Study Issues Overview

What is a Study Issue?

A study issue is a topic of concern that may result in new or revised city policy. City Council and staff use a formal study issue process to identify, prioritize and manage the review of these topics during each calendar year.

How do I Propose a Study Issue?

The public can suggest study issue topics at any time for the City Manager, City Council or a board or commission to sponsor and move forward in the formal process.

• Suggest a Study Issue for City Manager Review
• Suggest a Study Issue for City Council Review
• Suggest a Study Issue for Board or Commission Review
  • Select and email the Board or Commission that is most relevant to your topic.

If your topic is sponsored, staff will prepare a study issue paper for City Manager approval, and the topic will move to the annual Study/Budget Issues Workshop, where City Council will review it and rank its priority.

Where to Find Study Issue Papers, Results and Status Reports

• View proposed Study Issues for the upcoming Budget/Study Issue Workshop.
• View Study Issue results from the past Budget/Study Issue Workshop.

Study Issue Annual Process

• Staff publishes all City Manager approved study issues papers and additional workshop materials to the City website.
• Boards and commissions rank any proposed study issue that falls under their purview for next calendar year.
• Council holds a public hearing on study issues proposed for current calendar year where members of the public comment on proposed study issues.
• Council holds Study/Budget Issues Workshop where Council assigns priority ranking to proposed study issues.
• Council holds a public hearing to approve study issue presentation dates for studies recommended for study.

Although study issue topics can be submitted at any time, for an issue to potentially receive consideration during the next workshop, it should be submitted before October to allow time for staff to prepare materials ahead of the upcoming annual prioritizing process.