HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997-05-15 Technical Committee MinutesCON04ONICAUONS STRATEGIC COMMI'T'TEE
Meering Alinutes
May 15, 1997
CcuncJors Attending: Ncid Farnham, Am Tyler
Staff Attending'. Edward Bartett, Randy Hartmorm, Bill laPan,Ron
Heller, Sem Gross
Convened at 9:25 a m.
Ed Barrett presented the first portion of discussion paper on communicating with citizens.
Conceptuslly,citizens irsteract wiNthe qty in various roles. Theseinclude: ascitizens(policy
issues), as users ofsavices provided only by the city (captive services), and as optional service
wars. Each ofthese is discussed below,
y_ a_.. a WI LIY
As a chizeo, an individual attempts to become informed about or involved or the policy process.
This can range from such obvious examples as voting in City elation; to voicing concern ova
land use issues. N reviewing Council Actions, these can be categorized into three major maces:
Items of General Importance: Everyone should know about or have the opportunity to know,
about. Specific irpmtance:Either geographically handled areas (zonas changes) whore a citizen
is participating in this as a citizen (making issues). Administrative importance: Affects very few,
if my. citizens (Wit claim dead, workout agreement).
These are members of the public who came into content with the City to take one of or utilize a
service or to work through aregulatory scheme that the City has in place (taxes, dog ficar sea,
perms). They are service users, but they are captive because the service is only provided bythe
City. They have to dead with the City. There are very specific kills of issues that come up in this
context because they may rot understand the system, do not know where to start, etc.
These are citizens; who do not have to come to the City for the service This is amore traditional
makelivgissue. Bass Park; City Nursing Facility, Golf Course,Parks&Recreetiod Programs,
mc. These was services that are offered to the pubfia, but which they can choose to use or rat.
Six months of Council Agendas (222 separate hems) were looked at and broken down into three
categories:
Internal and Ad . (132 hems, 59.5%) very routine items, quit -claim deed& pole
permits, 9 bid awards, routine gout acceptances.
Items of Specific Interest (54 items, 2!.300)
a. Than affect more than one person; zowig, building codemnations, parking cbanges).
It. Issues thin might effect a group in the community that is less definable geographically,
charging me sign ordinance, changing building codes. These kinds of issues can have a more
dramatic effect on people, but is a lot harder to identify them or a larger group.
Items ncC nal (36 items, 16.2%) Major sm@'appointments, budgets, bond issues,
labor agreements, ordinances of community wide impact or interest (parade and picketing
ordinance), adoption of City policies of city wide impact (Fund Balance and Reserve Policy).
ItemsofCwemllatemet Thegeneralapprowhinthisumistouset mediamgetthe
message out. In looki g back m the list ofitwvs, most were covered in the media. Somethings
were notcovered. The difficulty is the what gets picked up off am council agenda tends to be
largely at the discretion of the people who me covering it Some things have more headline or
video appeal than others. The City may need to be Ices passive. A lot of mass, cells will come in
on a named day from the electronic media asking ifthere is anything of interest on the agenda A
suggestion was made that it may be beneficial to sated ora a press release after the agenda is
printed on Fridays telling of items of general interest that will appear on the commit agenda.
Goal: A citben should walk away burn reeding a story with the seine that the City knows what it
is doing, is amivG progressive, that what it is trying m accomplish is tied back into its goals,
objectives and rmssim statement.
Objective: Remain open to the media in developing relationships with them. Actively can the
medias' Mention through media releases and personal contracts, to important worries which Is&
"sound hits, appeal that they normally may not want to cover because they are int that
interesting.
Items ofSpec ific Interest
Goal: To insure that all individuals and groups that may be affected by a proposed City notion are
aware ofthm action and we provided an opportunity to participate in it.
Objective: Explore other ways to make proposed City action available. City Any may be able to
comsat groups and organizations about actions that affect than group.
intemal and Administrative Iteres
Goal: Insure that all meeting actions and agenda items are publicly available.
Objeeme: Implement additional ways to provide agenda information to the public.
Nea Meemm Mav2%1997 830am
Continue discussion of broad communications method. There are issues that need to go to the
Technical Committee. A partial solution to some of the communications; problems can be
technical (attend nd issues).
Continue working through the issues with the Public Group