PURPOSE

At a recent City Council meeting Council Member Dave Golonski requested that staff place an item on the agenda pertaining to his interest in establishing a community committee to examine the City�s budget.  Prior to expending any significant staff effort, this item has been placed on the agenda as the first step, in what is referred to as the �one-step, two-step process�, for additional Council discussion and consideration.   

BACKGROUND

Council Member Golonski recently met with staff to further define his desire to implement a committee based audit and efficiency study of various departmental operations.  Notes from that meeting are provided as Attachment �A� to this report.  With the ultimate goal of increasing the City�s efficiency in providing specific services, a �Business Process Review� could be led by a review/audit committee consisting of staff, community leaders and elected officials.

In 1993, the last period of severe local and state government fiscal crisis, the City Council directed staff to establish a committee process for the purpose of reviewing municipal service delivery.  Attached for Council reference are copies of the 1993 Future of City User Service (FOCUS) Report and the 1993 Business Review Committee Findings and Recommendations.  (Attachment B & C) 

Other than meet informally with Council Member Golonski to clarify his intentions in staff bringing this item back as the first step in the one-step, two-step process, staff has conducted no further research on this matter. 

ANALYSIS

As presented by Council Member Golonski, a Council-appointed Business Process Review Committee could work closely with staff in an effort to identify cost saving strategies for targeted city government functions.  As outlined in the attached notes, this process could include, but not be limited, to the following:

• A more in depth fiscal  analysis based on the existing performance based budget process

• Executive staff to make initial recommendations of targeted programs for review

• Potential Business Process Review Structure: 

   

  • Identify potential programs for review (all departments)

  • Prioritize order of audit/review by committee

  • Collect/develop necessary data for analysis

  • Assemble data, analyze and present to committee

  • Present findings to City Council for adoption of recommended action

   

• Development of stronger individual performance standards related to efficiency

FISCAL IMPACT

As the first step in the two-step agenda process, this item is being presented for discussion and additional Council direction only.  There is no fiscal impact as a result of this agenda item.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that the Council initiate discussion on the proposed �Business Process Review� committee and direct staff as necessary. 

Mydocument\gunn\flad\memo2004\Business Review Process Committee

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