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WORK STUDY SESSION <br />• Five issues/challenges were identified by the facilitator that indicate <br />smart or frustrated communities: Knowledge, Vision, People, <br />Infrastructure and Quality <br />• Councilmembers identified the biggest successes within the last year <br />in Santa Ana: <br />o New development projects within the City <br />o Passage of Measure A at the Special election on April 5, 2005 <br />(One Broadway Plaza) <br />o Nexus development project <br />• Councilmembers identified the biggest failures of the last year: <br />o Effect of heavy rains on City streets <br />o Postponement of light rail <br />o Budget restraints <br />D Strengths identified by the Council included: <br />o Urban location <br />o Sense of identity as the historic center of Orange County <br />o Climate <br />o Freeway accessibility <br />o Willingness to talk about future <br />Weaknesses observed by the Council included: <br />o Geographic constraints <br />o Negative image/perception challenge <br />o Aging infrastructure <br />o Poverty <br />o Need to market City's successes <br />The Council noted that the greatest opportunities for the City include: <br />o Opportunity to grow as the urban center of Orange County <br />o Returning to the City's history as the cosmopolitan center <br />o Development and redevelopment <br />o Bringing art, culture and education to the forefront <br />Constraints the City must face include: <br />o Lack of funding for infrastructure <br />o Media emphasis on negative aspects (mainly crime) <br />o Lack of education/ improving the quality of education <br />Priorities identified by Councilmembers for City Staff this year include: <br />o Improving communication between departments and with the <br />City Council <br />o Finding funding sources for a comprehensive General Plan <br />update <br />o Increasing staffing levels <br />o Facilitate construction of projects recently approved by Council <br />Councilmembers requested that staff take the necessary steps to align <br />policy documents with priorities identified by the Council <br />The Council requested that staff reevaluate the development review <br />process and compare it to other cities in order to make it more efficient <br />CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 233 JUNE 24, 2005 <br />