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Home My WebLink About01-12-2026 - Agenda Packet City Council - Work SessionAgenda City Council Work Session Monday, January 12, 2026, 8:00 AM City Council Chambers 12780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 952-249-4600 /oronomn.gov Roll Call Work Session Item 1. 2026 Goals Adjournment Sign up for email notifications at oronomn.gov AGENDA ITEM Date: January 12, 2026 Title: 2026 Goals Presenter: Adam Edwards, City Administrator / Engineer Section: Work Session Item Purpose: The purpose of this item is to develop goal priorities for 2026. Item: 1 2. Background: There are several key documents that guide how the city establishes goals and priorities. They include: A. In 2019 the city council established the following overarching mission, vision, and goals for the city. Mission. The city of Orono will provide effective guidance through public policy established from citizen involvement, by empowering staff to implement best practices to prepare Orono for any challenges of the future and by ensuring a positive customer experience, superior municipal services and provide a safe community for the residents, businesses and customers to live, work and play in. Vision. To be the residential community of choice and remain widely recognized for its preservation of natural rural beauty, quality of life, and recreational assets. Goals: • To provide consistent high levels of customer service to our residents and balance the enforcement of city codes. • To maintain sustainable funding for infrastructure while maintaining a stable tax levy. • To create a culture of continuous improvement by providing efficient and reliable government services. • To adopt best practices into city processes to ensure the high quality services are provided in an ever -changing environment. B. The 2040 Community Management Plan. This Plan was adopted in 2018. The purpose of this plan is to document and reinforce the established goals, policies and principles of the City of Orono as a guide for orderly and economic private development and public improvement in the years ahead. Major emphasis is on the needs and involvement of people. The Plan discusses how people can manage their environment, how people have become involved with municipal decisions, how people can create and continue the lifestyle and community that we know as Orono. The Plan reflects the City's long-established philosophy, goals and policies that were first introduced in the 1974 Orono Comprehensive Guide Plan and later solidified within the 1980 K Orono CMP. Major policy direction remains relatively unchanged but the content has been revised and updated to reflect the changes the City and the Metropolitan Area has undergone since 2010. The Plan outlines the Community's Philosophy, Planning Goals and Planning Policies. Link to Plan C. The City Code. Link to Code D. Other references. There are several good summary references available from the League of Minnesota cites that summarize state statute and offer best practices. Handbook for Minnesota Cities Chapter 6: Elected Officials and Council Structure and Role The Minnesota Mayors Handbook, 2024 3. Summary: The proposed outline for goal setting is as follows: A. City Mission, Vision and Goals. We will review the overarching city mission, vision and goals to set the conditions for 2026 goal development. B. Review 2025 Goals. We will review where the city stands with respect to 2025 goals and key directives. C. Establish 2026 Goals. To develop the 2026 goals we will use the following process. (1). Review 2026 planned activities. Staff will present on the highlights of work effort for 2026 in order to provide context for additional goals. (2). Council members presentation. Council member will be asked to come prepared with 3 proposed outcomes/ goals for 2026. Council member will be asked to present these at the work session to the rest of the group. (3). Grouping Exercise. The group will take the proposed goals that have common elements and group them together as well as identify which of the City Goals they support. (4). Scoping Exercise. The group will break up in to sub groups each with assigned draft goals to flush them out using a SMART framework. Once complete each subgroup will brief the whole group. (5). Prioritization Exercise. The group will then rank the draft goals in priority order. D. Action Planning (post work session). Staff will take the list of draft goals and analyze for resource needs. In addition, staff will prepare a council action with the draft goals for council's approval at the next council meeting. E. Adoption of 2026 Goals. Council will adopt the 2026 goals at their Jan 26 meeting. COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED A. Complete the pre -work session homework assignment. Worksheet attached. B. Participation and discussion in the 2026 goal setting process. Exhibits A. Council Goal Priorities - Work Session 01-12-2026 3 �oNo yF11 kEsH oAgenda 1. Mission, Vision, and Goals 2. 2025 Review 3. Establish 2026 Goals A. 2026 Established Priorities/ Efforts B. Council Member Goal Presentations C. Grouping Exercise D. Scoping Exercise E. Prioritization Exercise 4. Action Planning —Staff —After the Work Session 5. Adoption - Council — January 26t" Council meeting Today's Goal: For the council to agree on 4-6 annual goals priorities that staff can execute. Mission, Vision, & Goal s MISSION VISION CITY GOALS The city of Orono will provide effective guidance through public policy established from citizen involvement, by empowering staff to implement best practices to prepare Orono for any challenges of the future and by ensuring a positive customer experience, superior municipal services and provide a safe community for the residents, businesses and customers to live, work and play in. To be the residential community of choice and remain widely recognized for its preservation of natural rural beauty, quality of life, and recreational assets. 