Goals 2009

On March 5, 2009, the La Palma City Council conducted its annual goal setting session. After a full day of discussions, the City Council unanimously adopted five priority goals for the year:

Complete the Park Master Plan

• Ensure that the Master Plan includes programs for all ages
• Develop a complete baseline of facilities and services currently provided by the City
• Solicit input from all groups
• Ensure that the Master Plan includes culturally diverse programs
• Provide a vision of what programs and services could be offered and alternatives that should be offered
• Ensure the physical plan for the Park matches the vision (including an electronic reader board, the gazebo and restrooms)
• Provide recommendations for policy or ordinance amendments

Temporarily reduce permit fees for residential home improvements

• Establish permit fee “holiday” policy
• Highlight “green” home improvement projects
• Recommend/designate a funding cap
• Implement advertising and communication program
• Track permit applications to see if the “holiday” resulted in an increase

Establish a plan to upgrade and repair curbs, gutters and sidewalks

• Establish a level of service standard (including adjacent project areas)
• Assure curbs are ADA compliant
• Coordinate with street improvement program
• Evaluate and report on current condition of curbs, gutters and sidewalks
• Expedite areas with safety issues
• Develop a timeline to meet the standards City-wide
• Create a schedule to review status on a regular basis

Strive for Financial Stability in the Future

• Establish a general fund reserve policy
• Assure that ongoing expenditures are less than ongoing revenues
• Retain the top ten businesses in the City
• Develop/improve underutilized retail properties

Explore changing the law to give Council flexibility to reduce the Utility Users Tax

• Research election schedules
• Report on revenue impact
• Draft ballot language
• Identify total process