Mayor Pizzillo called the Work Session to order at 4:50 p.m.

[Councilwoman Gillis participated by telephone.]

Lisa Faison, Chief Information Officer, presented the Fiscal Year 2026 Strategic Plan action item focused on process improvements to eliminate duplicative activities. She summarized employee survey results, identifying areas for automation, integration, and digitization.

Ms. Faison outlined next steps involving further analysis of current workflows, identification of quick wins, and ongoing continuous improvements. She recommended utilizing the city’s continuous improvement initiatives with the IT Executive Steering Committee and Smart City Committee to prioritize solutions.

Council emphasized the importance of automation to enhance workforce efficiency and modernization.

Jared Askelson, Finance Director, presented the Fiscal Year 2026 Strategic Plan action item on Financial System Integration. He outlined the types of data transfers, including integration, data import, and manual entry, and reviewed the city’s financial system modules covering human resources, payroll, payment processing, utility billing, and budgeting.

Mr. Askelson explained the data transfer process between the HR and payroll modules, noting that optimization of the integration was anticipated by spring 2026, with status reports to be provided to the Council and Audit Committee.

Council inquired about system updates, available resources, and prioritization. Mr. Askelson stated that updates undergo testing and need assessments. Lisa Faison, Chief Information Officer, added that system integration aligns with employee process automation efforts.

Katie Wilken, Development Services Director, and Roric Massey, City Attorney, presented an update on streamlined processes supporting the Development Continuum Action Item in the Fiscal Years 2025–2028 Strategic Plan.

Ms. Wilken provided an overview of recent customer outreach efforts conducted through surveys, listening sessions, and individual meetings. She shared overall positive feedback from participants, noting a high level of satisfaction with staff professionalism and responsiveness, as well as improvements in several development review processes. She also discussed areas for continued focus, such as streamlining plan review timelines, improving consistency, and supporting staff in making timely decisions. 

Mr. Massey provided an overview of recent legal process improvements aimed at streamlining development case reviews and standardizing zoning stipulations across city code and development standards. He noted these efforts have improved efficiency and reduced overall review time.

Ms. Wilken shared that feedback from development advisory forums helped establish priorities for future enhancements. She noted that ongoing engagement will include annual surveys, one-on-one meetings, and roundtable discussions, and that a zoning ordinance update will be presented at a future Work Session.

Council commended Development Services staff for their continued progress and expressed appreciation to Ms. Wilken and Mr. Massey for their collaboration and comprehensive presentation.