The City Council plans to have a strategic and broad-based conversation this weekend during an annual retreat at Virginia Avenue Park. The conversation will focus on how to apply new technologies to “transform service experiences” and fix problems without hiring more city staff.

“Like other traditional industries facing disruption in recent times (Newspapers, record companies, automobiles, travel agents, etc) we must re-examine every aspect of our operating model or face brutal choices down the road,” says the staff report from City Manager Rick Cole’s office.

In 2015 the Council adopted five strategic goals to focus their attention on key issues including mobility, maintaining an inclusive and diverse community, the Santa Monica Airport, homelessness, and education. Starting this year, a strategic goal team will publish a performance report every fall to track metrics and milestones.

Read More: http://smdp.com/council-to-discuss-city-challenges-at-weekend-retreat/165643