The San Luis Obispo City Council made some truly historic decisions at a daylong workshop Saturday by identifying economic development as a major city goal for the 2011-2013 budget cycle. This goal – which was determined after extensive input from residents, community groups and city advisory bodies – was the top vote getter among council members, tied with “preservation of essential services and fiscal health.”

These top goals – the only two the Chamber advocated for – signal a council that appears ready to embrace the changes needed to preserve the current high standard of city service. These represent the highest priority goals for the city to accomplish over the next two years, and as such, resources to accomplish them will most likely be included in the 2011-2013 Financial Plan.

Economic development (i.e., an increased focus on economic development, support for the creation of head-of-household jobs, expanded collaboration with Cal Poly and the business community) was also the only goal that made the list of all five council members on their individual submissions of top priorities.

Also making the list of major city goals is neighborhood wellness and traffic congestion relief, two important Measure Y priorities. In total, the council identified four major city goals, four other important objectives and three goals that will be addressed as resources permit. In a sign of fiscal discipline, the council only identified 11 goals in total, its lowest in recent memory.

View the complete list with individual council member scoring by clicking the following link.