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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC 2011-02-11 Minutes MINUTES OF THE STRATEGIC VISION /GOALS WORK SESSION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORTH RICHLAND HILLS, TEXAS, HELD AT HILTON GARDEN INN, 635 EAST PEARL STREET, GRANBURY, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 11-12,2011 Council Present: Oscar Trevino Mayor Ken Sapp Mayor Pro Tem, Council, Place 2 Tom Lombard Council, Place 3 Tim Barth Council, Place 4 David Whitson Council, Place 5 Scott Turnage Council, Place 6 Tim Welch Council, Place 7 Staff Present: Mark Hindman City Manager Karen Bostic Assistant City Manager Jimmy Perdue Assistant City Manager Mike Curtis Managing Director Vickie Loftice Managing Director Jimmy Perdue Director of Public Safety Patricia Hutson City Secretary Dana Alden Assistant to City Manager Patrick Hillis Human Resources Director Craig Hulse Economic Development Director Andy Jones Fire Chief Larry Koonce Finance Director Mark Mills Budget Director Mary Peters Public Information Director John Pitstick Director of Planning Kyle Spooner Information Services Director JoAnn Stout Neighborhood Services Director Kristin Weegar Management Assistant, Public Works Absent: John Lewis Council, Place 1 The City Council met on February 11, 2011 beginning at 10:30 a.m. and concluded on February 12, 2011 for the purpose of reviewing and setting goals, objectives and strategies. Mr. Randy Pennington, Pennington Performance Group, was the facilitator for the work session. Mayor Trevino called the work session to order on February 11, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. with Council and Staff present as recorded. Mayor Trevino and City Manager Hindman gave opening remarks and each of the Council Members were given an opportunity for remarks. Council Work Session Minutes February 11 -12, 2011 Page 2 Mr. Pennington gave a brief overview of the planning session and reviewed the agenda and the objectives. Ground rules were established for the work session and the group discussed opportunities to maximize the goal setting process to make it more effective. Opportunities to improve communications were discussed. The discussion focused on: • What Staff does to allow Council to be successful and what Staff could do to enable Council to be more effective. • What Council does that allows Staff to be successful and what Council could do to enable Staff to be more successful. Mayor Trevino recessed the work session at 12:04 p.m. and called the work session back to order at 1:01 p.m. Discussion resumed with what Council is doing that allows it to be successful and what would help Council to be more effective. The Council discussed their desire to receive a long -term goal /direction (10 years plus) of where the City was going with a five -year forecast and financial plans. Council expressed a desire to ensure the alignment between Council goals and staff activities. Mr. Pennington reviewed with Council their Code of Conduct (House Rules) agreed to in 2009. Council concurred that while some of the rules were not relevant for the existing Council, they needed to remain in writing for future Councils to understand expectations. Council agreed with the rules previously established and felt no modifications were needed. The group was asked to identify accomplishments since the last planning session in 2009. Mr. Pennington reviewed the City's mission and 2020 vision statement. After a brief discussion, Council reconfirmed the mission and vision. City of North Richland Hills Mission: To ensure an exceptional quality of life and long -term viability of North Richland Hills through local leadership and regional corporation. City of North Richland Hills Vision 2020 The City of Choice to live, work, and play A community for • Quality neighborhoods (sustainable & revitalized) • Exceptional family living and leisure activities • Access to great business and job opportunities. Council Work Session Minutes February 11 -12, 2011 Page 3 Mr. Pennington reviewed from the 2009 Goals Work Session who the Council had established as the target population to live, work and play. After discussion, the Council concurred that the list was relevant with one change needed: Single- family homes (with pockets of other types of housing) was changed to "Quality single family homes and pockets of other types of quality housing that promote neighborhood sustainability ". The group began a discussion on the gaps between reality and the vision for the City. The Mayor recessed the work session at 2:30 p.m. and called the work session back to order at 2:44 p.m. Discussion continued on the barriers that make it difficult to achieve the vision. The Mayor recessed the work session at 3:40 p.m. and called the work session back to order at 3:55 p.m. Following the break, the group ranked the barriers /gaps that had been discussed and identified earlier. The primary and secondary barriers identified were: Primary: • Uncertainty of how to pay for city facility needs • Accessibility barriers affecting economic development • Lack of focus on creating alliances with communities that share the city's vision for development and services • Lack of progress