2017_07.07 CC MinutesKENNEDALE
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www.cityofkennedale.com KENNEDALE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING 1 July 7, 2017
KENNEDALE PUBLIC LIBRARY COMMUNITY CENTER, 316 W 3RD STREET
REGULAR SESSION at 8:00 AM
I. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 8:12 a.m.
II. ROLL CALL
Present: Mayor Brian Johnson, Rockie Gilley (Place 1), Sandra Lee (Place 3), Kelly Turner (Place
4), Mayor Pro Tem Jan Joplin (Place 5)
Absent: Liz Carrington (Place 2)
Staff: City Manager George Campbell, City Secretary & Communications Coordinator Leslie Galloway,
Human Resources Director Kelly Cooper, Finance Director Brady Olsen, Community Development Director
Rachel Roberts, (Library Director Amanda King in audience)
III. LONG RANGE PLANNING AND GOAL SESSION
A. Presentation and discussions regarding the City's long range plans and establishing goals,
objectives and priorities pertaining to current and future issues affecting the city, including but
not limited to the following:
• Budget priorities;
• Water and sewer rates;
• Development and growth objectives;
• Race tracks; and
• Alternate sources of water.
Pursuant to the "Working Agenda" (attached), the following discussions took place:
City Manager George Campbell stated that staff needs to understand the current Council's
desired direction for the community so that they can effectively move toward those goals.
Karen Walz, founder of Strategic Government Solutions, stated that this meeting was an
opportunity for Council and staff to discuss the future of the community by: discussing issues,
vision, and direction for the City; focusing on selected issues that are Council priorities for long-
term success; reaching a common understanding about operations issues, roles, and
responsibilities; and agreeing on a set of next steps.
She added that these objectives would be sought through the following tasks: defining and
understanding our starting point; collaborating on long -term issues; discussing of effective
leadership in a Council- Manager form of government; and defining of constructive
communications between Council and staff.
405 Municipal Drive, Kennedale, TX 76060 1 Telephone: 817 -985 -2100 1 Fax: 817- 478 -7169
Council and staff defined and discussed the unique strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities, and threats (SWOT) facing the City:
STRENGTHS ( growing tax base; quality of staff and department heads; location; size (small in
a large Metroplex); regional partnerships (e.g., Tarrant County); development opportunities;
diversity; citizens' sense of community; quality of the library; resilience; emergency protection
(police and fire departments); and citizens' desire to see Kennedale become a thriving city
WEAKNESSES 1 loss of institutional knowledge; relating to the citizens as a whole; a small staff
and high turnover leads to stress and uncertainty; being a small community in such a large
metro area means residents sometimes expect a more robust service and program delivery than
is feasible; low staff morale; lack of affordable housing; lack of citizen involvement; Tong -term
financial stability; staff wears many hats; lack of `economy of scale'; and limited land means
there is limited opportunity for strategic growth
OPPORTUNITIES 1 increased sales tax revenue; City has built a good regional reputation over
past decade, leading to opportunities to learn about and participate in regional programs or
grants; new participants in government (council, staff, citizens); attracting more businesses;
redevelopment; location in DFW; many highly skilled people in area; community events; transit;
and the large number of cities to look to for best practices
THREATS 1 racetracks; salvage yards; infrastructure collapse; rising intergovernmental costs;
rising tax burden on residents; forgetting what Kennedale means to residents; large cities on
borders overwhelming us; sharing borders with areas with depressed economies; outside
interests can influence a City that lacks a defined direction or plan; centralized planning; and
regional population growth causes continually increased costs of limited resources (e.g., water)
Council and staff focused on the roles and responsibilities of the Mayor and Council, the staff,
and the community in their efforts to build on these perceived strengths and opportunities and
address the weaknesses and threats. Discussion also included the development of 'ground
rules' for constructive communication, decision - making, and agreement - building.
IV. EXECUTIVE SESSION
There was no Executive Session at this time.
V. RECONVENE INTO OPEN SESSION, AND TAKE ACTION NECESSARY PURSUANT TO
EXECUTIVE SESSION, IF NEEDED
No action taken.
VI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 3:55 p.m.
APPROVED:
BRI ` JOHNSON, MA OR
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ATTEST:
CP 06
o e :,LESLIE GALLOWAY, CITY SECRETARY
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ATTACHMENT:
WORKING AGENDA
July 7, 2017
This meeting is scheduled to begin at 8:00 a.m. Breakfast will be provided beginning about
7:30 a.m. A working lunch will also be provided. It is an all -day session that is expected to last
until about 6:00 p.m.
• Retreat Overview and Introductions
• Understanding Our Starting Point (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats)
• Collaboration on Long -Term Issues
o Quality of Municipal Services
o Economic Development
o City — Citizen Relationships
• Effective Leadership in a City Council — City Manager Government
• Constructive Communication
• Wrap Up and Next Steps
• Executive Session
• Adjourn
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