HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes City Council - 05/21/2021 - RetreatI HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the minutes of the
Retreat Meeting of the Corpus Christi City Council of May 21 and 22, 2021, which
were approved by the City Council on October 12, 2021.
WITNESSETH MY HAND AND SEAL, on this the 12th day of October 2021.
(S E A L)
Rebecca Huerta
City Secretary
Corpus Christi, Texas
City of Corpus Christi
Rebecca Huerta, City Secretary
P.O. Box 9277
Corpus Christi, Texas 78469-9277
(361) 826-3105
rebeccah@cctexas.com
com
SCANNED
City of Corpus Christi
Meeting Minutes
City Council
1201 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
cctexas.com
Friday, May 21, 2021 ' 8:00 AM
American Bank Center - Henry Garrett Ballroom
1901 Shoreline Boulevard
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT
A. Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo to call the meeting to order.
Mayor Guajardo called the meeting to order at 8:31 a.m.
B. City Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta to call the roll of the required Charter Officers.
City Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta called the roll and verified that a quorum of the City
Council and the required Charter Officers were present to conduct the meeting.
Charter Officers: City Manager Peter Zanoni, City Attorney Miles K. Risley and City
Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta.
Present: 9 - Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo,Council Member Roland Barrera,Council Member Gil
Hernandez,Council Member Michael Hunter,Council Member Billy A. Lerma,Council
Member John Martinez,Council Member Ben Molina,Council Member Mike Pusley, and
Council Member Greg Smith
C. City Council Retreat for setting City Council Policy and Project Goals
The retreat was facilitated by Mr. Patrick Ibarra. Mr. Ibarra provided a review of the
retreat agenda including: identify and discuss benefits from good government; lasting
community impacts; enhancing credibility as a governing body; strategies for creating a
more credible, effective governing body; wouldn't it be great if...?; stages of group/team
development; characteristics of effective groups; establishing guidelines for effective
council relations; refresher on the Council -Manager form of government; review and
update from City Manager; headwinds: review external and internal factors; discuss
mission statement; and discuss potential strategic objectives.
Council Mernbers and Mr. Ibarra discussed the following topics:
Elected Official Guidelines:
1) Set goals and policy and rely on City Manager to execute and perform;
2) Ask City Manager or Assistant City Managers questions;
3) Communicate with City Manager and staff regarding agenda items;
•
4) Communicate with other public entities;
5) Be honest and maintain healthy relationships; and
6) Trust is the foundation of a good leader.
City of Corpus Christi
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City Council
Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021
Benefits from Good Government:
1) Improve quality of life;
2) Provide environment that enhances economic development;
3) Deliver services needed by the community;
4) Be transparent;
5) Keep the people first;
6) Create jobs for the future;
7) Maintain infrastructure;
8) Diversity in every aspect;
9) Eliminate wasteful spending;
10) Work as a team; and
11) Protect the environment.
Wouldn't it be Great If:
1) Fixing streets;
2) Creating tourist attractions;
3) Fiscally responsible;
4) Diversifying economy;
5) Jobs;
6) Accountability for decisions made;
7) Expanding higher education;
8) Ensure preventative maintenance;
9) Air service expansion;
10) Water security; and
11) Being proactive and responsive.
Stages of Group/Team Development:
Strengths:
1) All want to move the city forward;
2) Reflection of the Community;
3) Open minded;
4) Complement each other; and
5) Being prepared.
Areas of Improvement:
1) Be more honest and build more trust;
2) Direct and tactful;
3) Not be a divided Council;
4) Working relationships with other jurisdictions; and
5) Be more engaged with District council members.
Refresher on the Form of Government:
Role of the Mayor
1) Preside over meetings;
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City Council
Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021
2) Sets the tone in the community regarding direction;
3) Keep Council abreast of current developments;
4) Working with other public entities; and
5) CaII special meetings.
Role of Council Members:
1) Set policies;
2) Serve as liaison between community and organization;
3) Setting City up for success;
4) Bring individual strengths;
5) Advocate for what we believe is right; and
6) Represents community on issues.
Role of City Manager:
1) Oversees Day to Day operations;
2) Implement Council policies and goals;
3) Develop budget;
4) Provide leadership to staff; and
5) Keep Council informed of finances.
Role of Department Directors:
1) Honest, accurate and timely information;
2) Know and manage their budget;
3) Ambassadors to the community; and
4) Leaders of services and manage the business.
Role of city staff:
1) Serve the citizens
2) Problem solvers; and
3) Follow good leadership.
Role of community members:
1) Provide input and feedback;
2) Be engaged; and
3) Serve on Boards and committees.
