#2 Memo
CITY MANAGER’S MEMORANDUM
June 13, 2012
TO: Council President Voskuil & City Council
FROM: Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
SUBJECT: City Council Retreat Scheduled for June 19, 2012.
I want to thank each of you for taking the time to participate in the City Council retreat
on Tuesday. Because of the importance of this retreat in setting the stage for the City
moving forward over the next year, I have asked Diane Pillard to facilitate the retreat.
The retreat is being broken into three sections.
1.The retreat will begin with an overview of the retreat objectives and general discussion
led by the facilitator.
2.The second part of the retreat which will encompass most of the day will be comprised
of short-term and long-term goal setting. The only preparation that we are requesting
prior to the meeting is for each of you to consider what you believe to be the key
priorities the City should be working on moving forward into the future.
In order to provide meaningful goal setting, the City Manager plans to have a
meeting with department directors and direct reports after the retreat to establish
revisions to the work plan to provide objectives to be accomplished in each
priority category as established by the Council.
The goal setting process will be led by the facilitator who will provide the
parameters and the methodology at the retreat.
We will bring back those objectives interconnected to priorities at a Council
meeting later in the summer.
3.The final element of the retreat will be for staff to provide an overview of the financial
projections. The City Manager will be looking for some parameters from the Council on
2013 budget objectives. These objectives include broad subjects such as:
Limits on Property Tax Levy.
Addressing infrastructure improvements such as Street Paving program.
Implementing some of the goals in the first part of the retreat in the budget
component.
Future Capital program or debt service structure goals.
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While as a City we are looking to the future at this retreat, I want to reflect on a few of
the key accomplishments that have occurred over the last four years while facing difficult
economic times.
The City has begun to respond with some positive signs to loss of over 6,000 jobs that
occurred in 2008 and 2009. At the end of 2011 the City had seen a growth of over 700
jobs from the creation of new jobs in existing companies and new companies relocating
to Janesville.
The City has been working aggressively on diversifying businesses in Janesville through
more aggressive marketing, and the announcement of recent expansions and
relocations have occurred due in part to this.
The City received Federal assistance in the creation of a manufacturing incubator and
initiating a more proactive brownfields program with over $1.5 in Federal assistance.
The City Certified one of its Industrial Parks.
The City has expanded its housing programs to continue to renew its core
neighborhoods. Janesville has successfully demolished or rehabbed over 25 homes,
participated financially in the rehabbing of over 35 homes and increased home-
ownership opportunities with 70 households receiving down payment assistance.
The Police Department has been recognized for multiple programs including its
domestic violence program.
The Fire Department has been maintained service levels despite the economic
downturn.
In Leisure Services, the Senior Center was accredited for the first time.
Janesville Transit has expanded service to Whitewater through a partnership.
We have created multiple jurisdiction partnerships including initiatives through Public
Works and Community Development.
The Wastewater Treatment Plant has been recognized in the State for its construction
project including adding multiple sustainable initiatives.
The City launched a new website.
The City has decreased personnel costs between 2009 and 2012.
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I want to conclude by stating that while we will continue to face many challenges, as I
look back I see many successes that have occurred and believe the future looks positive
for Janesville.
I have included a few attachments. The attachments include:
A 2013 Initial Budget Macro.
The current 5-year debt service graph.
The 3-Year Street Rehabilitation Program memorandum
The current staff work plan will be sent out separately on Monday.
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