2012-13 Goals/Objectives

1. Develop and administer a "structurally balanced" General Fund budget and continue to maintain adequate reserves for future years' financing as well as identify appropriate financing strategies to fund enhanced public safety services.
2. Actively participate in Serve Santa Maria as well as collaborate with various non-profits and faith-based groups to cultivate and foster social capital.
3. Continue economic development efforts, by working in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, to attract more mid-size light manufacturing, research, and other clean businesses to Santa Maria; help retain and expand existing local businesses in order to keep down the vacancy rate in local commercial and retail storefronts; and work with the Chamber of Commerce and the Community Development Department to identify opportunities in the development and review process to aid in economic development.
4. Work in conjunction with Police Administration in addressing the esprit de corps in the Police Department while at the same time re-emphasizing community based policing and outreach efforts in the community.
5. Continue in-house training for new supervisors and Human Resources liaisons relative to Memorandums of Understanding and City Administrative Memorandums (CAMs), as well as expand customer service training to all employees.
6. Contingent upon voter passage of Measure U in the June 2012 election – the temporary ¼-cent sales tax to fund essential City services – the City Manager’s Office will help facilitate a process to aid the City Council in which to prioritizing the expenditure plan for the tax revenue proceeds.
7. Successfully conduct the November 6, 2012 General Municipal Election by providing increased voter outreach to all segments of the community, and develop an updated candidates election guide.
8. Continue to provide greater transparency by enhancing informational offerings on the City's website with continuous updates to the City Council agendas and reports, public hearing notices, election information and campaign forms, campaign disclosure statements, the Municipal Code, and the calendar of City meetings and events.
9. Maintain the daily operations of the Records/City Clerk Division in an effective and efficient manner during a period of transition and continue the on-going process of protecting the City's vital records.
10. Reinstitute the monthly Lunch with Your City Manager – a program designed to foster better open dialog and communication between City Administration and the ranked file employees. Once a month, the City Manager will have lunch at a City department and invite employees from that department to join him and have an open discussion about current topical items of interest.