The annual adoption of City Council goals and priorities in advance of the budget process establishes a clear statement of the Council's policy direction that guides the development of the operating and capital budgets. By identifying its priorities before staff begins preparing the proposed budget, the Council provides a framework for allocating limited resources, evaluating competing service and project demands, and aligning departmental work plans with the outcomes the Council intends to achieve. The adopted goals also serve as a reference point for the public and the organization throughout the fiscal year, allowing progress to be measured and reported against a defined set of priorities rather than through the budget document alone.
DATE:
October 7, 2026
FROM:
Todd Hileman, City Manager
PREPARED BY:
Alma Medina, Assistant to the City Manager
SUBJECT:
CONSIDERATION TO RECEIVE AND FILE OF THE CITY COUNCIL 2026 SCORECARD UPDATE REPORT
Recommendation
It is recommended that the City Council receive and file the City Council 2026 Scorecard Update Report.
Executive Summary
On March 18, 2026, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 7990, formally adopting the City Council priorities for the 2026 calendar year after holding a Special Study Session in February 2026 to review the status of the City's existing priorities and discuss potential new priorities to guide the City's work program and Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget development. Those priorities were formally established under Resolution No. 7990. This report and its attachment provides a status update to the FY 2026-2027 priorities.
Background
On March 18, 2026, the South Pasadena City Council formally adopted the City Council Goals and Priorities for Calendar Year 2026, establishing a strategic framework to guide City operations, project planning, and budget development.
On June 17, 2026, the City Council adopted the FY 2026-2027 Budget, which included funding for Department Work Plans and enhancements to advance City Council priorities.
Analysis
The Fiscal Year 2026-2027 priorities reflect the Council’s commitment to advancing financial stability, infrastructure renewal, housing progress, governance improvements, and operational efficiency, all aligned with community needs and long-term city vision.
In response to Council direction, the City Manager’s Office developed a comprehensive City Council Scorecard, a tracking tool that aligns each priority with responsible departments, commissions, and target deadlines. This Scorecard serves as the foundation for internal accountability, interdepartmental coordination, and quarterly reporting to the City Council. City departments have incorporated these priorities into their work plans and the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget. Staff efforts are being continuously tracked and assessed to ensure measurable progress and transparency.
The first update for FY 2026-2027 (Attachment 1) summarizes the work completed between March and September 2026, outlines key accomplishments, and identifies next steps for each goal area. This ongoing reporting process ensures that City Council and the public are regularly informed of the City’s progress and allows staff to adjust strategies as needed to meet the established goals by year-end or as scheduled.
Highlights from March through September 2026 include presenting to the City Council an $80 million General Obligation Bond measure for street and sidewalk repair for the November 2026 ballot; completing two audited financial statements, bringing the City current on its financial reporting; City Council approval of a lease and development agreement to update and fund improvements at the Arroyo Seco Golf Course; and the sale of six former Caltrans properties in 2026, for a total of 11 since 2024.
The 2026 priorities also include three new strategic objectives: additional traffic mitigation and safety strategies, development of an Urban Forest Management Plan, and evaluation of Community Services programs using consistent data and performance measures. Progress on each is included in Attachment 1.
City staff also reviewed the Council goals as a team, and discussed how some of the language could be updated to reflect the work being done. At the time that the goals from 2025 were established, the City Council developed specific focus areas with goals, each with detailed strategic objectives to help achieve those goals under the focus areas. The City Council establishes the focus area and goals, while staff can make recommendations on the strategic objectives for those goals. Some of those strategic objectives have developed over time, and staff has provided those updated strategic objectives in this latest report.
Fiscal Impact
There is no fiscal impact associated with receiving and filing this report. Funding for the respective priorities is included in the FY 2026-2027 Adopted Budget and Department Work Plans.
Attachment: