Mayor & Council Goals

Fiscal Year 2026

The following goals and action items were approved at the April 25- April 26 Mayor-Council Strategic Initiatives Summit (SIS)

Goals:

  1. A city that works for everyone
  2. An economy that prospers.
  3. A safe community that thrives.
  4. Spaces and places that inspire.

2025-2026 Action Items

1: Strengthen Downtown Partnerships

  • Support CVDA’s GEMS Appeal by submitting a letter signed by the Mayor & Council.
  • Request monthly reports from CVDA to the Mayor & Council.

Goal 2: Improve Infrastructure & Utilities Awareness

  • Create and share a map identifying current and planned water and sewer projects.

Goal 3: Modernize City Ordinances & Codes

  1. Review traffic calming and signage policies and compare with peer cities.
  2. Update the temporary sign ordinance to allow time extensions with an application fee.
  3. Review and revise the blight ordinance in alignment with HB 174.
  4. Draft a pavement management ordinance based on road condition assessments.
  5. Update industrial sewer surcharge rules and fines.
  6. Research shared kitchen ordinances and prepare options for Council review.

Goal 4: Advance Community Livability & Amenities

  1. Continue monitoring the Barack Obama and Cypress Street improvement projects.
  2. Proceed with identified community projects:
    • Project 1: Multi-Generational Facility
  3. Identify funding options to implement roadway improvement recommendations from the PMI Study.
  4. Develop a temporary relocation plan for the Five Points Recycling Center to Val Tech Road.
  5. Issue an RFP to design a permanent Recycling Center on Val Tech Road.
  6. Define city needs and collaborate with the Tourism Authority on the future of a new or expanded Conference Center.

Goal 5: Ensure Fee Equity & Service Sustainability

  1. Propose a sanitation fee for additional residential trash cans, with city staff collecting extra cans if not paid for.
  2. Review yard debris size limits and provide a cost-neutral adjustment comparison.
  3. Research Georgia cities with added hotel fees and explore how funds are used to benefit communities.

Goal 6: Attract & Retain Talent Through Competitive Compensation

  1. Issue an RFP for a compensation study and identify potential funding sources.
  2. Present study findings and implementation recommendations to the Council.
  3. Identify key leadership and technical roles at risk due to retirement and establish a succession planning framework with leadership development and knowledge transfer.

Goal 7: Improve Internal Communication & Accountability

  1. Identify ways to strengthen communication between Council and Department Heads.
  2. Schedule a Leadership Team Building Retreat.
  3. Develop a structured mentorship program for emerging leaders, including cross-departmental learning, leadership training, and exposure to strategic projects.