City Council intends to improve committee relations

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN DON RATZLAFF

Developing a more effective relationship with city boards heads the list of five strategies identified by the Hillsboro City Council at their planning meeting in May for 2002-03.

City Administrator Steven Garrett presented his distillation of their discussion at the June 18 city-council meeting.

The statement he presented lists five objectives with corresponding staff action needed to implement the strategies.

The following five objectives were identified:

– “We seek to alter our relationships with the appointed boards and committees appointed by the mayor and approved by the city council.”

To achieve that, the city council “should provide direction for the boards and committees in their activities and programs.”

The city administrator will collect information about board activities to keep council members and mayor informed. Also, he will devise a uniform quarterly report for council members

Also, city staff will provide brief orientation and training for all present and newly appointed board or committee members.

A second intention is that programs and activities of the various boards and committees will be approved by the city council before they are implemented.

Also, prior to creating the annual budget, the city administrator will ask each board and committee for a written plan of action for the coming year.

– “The city council seeks to modernize and streamline city functions where possible.”

According to the statements that would include “a greater use of technology in association with the operation of the business office,” including computer and technology training for office staff and “appropriate bids” for equipment such as electronic meter reading.

Also, the ability to use technology will be required of future hires in the business office.

A second intention of the council is to better use personnel to achieve its goals. That will include adjusting “the personnel infrastructure of the City of Hillsboro” and giving staff members the opportunity to suggest changes in staffing.

– “The city council seeks to operate the city in a customer-friendly manner.”

City staff should be “customer friendly,” the reported stated. The city administrator is to stress the importance of that to the staff and provide training as needed.

A second intention is to take residents’ input into consideration when planning projects.

– “The council seeks to improve the function and appearance of the community.”

That objective is to be accomplished by encouraging the public officer to enforce the city codes, and by updating those codes “to better allow enforcement of community standards.”

The council will also continue the Capital Improvement Plan, which will be reviewed and adjusted from time to time according to the needs of the city.

– “The councils strives to make the city council an effective body for proper direction of the city now and in the future.”

Key to the implementation of this objective is keeping abreast of the issues affecting the city. To accomplish that, the city administrator will issue written reports from time to time to elected officials in addition to his oral report at council meetings.

He will also meet with council members individually as needed and make them aware of training opportunities.

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