in addressing gaps in Blvd. 26 development Secondary: • Lack of funding for regional rail • Potential for unfunded mandates • Unknown support levels for future grants • Lack of daytime population on north side of City • Lack of quality commercial in desired areas to promote quality neighborhoods • Limited ability to influence use of private ownership of large tracts • Losing potential commercial real estate to other uses • Potential challenges with maintenance and operation budgets to keep parks vibrant • Lack of funding for the animal shelter. Council was asked to review the eight goals set at the previous planning work session in 2009 and to determine if the goals were still relevant or needed to be modified. Goal #1: Quality Community Development and Revitalization Goal #2: Efficient and Effective Transportation Systems Goal #3: Safety & Security Goal #4: Financial Stability Goal #5: Positive City Image Goal #6: A Sense of Community Goal #7: Targeted Economic Development Goal #8: Local and Regional Leadership Council Work Session Minutes February 11 -12, 2011 Page 4 The consensus was all the goals are still relevant and a ninth goal was added- Efficient and Effective Delivery of City Services. The goals were then ranked into Highest Priority (Urgent and Important) and High Priority (Important to Maintain at Current High Level). The goals were ranked as follows: Highest Priority Goals — Urgent and Important • Financial Stability • Targeted Economic Development • Quality Community Development and Revitalization • Efficient and Effective Transportation System • Efficient and Effective Delivery of City Services High Priority Goals — Important to Maintain at Current High Level • Safety and Security • Positive City Image • A Sense of Community • Local and Regional Leadership Mr. Pennington led the group in a review of each of the 2009 objectives for relevance with modifications and deletions being made. The review was completed the following morning. Mayor Trevino recessed the work session for the evening at 5:04 p.m. and called the work session back to order on February 12, 2011 at 8:35 a.m. with Council and Staff present as recorded the previous day. Council continued their discussion from the previous evening reviewing and establishing objectives for each of the goals. The outcome of the discussion was the establishment of the following objectives for each of the goals: Goal #1: Quality Community Development and Revitalization Objectives: • Redevelop Calloway Creek Commercial Area • Implement Loop 820 study objectives • Implement Blvd 26 Study • Revitalize residential neighborhoods • Ensure compliance with quality housing standards Goal #2: Efficient and Effective Transportation System Objectives: Council Work Session Minutes February 11 -12, 2011 Page 5 • Maintain leadership role on regional transportation issues • Continue to address congestion as it relates to local traffic flow • Continue to improve street conditions • Ensure future local rail stations • Establish effective communication and cooperation with our regional transportation partners Goal #3: Safety and Security Objectives: • Maintain low response time • Maintain low crime rate • Provide effective and efficient Police, Fire and EMS • Engage community in public safety programs and initiatives • Maintain the City's ability to respond to all large scale emergencies • Implement shared regional core public safety services where possible Goal #4: Financial Stability Objectives: • Continue pay -as -you go where possible • Maintain a stable tax rate and predictable income stream • Update the long -range financial plans annually • Maintain cash reserve policies • Maximize targeted grant funding • Identify and evaluate funding alternatives for achieving strategic vision Goal #5: Positive City Image Objectives: • Enhance public information initiatives • Continue and enhance communication flow with citizens • Focus on and recognize city successes • Promote and initiate environmentally responsible programs • Continue the Public Art Program • Increase regional awareness of our positive city image Goal #6: A Sense of Community Objectives: Council Work Session Minutes February 11 -12, 2011 Page 6 • Complete and implement trails plan • Maintain parks and recreation facilities and programs at current high level • Encourage volunteerism and community wide involvement • Maintain cultural arts program • Promote life long learning through library services • Prepare for demographic changes to maintain our sense of community • Cultivate the next generation of community leaders • Encourage community support of local businesses • Solidify and move forward on the future TCC facility in Town Center Goal #7: Targeted Economic Development Objectives • Attract the types of businesses and primary jobs we want to our community • Promote diversity in economic development • Proactive strategic land acquisition and management • Maximize use of under utilized real estate and business locations • Retain and grow our current businesses Goal #8: Local and Regional Leadership Objectives: • Continue to be involved in setting direction for the region • Build & maintain relationships that influence decisions in areas where we have an interest • Promote service and involvement that bring prominence as leaders that influence the direction in key issues • Lead by example, do it better • Maintain leadership role on legislative issues Goal #9 — Efficient and Effective Delivery of City Services • Maintain quality public facilities • Maintain an effective work force and infrastructure that can meet current and future needs • Address critical, present and future municipal facility needs • Explore improved efficiency, cost savings and effectiveness through shared services During the discussion to identify the objectives, the following were also identified as possible action items: Council Work Session Minutes February 11 -12, 2011 Page 7 • Emphasize what city is doing to address streets — provide citizens with information on how streets are ranked and a ranking comparison of streets in the City • Seek more opportunities to engage CERT • Establish long range plans with five year forecast and financials; plans should include a variety of scenarios and strategies to achieve the objectives • Establish NRH as a brand • Implement a Citizen Academy • Encourage developers to maximize use of existing real estate and locations (e.g. Loop 820, Blvd. 26, Cotton Belt, existing buildings and real estate) City -wide priorities were set for 2011 -2012 by ranking the objectives. The objectives were categorized into Highest Priorities Objectives - Urgent and Important and High Priority Objectives — Important to Maintain at the Current High Level. Results of the rankings were: Highest Priorities Objectives — Urgent and Important • Address critical present and future municipal facility needs • Maximize use of under utilized real estate and business • Retain and grow our current businesses • Cultivate the next generation of community leaders • Solidify and move forward on the future TCC facility in Town Center • Continue and enhance communication flow with citizens • Maintain a stable tax rate and predictable income stream • Identify and evaluate funding alternatives for achieving our strategic vision • Provide effective and efficient police, fire and EMS • Establish effective communication and cooperation with our regional transportation partners • Continue to address congestion as it relates to local traffic flow • Continue to improve street conditions • Revitalize residential neighborhoods • Ensure compliance with quality housing standards • Implement Blvd 26 Study High Priority Objectives — Important to Maintain at the Current High Level • Redevelop Calloway Creek Commercial Area • Implement Loop 820 study objectives • Revitalize residential neighborhoods • Ensure compliance with quality housing standards • Maintain leadership role on regional transportation issues • Continue to address congestion as it relates to local traffic flow • Continue to improve street conditions Council Work Session Minutes February 11 -12, 2011 Page 8 • Ensure future local rail stations • Maintain low response time • Maintain low crime rate • Engage community in public safety programs and initiatives • Maintain the City's ability to respond to all large scale emergencies • Implement shared regional core public safety services where possible • Continue pay -as -you go where possible • Update the long -range financial plan annually • Maintain cash reserve policies • Maximize targeted grant funding • Enhance public information initiatives • Maintain quality public facilities • Focus on and recognize city successes • Promote and initiate environmentally responsible programs • Continue the Public Art Program • Increase regional awareness or our positive city image • Complete and implement trails plan • Maintain parks and recreation facilities and programs at current high level • Encourage volunteerism and community wide involvement • Maintain cultural arts program • Promote life long learning through library services • Prepare for demographic changes to maintain our sense of community • Encourage community support of local businesses • Attract the types of businesses and primary jobs we want to our community • Promote diversity in economic development • Proactive strategic land acquisition and management • Continue to be involved in setting direction for the region • Build and maintain relationships that influence decisions in areas where we have an interest • Promote service and involvement that bring prominence as leaders that influence the direction in key issues • Lead by example, do it better • Maintain leadership role on legislative issues • Maintain quality public facilities • Maintain an effective work force and infrastructure that can meet current and future needs • Explore improved efficiency, cost savings and effectiveness through shared services Mr. Pennington discussed with Council how they would like to define success for the coming year. Council identified as criteria for success — • Ability to complete or make progress towards achieving objectives Council Work Session Minutes February 11 -12, 2011 Page 9 • Citizen satisfaction from survey • Good response of citizen academy Mayor Trevino adjourned the work session on February 12, 2011 at 12:05 p.m. APPROVED• Oscar revino - Mayor ATT ,oMaauan °� ........ ........ .... L,4 & icia Hut in - ..qtj Secretary .