"Headwinds" Examine the Present and the Future:
1) New development;
2) Water issues;
3) Small businesses;
4) Primary job growth;
5) Heavy industry;
6) Need tech jobs; and
7) Telling our story.
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Meeting Minutes May 21, 2021
Mayor Guajardo recessed the meeting for lunch at 12:00 p.m. Mayor Guajardo
reconvened the meeting at 12:50 p.m.
City Manager Peter Zanoni provided a report on the City's initiatives and projects in
progress as follows: 1) Solid Waste; 2) Parks and Recreation; 3) Neighborhood
Housing; 4) Gas; 5) Finance; 6) Office of Management and Budget; 7) Asset
Management; 8) IT; 9) City Attorney's Office; 10) Human Resources; 11) Police; 12) Fire;
13) Engineering Services; 14) Public Works; 15) Libraries; 16) Development Services;
17) Planning; 18) Airport; 19) Health District; 20) Water and Wastewater System.
D. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 4:43 p.m.
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City of Corpus Christi
Meeting Minutes
City Council
1201 Leopard Street
Corpus Christi, TX 78401
cctexas.com
Saturday, May 22, 2021 8:00 AM
American Bank Center - Henry Garrett Ballroom
1901 Shoreline Boulevard
CITY COUNCIL RETREAT CONTINUED
A. Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo to call the meeting to order.
Mayor Guajardo called the meeting to order at 8:39 a.m.
B. City Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta to call the roll of the required Charter Officers.
City Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta called the roll and verified that a quorum of the City
Council and the required Charter Officers were present to conduct the meeting.
Charter Officers: City Manager Peter Zanoni, City Attorney Miles K. Risley and City
Secretary Rebecca L. Huerta.
Present: 9 - Mayor Paulette M. Guajardo,Council Member Roland Barrera,Council Member Gil
Hernandez,Council Member Michael Hunter,Council Member Billy A. Lerma,Council
Member John Martinez,Council Member Ben Molina,Council Member Mike Pusley, and
Council Member Greg Smith
C. Continuation of the City Council Retreat for setting City Council Policy and
Project Goals
The retreat continued and was facilitated by Mr. Patrick Ibarra. Mr. Ibarra referred to
Potential Strategic Objectives.
Council Members and City Manager Peter Zanoni discussed the following topics:
INFRASTRUCTURE
1) Alternative water supply discussion
2) Importance of selecting a desalination location
3) Drainage
4) Airport
5) Streets
6) Wastewater/sewer
LAND USE
1) Role of Planning Commission to work with Development Services on zoning cases
2) More infill development
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
City of Corpus Christi
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City Council
Meeting Minutes May 22, 2021
1) Focus on downtown growth
2) Role of the Port
3) Role of Economic Development Corporation
PUBLIC SAFETY
1) Enhance public safety
AFFORDABLE HOUSING & HOMELESSNESS
1) Establish shelter with very little restrictions
CITY'S APPROACH TO CUSTOMER SERVICE
1) Utility Billing department
ANIMAL CARE SERVICES
1) Role of Animal Care Advisory Board
AMENITIES AT CITY PARKS
1) Prioritize swim programs and lessons
2) Improve shade structures at playgrounds
CENSUS DATA AND CITY DEMOGRAPHICS
1) Review and explore potential impacts to redistricting
D. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 11:31 a.m.
City of Corpus Christi
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mejorando group
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
STRATEGIC PLANNING
SUMMARY
May 21-22, 2021
Facilitated by Patrick Ibarra
The Mejorando Group
City of Corpus Christi
BENEFITS FROM GOOD GOVERNMENT
"Role of local government is to be the
protagonist/advocate for a
better quality of life."
• Being there — a sounding board for the community
• Maintain infrastructure
• Diversity in every aspect
• Work as a team
• Improve quality of life
• Provide environment that enhances economic development
• Deliver services needed by the community
• Address forgotten areas
• Be transparent
• Keep the people first
• Create jobs for the future
• Eliminate wasteful spending
• Protect the environment
2
The Mejorando Group
City of Corpus Christi
WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF...?
