Carlsbad Community Priorities Are Council Goals

Carlsbad CA

14 March, 2021

7:08 AM

Description

Press release from the City of Carlsbad: March 12, 2021 Community Priorities Are Council Goals The Carlsbad City Council chose its top priorities during a day-long goal setting workshop March 11, the first in depth discussion of policy goals since the November 2020 election that resulted in a full City Council being seated. Recognizing the added needs brought on by the now year-long COVID-19 pandemic, the City Council voted to bring just four goals forward as part of the city budget for fiscal year 2021-22, which starts July 1. Other goals will be addressed in the fall when the City Council kicks off the creation of a long-term strategic plan. The four goals are: Reduce the homeless unsheltered population, among those who want help, by 50% within five years (and provide quarterly progress reports until the city hits that goal) Engage the community through a citizens committee to create a new plan to manage growth in Carlsbad in a way that maintains an excellent quality of life. Bring the city's Fire Department into conformance with Standards of Cover evaluation, a comprehensive review of fire and emergency medical services that identified the need for additional staffing and facilities to address the city's changing demographics and development patterns. Conduct a facilitated City Council workshop to work on team building and City Council communication and an ethics ordinance to support the delivery of superior public service. The City Council also said it wanted to see three key areas integrated into everything the city does: Diversity, equity and inclusion Meaningful and early public engagement Technology infrastructure The City Council met twice in February as part of the goal-setting process. During the final workshop this week, three members of the city's staff, Communication & Engagement Director Kristina Ray, Director of Intergovernmental Affairs Jason Haber and Assistant to the City Manager Sheila Cobian, used digital tools to help facilitate what is normally a highly interactive, hands on, in person process. Due to COVID-19 health restrictions, all City Council meetings are held virtually via Zoom. With the aid of an electronic white board and visual animations, the City Council was able to quickly identify areas of consensus and work through several complicated topics. Among the City Council goals that will be addressed further in fall 2021 are: In the Village and Barrio, expedite the implementation of decorative and safety lighting, parking management, a Grande Prominade study, and the Village and Barrio Master Plan reform package, including a parking structure. Continue to cultivate a prosperous community. Promote sustainability and natural resources. Create a comprehensive coastal plan. Create a position to lead diversity, equity and inclusion within the city organization. Continue to seek funding for advancement of lowering the railroad tracks into a trench. Reduce the number of potential locations for a new city hall and civic center from four to two or select a preferred site (so the city can potentially utilize remaining sites for other needs) The City Council acknowledged that many projects and initiatives are underway in several of these areas already, and they are eager to begin a long term strategic plan that puts all of their goals into a strategic framework for action. City staff will now develop work plans for the first four goals and present them to the City Council in April for feedback before incorporating them into the preliminary budget that will be presented to the City Council in May. The city is scheduled to adopt its final budget in June. This press release was produced by the City of Carlsbad. The views expressed here are the author's own.