04-09-2025 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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7. involving the Parks and Recreation Commission in more decisions regarding Parks and Recreation. 8. providing a calling tree for individuals to select who they wish to speak with when calling the City 9. hiring a new City Administrator who emphasizes the need to invest in City operations and infrastructure. Another staff member has observed over the last five years a significant increase in services as new staff members have come on board with new ideas and a different attitude for services to residents. Another staff member felt that the department was offering all the “e pected services.” 2) How can City services be improved, including eliminating or adding new services which would benefit residents? City staff focused their responses to this question on improving existing services. Staff are open to providing additional services that are seen of value to Little Canada residents, but had fewer recommendations for new services to offer and that may be because the 2022 Strategic Plan has a community visioning event/activity planning in October 2023 where community members will share wants and needs with the City. This event will most likely guide the City in what additional City services to consider offering residents. One of the new services that several staff members identified as needed in Little Canada was a community building/gathering space for special events, private parties, weddings, etc. This is not an essential service of local government, but these staff members felt it would help build a better sense of community. It was also observed by one staff member that the City of Little Canada lacked some of the civic organization that can be found in other communities such as Rotary. A staff member viewed the water, sewer, trash, streets, park and police and fire services, as basic City services and felt that little above and beyond these basic services is provided by the City. This staff person hoped that the Council would want to move beyond just providin the asics services and row into ein a “pre ier co unity ” or one that offered greater amenities and services to residents. Other ways that City services can be improved include focusing more attention on the following: 1. Staffing levels- Having more staff to assist with the workload would allow department heads to be more proactive, focusing more on the long-range plan of the department, conducting more cross training of staff and providing services in a more efficient manner. Many department heads felt that the front counter is understaffed and acknowledged having at times to help provide coverage. That, in addition to, the current department