City Council

CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS Salem City Council & Mayor Strategic Planning Retreat Meeting Minutes January 4, 2020, 8:30 a.m. Wylie Conference Center, 295 Hale Street, Beverly Present: Mayor Kim Driscoll, Councillor-at-Large Domingo Dominguez, Councillor-at-Large- Elect Ty Hapworth, Councillor-at-Large-Elect Conrad Prosniewski, Councillor-at-Large Arthur Sargent, Ward 1 Councillor Robert McCarthy, Ward 2 Councillor Christine Madore, Ward 3 Councillor-Elect Patti Morsillo, Ward 4 Councillor Tim Flynn, Ward 5 Councillor Josh Turiel, Ward 6 Councillor-Elect Meg Riccardi, Ward 7 Councillor Stephen Dibble, Chief of Staff Dominick Pangallo 1. Welcome and Introductions The Mayor called the retreat to order at 8:40 a.m. and outlined the agenda for the morning. After a quick reminder about open meeting law and public records basics, she shared the City’s mission statement. Participants then discussed what they hoped to accomplish during the retreat. Participants introduced themselves by sharing what prompted them to run for office, what they see as Salem’s biggest challenges and opportunities, how they would measure success, and how they think Salem officials can approach their work as a team. The Mayor shared some guiding norms, primarily based on similar principles being agreed to by the School Committee, as a basis for ensuring respectful and civil public meetings. 2. Discussion of 2020 Priorities Participants discussed what they viewed as priorities for 2020, including housing and economic development, climate change and sustainability, transportation, infrastructure needs, inclusion and accessibility, public education, public safety, City finances, the waterfront and harbor, and downtown projects. Discussion touched on many specific projects and issues, as well, including: homelessness, the harbor planning process, SSU South Campus, the disposition of former courthouses, affordable housing policies, expansion of commercial tax base, road projects on Essex Street, Boston/Bridge, and Derby Street, the South Salem MBTA station plan, acquisition of a second ferry, community car share and on-demand shuttle initiatives, micro-mobility, parking benefits districts, seawalls, Forest River Park, Bertram Field, Salem Willows, Gallows Hill park, Palmer Cove, Winter Island, Camp Naumkeag and Pioneer Village, DPW headquarters, Museum Place garage, central Fire Station, Salem Common, and remediation projects. 3. Improving Workflow/Process Mayor Driscoll spoke about the City re-evaluated facilities oversight in the coming year, especially with the availability of new software tools and the anticipated capital needs for several building projects. Data from SeeClickFix was shared for 2019 and there was a discussion about transitioning SeeClickFix to a 311 system in 2020. The City website will be updated to align with recommendations from the ADA Transition Plan and, in addition, there is some groundwork being done to launch a City mobile app. An update to ViewPermit, the City’s permitting software, is underway and should be finalized this year, increasing the ease of applying for permits and improving connections between permitting departments. The Mayor updated Councillors on the status of the SiFi high-speed fiber network and how it would allow for smart city connections and solutions to be implemented in the future. Participants briefly discussed the timetable of that project. Discussion on improving Council workflow then followed, including a conversation about adopting a consent agenda at regular meetings, setting standing committee meetings on the first and third Thursday of each month, use of committee of the whole or other special/ad hoc committees, and whether or not the Council might pursue the adoption of a meeting management and transparency software in the coming year. 4. Adjourn The retreat adjourned at 1:15 p.m. Minutes prepared and respectfully submitted by: Dominick Pangallo, Chief of Staff, Office of Mayor Kimberley Driscoll Know Your Rights Under the Open Meeting Law, M.G.L. c. 30A §18-25, and City Ordinance Sections 2-2028 through 2-2033