PICKERINGTON CITY COUNCIL

CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD

SATURDAY, AUGUST 28, 2010

 

COUNCIL RETREAT

8:00 A.M.

 

 

1.         CALL TO ORDER:  Mayor O’Brien opened the Council Retreat at 8:00 A.M., at the Pickerington Police Department, with the following council members present:  Mr. Sauer, Mrs. Hammond, Mr. Barletta, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Fix, Mr. Blair, Mrs. Sanders, and Mayor O’Brien.  No members were absent.  Others present were:  Bill Vance, Lynda Yartin, Ed Drobina, Greg Bachman, Chris Schornack, Brett Sciotto, Brice Civiello, Andy Franks, and Spencer Herath.     

 

2.         SCHEDULED MATTERS: 

 

            A.        Review of Strategic Plan.  Mayor O’Brien opened the retreat and introduced Brett Sciotto as the facilitator.  Mr. Sciotto reviewed the Strategic Plan process used in developing the Plan and the environmental scan (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats) used in development of the Strategic Plan.  It was determined the Core Areas of Focus and the Vision Statement, “Pickerington will be a safe, thriving, family-friendly community that preserves tradition while creating a balanced, accessible, affordable, hometown by engaging our citizens to collectively enhance our quality of life” have not changed since the last retreat. 

 

                        Council reviewed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in the Strategic Plan and determined if they should be categorized as completed, in-progress, not started or not feasible.  Mr. Sciotto stated later in the day Council would review the top 20 goals to determine if they had been reached or not and if not should a new value be reassigned to that goal. 

 

Council recessed at 9:30 A.M., and reconvened in open session at 9:40 A.M.

 

                        In reviewing the goals it was determined that Council would like to receive a 5-year financial plan from the Finance Director, that some identified weaknesses had been resolved and some new opportunities should be added to the list.  During discussion it was suggested that one opportunity to pursue would be that some of the funds received through the drug enforcement program should be used for a comprehensive community-wide drug enforcement education program.  Further discussion included that the City should investigate opportunities to improve mass transit opportunities, reduce organizational liability, establish written operating procedures for departments, create a business retention plan, identify crime hot spots, create an infrastructure master plan, and pursue the possibility of additional bike paths. 

 

Council recessed at 10:20 A.M., and reconvened in open session at 10:30 A.M.

 

                        Mayor O’Brien stated he appreciated everyone taking the time on a Saturday to participate in this event and he felt it would be very beneficial in future planning.  Mr. Vance stated he has been getting to know everyone and he feels the City has a very dedicated staff of employees. 

 

                        Council reviewed the goals listed in the current Strategic Plan and each elected official assigned a priority ranking for the top ten goals.  Mr. Sciotto stated he would like a short break so he could compare the rankings assigned and provide a new order of goals for Council to review. 

 

Council recessed at 12:05 P.M. and reconvened in open session at 12:10 P.M.

 

                        Mr. Sciotto distributed a listing of the goals in the order of priority determined by Council.  The highest priorities were to define alternative sources of sustainable funding, establish business retention plan, and define and adopt a five-year financial plan. 

 

                        Council discussed alternative sources of sustainable funding to include a renewal of the Police Levy, an increase in the City’s income tax percentage, and the annexation of contiguous land parcels.

 

3.         ADJOURNMENT.  There being nothing further, Mayor O’Brien closed the Council Retreat closed at 1:00 P.M., August 28, 2010. 

 

RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:

 

 

______________________________

Lynda D. Yartin, Municipal Clerk

 

ATTEST:

 

 

_______________________________

Mitch O’Brien, Mayor