Imagining a time in the future, what would you want residents and future
elected officials saying about this governing body in regard to:
• Putting the shine on
• Accountability for decisions made
• To ensure preventive maintenance and asset lifecycle
• Provide facilities for people to learn to swim
• Fixing streets
• Regional leaders
• Bringing air service back
• Creating tourist attractions
• Being proactive
• Responsiveness
• Expanding air service
• Fiscally responsible
• Diversifying economy
• Brining in minor league basketball
• Jobs
• Water security
• Expanding higher ed
• Regional tollway — moving it along
3
The Mejorando Group
City of Corpus Christi
STAGES OF
GROUP/TEAM DEVELOPMENT
• Strengths
o Think regionally
o Complement each other
o All want to move the city forward
o Reflection of the community
o Open minded
o Being prepared
• Areas of Improvement
o Maintaining boundaries between policy and administration
o Be more engaged with District councilmembers
o Be more honest and build more trust
o Be direct and tactful
o Lack of cohesive ideal for the future
o Be careful about getting into the "weeds"
o Not be a divided Council
o Working with other public entities — County, Port, School District, other cities, etc.
4
The Mejorando Group
City of Corpus Christi
ELECTED OFFICIALS' GUIDELINES
(SUGGESTIONS FROM THE GROUP)
• Give each other a "heads up" regarding issues in their District, other
members are contacted about.
• Be honest and maintain healthy relationships
• Set policy and goals and rely on city manager to execute and perform.
• Ask city manager questions
• Trust is our foundation
• Communicate about agenda items before the Council meeting by working
with the city manager and city staff ahead of time.
• Communicate with other public entities
5
The Mejorando Group
City of Corpus Christi
REFRESHER ON THE
FORM OF GOVERNMENT
• Role of the Mayor
o Support for projects identified by Councilmembers
o Call special meetings
o Preside over meetings
o Along with city manager and Councilmembers, set the council
meeting agenda
o Leader of Council — sets the tone in the community regarding
direction
o Work with individual Councilmembers to bring people together
o Be face of the City — public relations
o Work with other public entities
o During natural disasters, has lots of authority to make decisions
o Cheerleader
o Keeping Council abreast of current developments
• Role of Councilmembers
o Set policy and vision
o Represents community on issues
o Vote on legislation, zoning matters, etc.
o Serve as liaison between community and organization
o Hire city manager, auditor, secretary, and Municipal Court Judge
o Bring individual strengths
o Advocate for what we believe is right
o Champion for community goals
o Setting City up for success
• Role of City Manager
o Provide leadership to staff
o Do the hiring
o Oversees Day to Day operations
o CEO
6
The Mejorando Group City of Corpus Christi
o Implement Council policies and goals
o Operationalizes vision
o Provide accurate and timely information
o Advise Council
o Develop budget
o Keep Council informed of finances
o Provides support and to address constituent issues
• Role of Department Directors
o Honest and accurate and timely information
o Serve as member of team to implement goals, policies, etc.
o Leaders of services/business areas and manage the business
o Ambassadors to the community
o Know and manage their budget
o Doing terrific job
o Make Peter look good
o Don't take direction from individual Councilmembers
o Situational awareness
• Role of city staff
o Serve the citizens
o Forward facing — community sees them
o Ambassadors
o Problem solvers
o Follow good leaders
• Role of community members
o Provide input and feedback
o Provide funds
o Help us help themselves
o Be engaged — do their part
o Active participants
o Inform us about real and perceived issues
o Provide services to help fellow citizens
o Serve on Boards, Commissions, and committees
7
The Mejorando Group
City of Corpus Christi
"HEADWINDS"
EXAMINE THE PRESENT
AND THE FUTURE
Social Media
Legislation
& Legal
Politics and
Citizen
Activism
Government
VUCA
COV1D-19
Economy -
Consumption
Habits
Service Shifting
Delivery Demographics
• Role of airport
• Telling our story
• New infrastructure
• Water issues
• Small businesses
• Primary job growth
• Raising bar on tourism and retirement community
• Heavy industry
• Need tech jobs
8
The Mejorando Group
City of Corpus Christi
POTENTIAL STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES
1. Infrastructure
• Water — staff is to provide options asap.
• Wastewater/Sewer
o Drainage — Oso and Flour Bluff areas
o Airport
• Streets
2. Land Use — Monitor potential uses for undeveloped
land as it relates to infill versus sprawl.
3. Economic Development — EDC will be target tech
jobs.
Role of the Port
o Downtown
4. Public Safety — Continue 5, 5, 5 Plan with second
round of 5 to be addressed this Fall and prior to the
FY 22 budget.
5. Affordable Housing — Proposal for Lennar is
forthcoming and will be reviewed by Mayor and
Council.
6. City's approach to Customer Service — In particular,
Utility Billing area.
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The Mejorando Group City of Corpus Christi
7. Animal Care services — Review Live Release Policy,
role of Animal Care Advisory Board and possible pay
increases for staff.
8. Amenities at City parks — Examine condition of city
pools and consider "Learn to Swim" program for
city's youth.
9. Census Data and City Demographics - Review and
explore potential impacts to redistricting.
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