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Council reviews timeline for four-year strategic plan; staff says 94 projects in progress
Summary
City staff told the East Palo Alto City Council that as of Dec. 31 the city is managing 94 projects tied to council priorities and outlined a public outreach schedule with study sessions on March 8 and April 22 and adoption planned for June 6.
City staff presented an update on the council's strategic priorities, reporting the city is managing 94 projects related to those priorities as of Dec. 31, 2024, with 57 projects in progress, 21 completed, eight operational and eight on hold. Orly Amie, assistant to the city manager, said staff will work with Ramey and Associates on a four-year strategic plan and a two-year council work plan that will include public workshops and focus groups.
Amie outlined a public engagement timeline that begins with consultant document review and staff focus groups in February, pop-up workshops in late February and early March, a council study session to set initial goals on March 8, a refinement session on April 22 and a proposed adoption hearing on June 6. "From January through June, staff will collaborate with Ramey and Associates to support the council's creation of a 4 year strategic plan and a 2 year Council priorities work plan for staff," Amie said.
Council members pressed staff on the selection and representativeness of focus groups and outreach channels. One council member suggested broadening recruitment to include homeowner associations and advisory commissions; Amie and the city manager's office said the consultant's initial list can be adjusted and that commissions will be invited to review drafts during a later stage. Staff also said materials, including a technical memo and draft vision statement, will be available to council before the March 8 retreat.
The presentation listed priority-area highlights: housing and economic development (housing element updates, affordable-housing strategy, Ravenswood business district plan), transportation and mobility projects (University Avenue safety design, bus stop shelters, safe routes to school), public safety and health initiatives (CERT expansion, San Francisco Creek flood coordination), and water infrastructure and facilities planning (police facility site recommendations and library design). Staff said they will return with a Q3 update in April.
Next steps: staff and the consultant will finalize materials for the March 8 study session and schedule community workshops and on-line surveys to collect broader input before the council finalizes priorities in the spring.
