
Next steps: Staff will return with targeted reports and feasibility work where directed, incorporate project priorities into budget planning and include relevant items in upcoming rate and capital‑improvement analyses.
