CITY OF ARCATA HOLDING GOAL SESSION MEETINGS: PUBLIC IS ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND

Arcata, CA- In Arcata they’re settling their annual budget. But before they sign on the dotted line for where their dollars will go, they’re hearing from city departments. Today was the second of their three-department goal setting sessions. Mayor Shane Brinton added, "Every year we go through and methodically discuss our goals."
 
They are called ‘Goal Setting Sessions’, and happen once a year in the City of Arcata. Mayor Brinton said, "we really use it as a basis for our budget. And so our budget and our finacial priorities are matched up with our policy priorities."
 
These sessions really allow the council to lay everything out on the table. The public is invited to attend; Mayor Brinton says active public discussion is encouraged. He added, "it's important to ask for public input. And also have an opportunity to discuss our priorities as a council outside the formal structure of a council meeting."
 
Mayor Brinton said that it’s a true democratic process that brings many different perspectives together. He added, "we're working together. We’re coming up with langue on the fly. Figuring out how to mesh our priorities as council members and coming out with one finished product."
 
Also at the meeting was Arcata Police, here they discussed the importance of public safety. Affordable housing, the community forest and more childcare services were just some of the other issues discussed.
The next goal setting session is March 12th at 9am and if you can’t be there you can always leave them an ‘eComment’ by visiting www.cityofarcata.org.