AgdaPkt 2008-03-10 - Laserfiche WebLink

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78 . Per the Council's request, staff has provided some initial information on the six Page 2 "Budget" category items. . Attachment 4 describes each item, with estimated annual costs, potential funding options, and resource implications. The purpose of these estimates is to provide Council with enough order-of-magnitude information such that a decision can be made to drop or hold the item for now, or direct staff to include a fully developed budget option for Council consideration in the June 2008 budget sessions. Attachments 5 and 6 are provided as background information at this juncture, and may become the basis for subsequent budget option packages when the recommended budget is submitted to the Council. Staff is specifically seeking direction from Council in the following three areas: 1. Accept andlor modify recommended adjustments to the City Council Priorities. At the February 25 session, Council discussed the various youth initiatives that are sponsored by the City and the Council contemplated establishing a priority- solely around these youth initiatives. Staff is seeking clarification if there is. council consensus on establishing such a separate priority or if the Council would prefer to better articulate youth activities initiatives as an initiative under the current priority of Government Operations. (refer to Attachment 3) 2. Identify items which the City Council wants brought back as fully developed budget options within the City Manager's recommended Fiscal Year 2008/09110 budget The Council heard a General Fund Financial Status presentation from the Finance Director and had several questions about the City's projected revenues. Additionally, the Council understands that the staff is currently compiling a "status quo" budget for Council consideration, which will require use of reserves in order to balance revenues and expenditures. Therefore, staff is requesting explicit Council direction on what potential add-on budget options should be included and how the Council wishes the options to be presented. (refer to Attachments 4, 5, and 6) 3. Indicate desired next steps for exploring a "strategic planning process" and linkage to discussion items categorized as "Council deliberation.".. Based on the Council's Feb. 25 discussion, staff believes that some of the items in this category will be further explored over the next several months within the current priority areas and the initiatives, programs, or projects on-going under each. Other items may trigger study sessions, joint meetings with other policy bodies, or follow-up analysiS by staff. One discussion item - "strategic planning" - stood out, and as the session was wrapping up the facilitator remarked that there seemed to be an appetite to further explore some kind of a strategic planning or community visioning process. Although elements of a strategic plan are built into the priority setting and review process as well as the New General Plan now under way, the Council discussion centered around developing a strategic plan and vision that might then guide these other processes, and/or supersede the current practice of setting priorities. Staff is seeking clarification if the majority of Council would like recommendations on such a process brought back for consideration. (refer to Attachment 2) The items described above and in the corresponding attachments are the most time- sensitive in nature, due to the budget development and approval timeline.