On March 9, 2021, during the regularly scheduled meeting, Fremont City Council members accepted the January 2021 Council Retreat report which sets forth City priorities for the calendar year. 

On January 26, 2021, the City of Fremont held a virtual City Council retreat to identify Council priorities for 2021, develop norms and protocols between the Councilmembers and executive staff, and maintain a strong dynamic of Council-staff teamwork. In addition to Mayor Lily Mei, Vice Mayor Yang Shao and Councilmembers Teresa Keng, Rick Jones, Jenny Kassan, Raj Salwan and Teresa Cox, City Manager Mark Danaj and the members of the City’s Leadership Team were in attendance.  Jan Perkins, Vice President with Management Partners and former Fremont City Manager, facilitated the one-day virtual discussion and developed the 2021 Council Retreat report that was accepted by Council Tuesday evening.

The primary objective of the retreat was to establish the priorities on which to focus City resources in 2021.  Through pre-retreat interviews many priorities were brought up for consideration.  After receiving information from City Leadership, Council further discussed and identified its four highest priorities through a virtual voting exercise. The priorities identified were:

1) Budget, Financial Health, Increased Tax Base

2) Continued Response to COVID-19

3) Continue to Address Homelessness

4) Neighborhood Improvement

While Council has continued to prioritize addressing homelessness, and neighborhood improvement in recent years, this year’s discussion focused heavily on the COVID-19 Pandemic with an emphasis of providing support to residents and businesses who have been affected.  The Council’s priorities will be incorporated into the upcoming budget process and staff work plan.

Following the prioritization session, the Council referral process was also discussed and there was a conversation about Council Norms and Protocols. Specifically, the Council discussed the norms and protocols related to the issuance of proclamations and resolutions, Council attended meetings and conferences, the use of City property for foreign dignitary visits, support of council decisions once made, and the overall agreement to govern citywide. Upon approval of the City Council Retreat Report, the Council Handbook will be updated to reflect the norms and protocols discussed at the 2021 Retreat

Read the full-length City Council Retreat report and examples of work underway or planned to address each of the Council priorities. 

Other recent priorities adopted by the City Council include the 2021 Legislative Guiding Principles and Priorities. These represent a framework for organizing the City’s legislative interests at the regional, State, and federal level and form the foundation of the City’s advocacy.