1. To provide consistent high levels of customer service to our residents and balance the enforcement of city cinc 2. To maintain sustainable funding for infrastructure while maintaining a stable tax levy I To create a culture of continuous improvement by providing efficient and reliable government services. 4. To adopt best practices into city processes to ensure the high quality services are provided in an everchanging environment 4 2025 Goals Review COUNCIL CHAMBERS 'A kts.._' 2025 Goals Review (1 of 3) Goal / Directive Department Description Status Adopt a special election ordinance Administration • Established ordinance, executed election, and execute special election successfully defended court challenge Complete 2 Develop an Elected Official's code of Administration • Code developed and adopted. Complete conduct Contract — 3 Negotiate a contract for fire service Administration/ , Established a JPA merging LLFD and OFD Complete Legal Implementation — On going. • Reviewed at work session. Consensus was Review City Mission, Vision and overall the Mission, Vision and Goals are 4 Goals City Council okay but may need some language clean Complete up in the future Review - Conducted work session on how public 5 ,Customer Service- Desire to be Administration communication via council members should Complete Best in Class be processed Process - Continuous 41 'A kts.._' 2025 Goals Review (2 of 3) Goal / Directive Sustainability and 6 Environmental Protection - (to ensure the city is implementing policies and best practices) 7 Parks Assessments 8 Communications Department Description BE • Completed a special work session on existing city efforts, partnership and initiatives. • Additional council direction to more proactively communicate these efforts to the community. • Assess each park based on a set of standards. • Establish plan with Parks Commission to partner with Parks and Parks Staff to visit each park. Facilities Leverage existing standards and asset management system. The Parks Commission and Park Staff are already working on this together. • Establish plan to improve communications with the goal of increasing public awareness of City activities. • Staff will update for Council on Communication effort Administration at an upcoming work session. • Establish written city wide communication plan which is updated continuously to meet the needs of the city. Status Sustainability Workshop — Complete Communication - Ongoing Initial Round Complete. PC developing internal procedures WS update Complete. Process continuing and ongoing M10 'A kts.._' 2025 Goals Review (3 of 3) Goal / Directive 9 Budgeting and Levy Setting Facilities Review- for 10 council to obtain a better understanding of city facility and future options Department Description • Clarified the meaning and intent of the goal -"To Finance maintain sustainable funding for infrastructure while maintaining a stable tax levy' using the 2026 Budget Process, with respect to setting the Levy. Parks and Facilities Separate work session on Facilities conducted / Engineering Community Engagement Parks, Community 11 with a focus on Development, volunteerism Administration Bring in with new voices and perspectives: • New parks and planning commissioners • Reengaged with government groups • Parks public engagements (Antoine/ Hackberry) • Develop plan for volunteer coordination Status Complete Complete Planned Actions Complete Still looking for more volunteer coordination 4 2026 Goals Setting COUNCIL CHAMBERS 'A kEs..='2026 Established Priorities/ Efforts Public Works & Parks 3,4 Finance • Complete 2025 audit Community lip Development • 2050 Comp Plan - Community Survey, Kick Off Open House, Establish Review Committee hi 1, 2, 3, 4 Administration & Finance • Establish financial and administrative support and systems for new department. 11 1,3,4 Finance Develop general fund budgets, establish tax levy, develop enterprise budgets, Capital improvement planning, rate and fee City Goal Link determination. 2 Administration & OPD A 7 'A kts.._' Council Member Presentations Council Member Proposed Outcome or Goal Public Lens (one issue residents are most likely to judge us on this year) Opportunity (one thing the city should stop doing, start doing, or do differently) Ricks Schwingler Benson Persian Mayor Tunheim 14 �oNo yF�q kE 0 C; Grouping Exercise SH Objective: Group proposed goals that have common elements and identify which City Goals they support. Draft Goal / Outcome City Goal Link 1 2 3 4 5 Cluster into themes that describe problems or outcomes, not specific projects. 15 �oNo yF�gkE 0 C; Scoping ExercIse SH 1. Break into small groups to flush out the proposed goals: Use the SMART Framework: Specific: Clearly define what you want to achieve (Who, What, Where, Why). Measurable: What does success look like. Determine key metrics (How much/many). Achievable/Attainable: Ensure the goal is realistic given your resources. Relevant: Confirm the goal aligns with your broader goals, values and objectives. Time -Bound: Set a realistic deadline. Achievable in 2026? 2. Group Briefings: it -I Prioritization Exercise Purpose: Focus on Few Priorities -Limit the plan to a small number of key strategic priorities (e.g., 3-5) for clarity and effectiveness. Prioritization Exercise — Individually rank. 2. Discussion # Draft 2026 Goals Votes Priority A B C D E skE SHoNext Steps Action Planning -Staff —After Work Session Adoption - Council — January 26t" Council Meeting .40 � 4 1. � s �(g a... ` ' � .' � j �� 1�1� .. �� + •~ * 'E n . A.'r`i` IC Nt"N �ysIN � r �US you � T\ SH m �oNo tiF A ends(with Timm s11 kESH��gg) 1. Mission, Vision, and Goals 2. 2025 Review 3. Establish 2026 Goals A. 2026 Established Priorities/ Efforts Break B. Council Member Goal Presentations C. Grouping Exercise Break D. Scoping Exercise Scoping exercise Briefs E. Prioritization Exercise 0800-0815 0815-0830 0830-0850 0850-0900 0900-0950 0950-1020 1020-1030 1030-1110 1110-1130 1130-1200 4. Action Planning - Staff — After the Work Session 5. Adoption - Council — January 261" Council meeting Today's Goal: For the council to agree on 4-6 annual goals / priorities that the city can accomplish in 2026. (10 min per Council Member) (20 min per draft goal) (5 min per goal) `TO