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PROCESS ISSUES <br /> CITY COUNCIL RETREAT <br /> FEBRUARY 25 & 26, 2005 <br /> Time <br /> Friday February 25 <br /> 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM <br /> Saturday February 26 <br /> 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM <br /> Role of the Mayor <br /> Goal Setting is an important function for the governing body. While the Mayor has <br /> separate and distinct powers and privileges, the Mayor is also a member of the <br /> governing body. Having the Mayor actively involved in the goal setting conversation and <br /> prioritizing process would strengthen the governing body and (presuming ultimate <br /> congruence on goals and strategies) provides a powerful voice for the governing body in <br /> communicating its collective goals and strategies to the community. <br /> I would recommend that the Mayor fully participate in the deliberations and informal <br /> decision-making process (prioritizing) at the retreat and that the final work product of the <br /> <br /> 'retreat then betaken forward for formal adoption at a future meeting of the City Council. <br /> Role of the Exec's at the Retreat <br /> Having the Exec's attend the retreat should prove to enhance mutual understanding <br /> between Council and staff about both Council direction and staff motivation. I would <br /> recommend that the staff be in attendance as resource people for the Council - to help <br /> put "meat on the bones" as potential strategies are developed, but that staff not actively <br /> participate in either brainstorming or prioritizing. <br /> Decision Making Process <br /> In 2004 the decision-making process. for goal setting was that there. could be only one <br /> dissenting vote for any single item to appear as a Council Goal. This process did allow <br /> for a single goal to come out of that retreat -but also proved to be very restrictive. <br /> In my conversations with members of the governing body this year, there seems to be <br /> an interest in ensuring that as many voices as possible agree with the overall strategy <br /> and direction of the Council, but that the opportunity for additional goals be created. <br /> would recommend that for 2005 any goal must require six affirmative "votes" during the <br /> retreat to move forward to the formal adoption process by the City Council. <br /> <br />