AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CARLO TOMAINO
CITY MANAGER
BY: CINDY FLARO
COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST
SUBJECT:
title
2025-2027 COMMUNICATION PLAN
summary
Summary:
In June 2023, the City Council approved a Communications Plan (Plan) for the period 2023-2025. The Plan is used as the City’s roadmap for communication with the community, businesses, and visitors. The City strives to provide clear, concise, proactive, and timely information to our residents, businesses, employees, and media outlets. The Plan that recognizes our City has a diverse audience, promotes a transparent and honest atmosphere, and uses an omnichannel approach to communications by providing mediums for residents and businesses to engage with the City Council and staff.
The City’s key objectives, as defined in this Plan, include inclusivity and accessibility; transparency and responsiveness; and omnichannel engagement. With respect to both goals and objectives, the City has identified a specific need to proactively share information with the community and promote Signal Hill as a destination for business development. In November 2025, staff presented proposed updates to the Plan for feedback and direction from the City Council for the period including 2025-2027. Staff is bringing this item back to the City Council for adoption.
Strategic Plan Goal(s):
Goal No. 5: High-Functioning Government: Strengthen internal communication, recruitment, retention, systems, and processes to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of City services.
recommendation
Recommendation:
Approve and adopt the updated 2025-2027 Communications Plan substantially in the form presented.
bodyFiscal Impact:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the recommendation as Communications Plan activities are included in the proposed 2025-2026 Operating Budget.
Background:
The City recognizes the importance of creating meaningful opportunities for public engagement. The City holds public forums, public meetings, and publishes resident surveys to inform the community about decisions regarding public projects. The City has continued working to expand communications with residents and businesses through social media. Residents expect information regarding City operations, events, and emergencies to be provided in a relatively quick and accessible manner. The evolution in our communications preferences requires that local government employ an omnichannel approach to convey information, provide consistent messaging, and market the community to encourage economic development opportunities. These are multiple audiences the City may need to reach depending on the subject and the urgency of communication. In June 2023, the City Council approved the 2023-2025 Communications Plan as a means to establish a roadmap to maximize communication and engagement with the community. Staff developed the Plan to ensure the City met the communications needs of residents, and that it reflected the current and future efforts to inform residents and promote our business community.
Analysis:
In July 2025, the City released a survey as a means to obtain updated information about evolving communication trends in the community. Staff offered the public the opportunity to provide valuable feedback on their preferred method of City news and information by creating a digital and traditional survey. The digital survey was advertised on social media, the City website, E-Newsletter, and A-frames located in various locations throughout the City. For those preferring a more conventional approach, staff also provided paper copies at City Hall, the Signal Hill Public Library, and outreach at the Concerts in the Park, and National Night Out.
The results indicated that residents desired to have accessible, timely, and inclusive communication, which includes removing barriers that may limit the accessibility of information, such as providing information in only one language. Residents also indicated a desire to have more avenues to connect with their local government representatives, and have their input heard and considered in the decision-making process. Of importance, the survey results and imprints indicate that there has been an overall 40 percent increase in the level of engagement through the various communications platforms, which include social, digital, print, and in person avenues, including three times the number of participants in the survey.
Staff proposes the City Council adopt the updated 2025-2027 Communications Plan and utilize the Plan as a roadmap to continue improving communication strategies with the community inclusive of residents, businesses, and visitors.
Reviewed for Fiscal Impact:
_________________________
Siamlu Cox
Attachment(s):
A. Communications Plan 2025-2027