HomeMy WebLinkAbout2/6/2021 Item PC, Kern
Wilbanks, Megan
From:Molly Kern <
To:E-mail Council Website
Cc:Jim Dantona
Subject:2021-23 Major City Goals
Attachments:SLO Chamber re. Major City Goals 2021-23.pdf
Dear Mayor Harmon and Council Members,
I hope this email finds you safe and healthy.
Attached, please find a letter from the SLO Chamber Board of Directors regarding the 2021-23 Major City Goals. We look
forward to answering any questions you might have and further discussing priorities for the coming budget.
Thank you for your consideration,
Molly
Molly Kern
Director of Governmental Affairs
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce
T: 805.786.2763 C: 805.440.3941
slochamber.org | imagineslo.com
COVID-19 | Resources for Businesses
1
February 2, 2021
City Council
City of San Luis Obispo
990 Palm St.
San Luis Obispo, CA 93401
Subject: City Budget Goal Setting Process 2021-23
Dear Mayor Harmon and Council Members:
For your consideration, the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors respectfully submits
our recommendations for the City’s 2021-23 Major City Goals. These key business community priorities
were determined after extensive work, discussion and evaluation by multiple Chamber committees and our
Board, involving more than 80 business leaders and representing 1,300 businesses and their 35,000
employees.
Informed by the toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, Community & Economic Recovery must be our highest
priority and we need to recover with the City’s core values of ‘civility, sustainability, diversity, inclusivity,
regionalism, partnership, and resiliency’ in mind. To that end, we are advocating for the following Major City
Goals:
● Economic Development & Business Support
● Housing & Homelessness
● City Fiscal Sustainability & Responsibility
● Climate Action & Resilience
● Transportation Infrastructure
● Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
These goals are naturally intertwined so we urge you to prioritize work programs that address areas of
overlap to help our city recover efficiently and responsibly. We know that smart economic development
advances diversity, equity & inclusion; that addressing housing and homelessness supports small business
success; that investing in transportation infrastructure will improve our quality of life while getting us closer
to achieving our climate action goals; and that a fiscally sound City is truly in the best interest of all
residents.
The pandemic and its final effects on individuals and communities is yet to be understood, so we implore
you to budget conservatively and ensure that the City is positioned to support our community through
continued closure and hopeful reopening. Our specific recommendations for the City’s investment of time,
money and resources during the 2021-23 budget cycle include:
● Dedicate significant funding to support more rapid economic and cultural rebound when safe.
● Make pilot programs such as parklets, additional bike infrastructure, and tenant improvement
programs permanent.
● Invest in infrastructure that will unlock opportunities to build more homes, move around more
safely, and decrease our carbon emissions.
● Responsibly pay down the City’s unfunded liabilities, including the payments previously planned for
2020.
● Prioritize regional coordination and investment to address homelessness through proven methods
including the creation of permanent supportive housing, expanding the role of social workers and
mental health professionals, and exploring proven programs such as Built for Zero.
● Support the creation of homes of all types through increased density and height where appropriate,
measuring and setting goals for permit processing, and activating public private partnerships.
● Create a diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan as recommended by your DE&I taskforce.
● Help spur innovation and entrepreneurship with a specific focus on BIPOC and LGBTQ+ businesses
as well as private sector innovations to address climate resilience.
The pandemic has shown us just how possible change, speed and flexibility really are. During this incredibly
disruptive and uncertain time, we have been inspired by the innovation, creativity, grit and tenacity shown
by so many businesses, individuals, and the City itself, as we have all worked to keep our heads above water
while keeping our community safe.
We encourage you to continue in this vein as you evaluate City operations, facilities and ‘the way things
have always been done.’ What would it look like if a portion of staff continued to work from home on a part
or full time basis? What processes can be digitized to increase accessibility, speed and accountability? How
can existing land, buildings, parks and streets be rethought to provide the greatest community benefit? Can
we pilot these changes quickly and with minimal investment to allow for experimentation, broader feedback
and ultimately a better result?
Thank you for your consideration and for inviting input from the business community. It is more important
than ever to actively create the future we seek and we look forward to working together to achieve a
healthy, sustainable and prosperous economic future for those who live and work here.
Sincerely,
Jessica Steely
2021 Board Chair
San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce