2010-02-08
CITY OF
SOUTHLAKE
TEXAS
STRATEGY SESSION WITH THE SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL
HILTON SOUTHLAKE
1400 PLAZA PLACE
SOUTHLAKE, TEXAS
FEBRUARY 8, 2010
MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor John Terrell, Mayor Pro Tern Virginia M. Muzyka,
Deputy Mayor Pro Tern Laura K. Hill, and Councilmembers Brandon Bledsoe (arrived at
6:06 p.m.), Greg Jones, Carolyn Morris (arrived at 5:45 p.m.), and Pamela Muller.
CITY COUNCIL ABSENT: None.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Shana Yelverton, Assistant City Manager / Director of
Public Safety Jim Blagg, Assistant City Manager Ben Thatcher, Assistant to the City
Manager Alison Ortowski, Community Relations Officer Pilar Schank, Director of
Community Services Chris Tribble, Economic Development Director Greg Last, Director
of Finance Sharen Jackson, Interim Director of Human Resources Stacey Black,
Director of Information Technology Dale Dean, Police Chief Robert Finn, Fire Chief
Mike Starr, Director of Planning and Development Services Ken Baker, Director of
Public Works Robert H. Price, and City Secretary Lori Payne.
Agenda Item No. 1. Call to order. Mayor Terrell called the session to order at 5:40 p.m.
Agenda Item No. 2. Discussion of the Southlake Strategic Management System. City
Manager Yelverton gave the opening comments. She discussed the evening's plans
and goals.
Assistant City Manager Thatcher presented information on the Strategic Management
System (SMS) timeline and reviewed an SMS report card with Council.
City Manager Yelverton asked for Council's thoughts on the SMS and discussed its
alignment with the master plans.
Assistant City Manager Blagg walked the Council through a Visual Explorer exercise for
the evening where Council was asked to choose two photos that answer two specific
questions: 'What is the most important challenge the City will face in the next year?"
and 'What is the most important challenge the City will face in the next five years?"
Council participated in the exercise and discussed their view points.
Mayor Terrell called for a dinner break at 6:52 p.m. and reconvened at 7:50 p.m.
MINUTES FOR THE STRATEGY SESSION WITH THE SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 8, 2010 PAGE 1 OF 2
Agenda Item No. 3. Discussion of citizen survey results. Assistant to the City Manager
Ortowski introduced Scott Hansen of Decision Analysts who conducted the citizen
survey. Ms. Orlowski reviewed the specific reasons for the survey and the general
format for this evening's discussion. She discussed what will be done with the survey
results.
Mr. Hansen reviewed the mechanics of the survey and the objectives of the survey, the
five point scales, the representative sampling, and the demographics.
Ms. Orlowski reviewed some of the primary area responses and service satisfaction
responses.
Council continued discussing their thoughts and ideas related to the survey.
Agenda Item No. 4A. Executive Session. At 9:19 p.m., Mayor Terrell announced the
City Council would be going into Executive Session pursuant to the Texas Government
Code Section 551.072, deliberation regarding real property.
The Executive Session began at 9:25 p.m. and ended at 9:36 p.m. Mayor Terrell called
the meeting back to order.
No action was taken at tonight's strategy session.
Agenda Item No. 5. Meetinq adjourned. Mayor Terrell adjourned the meeting at 9:36
p.m.
John Terre
Mayor
ATTEST:
Am-
Lori Payne
City Secretary
MINUTES FOR THE STRATEGY SESSION WITH THE SOUTHLAKE CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 8, 2010 PAGE 2 OF 2
s
City Council Strategic Session - February 8, 2010
Council present: Mayor Terrell, Virginia M. Muzyka, Pamela A. Muller, Laura K.
Hill, Greg Jones, Carolyn Morris (arrived at 5:45), Brandon Bledsoe (arrived at
6:06)
Staff present: Shana Yelverton, Jim Blagg, Robert Finn, Mike Starr, Ben
Thatcher, Alison Orlowski, Pilar Schank, Chris Tribble, Stacey Black, Greg Last,
Dale Dean, Ken Baker, Bob Price, Sharen Jackson
5:40:33 PM Mayor called the meeting to order.
5:41:09 PM Shana Yelverton welcomed Council and presented the plan for this
evening.
5:42:13 PM Ben Thatcher presented information on the strategic management
system report card.
5:57:40 PM Shana asked Council how they feel about the SMS. She discussed
the alignment of the master plans with the SMS.
6:04:07 PM Shana asked for Council's thoughts on the SMS.
6:09:05 PM Jim Blagg presented the ice breaker for the evening. He asked
Council to walk around the room and choose three photos depicting various
6:22:08 PM Jim Blagg asked Council to share their photos and explanations of
those.
Muzyka - merging the needs of young and old; choose the handprint that fits this
city and stay our course and have strength
Hill - mobility; invest in an infrastructure that is sustainable
Jones - slow response to the recession
Muller - challenges with finances, great burdens carried by staff and Council
Bledsoe - gas drilling will be biggest challenges; impact of national events;
Mayor - the importance for the Council to row together and working together,
working through areas addressed in citizen survey together; stay on target,
continuing building process,
Morris - important resources such as energy, electricity, water
6:36:31 PM Council discussed the citizen's survey in general terms and
resident's perception of government and various situations; communication is
always an issue; what we plan to do with the results of the survey
6:50:58 PM Hill discussed a city Facebook account
6:52:08 PM Mayor called for a dinner break.
7:50:29 PM Mayor reconvened the meeting.
7:50:45 PM Alison Orlowski introduced Scott Hansen of Decision Analysts.
(Recording just started at this point.) Alison reviewed the reasons for the survey
and the general format for this evening's discussion.
Mr. Hansen gave some background information and reviewed the mechanics of
the survey. He reviewed the objectives of the survey, the five point scales, the
representative sampling, demographics.
8:13:27 PM Orlowski reviewed some of the primary area responses - service
satisfaction responses
8:59:45 PM Mr. Hansen summarized results and issues of the survey.
9:02:09 PM Shana reviewed the percentage gap between service importance
and service satisfaction. Council asked questions and made final comments
regarding the citizen survey.
9:18:06 PM Council suggested that Alison present this presentation to
community groups such as Chamber, Executive Forum, and a copy in the library
as well as other boards and commissions.
9:19:37 PM Mayor called for an executive session.