04/01/1997 - Strategic Planning
CITY COMMISSION SPECIAL WORKSESSION
CITY OF CLEARWATER
April 1, 1997
Present: Rita Garvey Mayor
Ed Hooper Commissioner
Bob Clark Commissioner
J. B. Johnson Commissioner
Karen Seel Commissioner
Betty Deptula City Manager
Kathy Rice Deputy City Manager
Bob Keller Assistant City Manager/Economic Development
Pamela K. Akin City Attorney
Pam Skyrme Organizational & Employee Development Director
Cynthia E. Goudeau City Clerk
Brenda Moses Board Reporter
That Mayor called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce
Building for the purpose of strategic planning.
1. Planning Session
Discussion ensued regarding City Vision Employee Meetings held throughout the City.
Consensus was to consider: 1) process to determine Vision; 2) value of Vision to community;
3) focus on three priorities; 4) be customer friendly; 5) Commission direction for City’s future; 6)
Vision benefits; 7) describe City direction for community; 8) does Vision make sense; 9)
emphasize desire for quality community in future; 10) desire to make a great city greater; 11)
emphasize Clearwater is one city, not just individual neighborhoods; 12) Commission concern
for entire community established; 13) process provides framework for management and
Commission to make practical decisions a touchstone; 14) meetings help community
understand Commission decisions; 15) process brings teamwork to the City; 16) everyone
working in same direction; 17) skepticism is acceptable, cynicism is not; 18) opportunity to
show the City Commission is unified and taking a leadership role; 19) challenge
neighborhoods to think of greater good for City; 20) process challenges each group to
"consider big picture" including budget issues; and 21) encourage discussion on public/private
partnerships.
It was stated that processes such as OED (Organizational & Employee Development),
strategic planning, cross-departmental teams, etc. already have impacted the City Vision. In
focusing on priorities, some government services may need to be dropped. After the Vision is
shared, budget issues need to be addressed, a new City Manager hired, and the strategic
planning process continued. The City needs to act as a catalyst for increasing public/private
teamwork by acting as a facilitator to empower the private sector to action.
Suggestions were made to consider issues: how the City will know it is successful;
need to construct well-designed facilities; positive changes to tax base; City’s appearance;
economic value of special events; environmental surveys; customer service and satisfaction;
recognition from outside the City; value-added jobs; measurements of economic activity; need
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for staff to be multi-skilled, well-trained, customer-friendly, dedicated, effective and efficient;
voter trust in Commission decisions; voting levels and encouraging citizen participation; and
ways to partner with the community (businesses, individuals, organizations, groups) to make
the Vision a reality. Employee input should include reactions and questions. The City
Commission will not participate in employee groups.
Possible questions to the Commission related to the Vision may include: 1) Are you
serious/sincere; 2) What does it mean in practical applications; 3) How will it change the way
you deal with me; and 4) Does this mean a tax increase or a blank check. It is important to
focus on Land Development Code revisions, tourism and economic development, department
teams assigned to approach strategies, and the Human Resource strategy developed over the
last eight months.
2. Projects/Priorities
Discussion ensued regarding City priorities and future projects, including the search for
a new City Manager. Organizational & Employee Development Director Pam Skyrme reviewed
the behavioral anchored interview process and requested input on the search by April 17,
1997.
A Manager Selection Process Meeting was scheduled for April 22, 1997 at 1:00 p.m. at
City Hall.
The meeting recessed from 11:05 to 11:15 a.m.
3. Mandalay Streetscape Project Discussion
Discussion ensued regarding the Mandalay Streetscape Project. Commissioners had
expressed concerns regarding information provided them before Mandalay Streetscape
Project plans were finalized. Concerns focused on the project’s fiscal prudence, engineering,
emergency evacuations, tourism impacts, project timeframes, business parking, pedestrian
safety, traffic control, and the overall look of the beach, including the Memorial Civic Center.
Additional meetings were recommended to obtain more community input. It was
recommended that timelines be established for each phase of the project. It was suggested a
first generation CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) plan would be helpful. More
discussion between staff and the Commission will be vital to the project’s success.
The meeting adjourned at 12:00 p.m.
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