Council ranks homeless transitional housing and master‑plan work at top of FY27 priorities

Council members used a weighted polling tool during the retreat to rank operating and capital priorities; staff will use the weighted ordering to shape the manager's recommended budget, subject to revenue availability. The highest weighted operating priority was a homeless transitional‑housing initiative (hotel pilot and wraparound services) that councilors argued is needed to complement a forthcoming ordinance and to provide immediate shelter for people legally moved from public spaces.

"The highest rated thing overall with the weighted voting would have been the homeless transition, housing," the city manager summarized as staff prepared to print detailed results for council. Members also elevated master‑plan and redevelopment implementation work and several leisure/tourism pilot projects (Soundscapes pilot, tourism pilot) in the capital ranking. Staff said the ranked list will guide use of one‑time resources and end‑of‑year savings, and reminded council that some maintenance and statutory obligations will be treated as base budget needs rather than ranked items.