pages: CityCouncil/2022-04-12.pdf, 4
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CityCouncil | 2022-04-12 | 4 | MRG II. SUMMARY OF COMMENTS RECEIVED FROM COUNCIL INTERVIEWS For each of the five Council Priority Areas, the summary below outlines areas of consensus and common ground among the Councilmembers interviewed as well as additional individual comments. Common Ground: These are comments that were shared by several of the Councilmembers How can we get Council to work together more as a body - instead of individual voices? Council rules of conduct were enacted 3 years ago, but some are not abiding by them. There is not a good understanding of the Council/Manager relationship. Self-awareness and self-reflection is lacking with respect to how some Councilmembers are behaving. Staff is not treated well, at times there is a "toxic" "hostile" environment created by Council. staff are leaving due to how they are treated. Council Priorities are too broad, open to multiple interpretations with no specific outcomes identified. We need meaningful goals and measures. Climate change and sea level rise is a huge issue and not well understood in the community. We need to do more to educate the community. We have a good staff team leading this. Councilmembers are worried about staffing challenges as we ramp up for the future needs. It is unsustainable having people do more with less long term. Staff has risen to the occasion during Covid and taken the brunt of things. Trying to keep good staff on controversial projects is difficult, there is burn out with the number of public meetings. There is concerned about the unfunded liability - pensions growing, this will impact service delivery - a plan is needed. Council meetings are not productive or enjoyable. The City has an amazing staff - small and mighty, what they get done is amazing, however, there is concern that they are over committed with workload. The City Manager should be the one who prioritizes staff work, not the Council. We need to streamline our processes - get out of our own way. Additional Thoughts made by individual Councilmembers: We need to model behavior needed from the community i.e.. - Drought tolerant landscape at City Facilities. We struggle with housing and city long term planning, and unique challenges at Alameda point. Community safety should be in every sense of the word - low crime rate, safe streets - we are close to being there, have safe parks - don't sit back and rest on our laurels. We are coming to a place where we have made promises about funding certain things and the funds may not be there - difficult conversations will need to take place. We need more of a plan for providing services and support to businesses, how can they be supported with marketing etc. ? City of Alameda Page 3 Council Strategic Planning Workshop | CityCouncil/2022-04-12.pdf |