Commission members discussed how to use the recently completed community needs assessment to set priorities for 2026, improve communication with residents and propose performance metrics to measure progress.

Staff said the city will move to a new budgeting system and that the commission’s 2026 baseline budget is about $15,000; staff added they plan to ask the finance director to increase the commission allocation to $25,000. The finance director requested a near-term submission of itemized budget requests; staff said the internal deadline for budgeting discussions is near the end of the month and that supplemental appropriations are commonly used in the first quarter if adjustments are needed after the budget is adopted.

On the assessment, staff and commissioners discussed turning the report’s recommendations into a concise checklist or dashboard for the city website so residents and council can track progress. Suggestions included creating measurable outcomes tied to the commission’s goals and publishing periodic updates. One staff member said, “We do not do communication well to our residents” and recommended building a contact database of churches, nonprofits and community organizations to improve outreach.

Commissioners asked staff to re-circulate the 18-page needs-assessment report and to seek clearer guidance from city council about which assessment recommendations the council wants the commission to pursue. Staff agreed to follow up with council and report back to the commission.

Next steps: staff to re-send the community assessment to commissioners, pursue clarification from council on priorities, and work with the commission to draft performance metrics and an itemized budget request for consideration by the finance director.