Mission Statement

As a premier city, we are proactive in responding to the unique needs of our diverse community, creative in finding solutions to managing our urban environment, and dedicated to preserving and enhancing its well being. We strive for quality in all our actions, setting the highest goals and standards.

Core Values

Respect and Support for People
We recognize and celebrate the diversity of our community by treating all individuals with respect for their personal dignity and providing a wide array of specialized services. We promote mutual respect, courtesy, and thoughtfulness in all interactions.

Responsiveness to the Public
We hold ourselves accountable to the members of our community and are committed to actively seeking public participation. We promote a public process whereby we can respond to the community's needs while balancing competing interests and diverse opinions.

Idealism, Creativity and Innovation
We value our artistic richness and support idealism and creativity. We are dedicated to consistently finding innovative and better solutions to provide the best public service possible.

Quality of Residential Life
We maintain a balanced sense of community by protecting quality of life, conserving our historic neighborhoods, safeguarding housing affordability, and proactively governing growth with care and thought.

Promote Economic Development
We recognize that economic development is essential to maintaining quality of life for the total community. We support an environment where our diverse and eclectic businesses can flourish, and seek mutually beneficial relationships with the business community.

Public Safety
We protect the personal safety of our constituents and safeguard the community from the threats of natural, technological and other man-made hazards. Through preparation and planning, we minimize the effects of these disasters.

Responsibility for the Environment
We make it our responsibility to protect and improve our natural and built environments, pursuing opportunities to preserve and create open and green space in our urban setting. We initiate partnerships with other cities and agencies to address regional and global environmental challenges.