HomeMy Public PortalAbout10) 7G Work Plan UpdateAGENDA
ITEM 7.G.
DATE: May 21, 2013
MANAGEMENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
MEMORANDUM
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Jose E. Pulido, City Manager
By: Brian Haworth, Assistant to the City Manager
Chelsea Wood, Communications Intern
SUBJECT: 2012 FOURTH QUARTER AND 2013 FIRST QUARTER PROGRESS
REPORTS ON TWO-YEAR WORK PLAN ITEMS
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council:
a) Receive and file the 2012 Fourth Quarter (i.e., October through December) and 2013
First Quarter (i.e., January through March) progress reports on the City's Two -Year
Work Plan: and
b) Direct staff to present the 2013 Second Quarter Progress Report at the August 6,
2013 City Council meeting.
BACKGROUND:
1. On May 8, 2010, during a Special Goal Setting Session to address organizational
needs, the City Council (Council) affirmed a strong commitment to elevate the City
from a "Status Quo" to "High Performance" organization.
2. On April 28, 2011, as a part of ongoing efforts to transition City operations to high -
performing, the Council conducted its first in a series of strategic planning study
sessions to assess the current status of the City organization, and develop policy -
level objectives for the next two fiscal years (i.e., FYs 2011-12 and 2012-13). Staff
collaborated on the Two -Year Work Plan—a list of numerous initiatives geared
toward improving City Hall efficiency and increasing levels of service to the
community—with each item advancing one or more of eight identified Council goals:
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May 21, 2013
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toward improving City Hall efficiency and increasing levels of service to the
community—with each item advancing one or more of eight identified Council goals:
• Vision and Long -Range Planning • Sound Fiscal Policy
• Public Health and Safety Y Sustainable Infrastructure
• Economic Development/ • Basic City Services
Redevelopment • Quality of Life
• Citizen Education/Communication
3. On September 4, 2012, during a regularly scheduled Council meeting, staff
presented a FY 2011-12 Close -Out Report, memorializing first-year achievements
from the City's Two -Year Work Plan (Work Plan), as well as acknowledging
challenges that affected progress. Council also directed staff to provide quarterly
progress reports as a means to publicize regular updates on Work Plan items.
ANALYSIS:
The Work Plan provides a roadmap outlining how the City will advance the eight
established Council goals over FY 2011-12 and FY 2012-13. By identifying individual
initiatives, and matching them with corresponding timelines and performance metrics,
the Work Plan serves as an accountability tool to keep staff on track towards progress.
Furthermore, the user-friendly document clearly describes City developments, and
promotes government transparency and civic engagement.
Progress to Date
Notable accomplishments over the past two reporting periods focused primarily on three
themes: capital improvement projects; key planning studies; and organizational
efficiencies.
In January, construction began on the Rosemead Boulevard Beautification and
Enhancements Project (Rosemead Project) to transform the corridor into a "complete
street," a safe thoroughfare to accommodate drivers, transit riders, and bicyclists. Set
for completion by summer 2014, the American Planning Association granted the project
with an Award of Excellence in planning implementation for its anticipated new public
spaces including pedestrian seating nodes, art installations and the addition of over
60,000 new plants and trees.
Designs were also developed and vetted for the proposed Las Tunas Drive Safety
Enhancements and Beautification Project (Las Tunas Project), which calls to transform
the auto -oriented thoroughfare into a pedestrian -friendly, downtown destination. The
concept design was finalized in March, and submitted as part of a $7 million funding
application to the 2013 Metro Call for Projects. Should the application be approved, and
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May 21, 2013
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upon the completion of the Rosemead Project, reconstruction of the Las Tunas corridor
could begin as early as fall 2014.
Two key planning studies — the Downtown Parking Study and the Traffic Calming
Master Plan — were also completed, and now serve as policy documents for grant
funding applications. Moving forward with the implementation of the Downtown Parking
Study, the City purchased a former mortuary property (located at 5800 Temple City
Boulevard) to accommodate future parking opportunities. Potential funding sources to
advance these initiatives are being identified based on recommendations from the two
studies, and will be included in next year's grant writing strategy (which has yielded $5.1
million in outside funding to date, with another $7 million pending grant award
notification).
Planning initiatives also commenced on the City's Parks and Open Space Master Plan,
and Fixed -Route Transit Needs Assessment. The former initiative will explore ways to
improve and expand parks and recreational opportunities, while the latter will identify
unmet mobility needs through a new intra -city public transportation service. While the
initiatives seem discrete, they are complementary as both look to promote sustainability,
and encourage physical activity. Both planning initiatives will be completed this summer.
Finally, organizational efficiencies focused primarily on a complete overhaul of the City's
personnel rules, and a reshuffling of priorities in the Community Development
Department. Significant changes to the City's personnel rules were necessary as prior
policies conflicted with employment law and best practices. Furthermore, a new
management team in the Community Development Department refocused its Work Plan
projects and priorities to improve service delivery, meet external market demands, and
better coordinate current initiatives with those proposed in the FY 2013-14 City Budget.
These and other accomplishments demonstrate ongoing staff efforts to strive for
excellence in advancing the eight Council -identified goals. Objectives as stated in the
Work Plan have provided staff with a core set of principles to guide decision-making and
ensure exceptional service delivery. To further illustrate staff accomplishments, a
sampling of initiatives completed between October 2012 and March 2013 is provided
below, and categorized by objective.
Vision and Long -Range Planninq
The City's Housing Element Update received final State certification, which
now allows the City to pursue a variety of grant funding opportunities for
housing projects and programs. The certification also means the City's
housing policies comply with state law, and meet regional housing need
allocations.
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• Discussions are underway among the City, Los Angeles County and Temple
City Unified School District to pursue a Civic Center Master Plan that
redevelops Temple City's government center with larger facilities and new
open spaces. A potential public-private partnership could reenergize the area
into a new local attraction, and possibly even include revenue -generating
rental office units.
• The circulation of an RFP initiated development of a citywide Strategic Plan.
With many planning initiatives recently completed and underway, the strategic
planning process works with the public to determine community priorities, and
to establish an implementation plan for the next five years.
Public Health and Safetv
• The citywide installation of 64 ADA -compliant ramps was completed in
February to improve pedestrian access for residents with limited mobility.
Surplus federal funds will allow for 23 additional ramps to be installed by June,
amounting to 87 total ADA -compliant access points.
• Majority provisions of the County's Title 10 animal control regulations are now
in effect, thereby increasing the City's ability to protect the health and safety of
local pets, owners and the general public.
• A second-hand smoke control ordinance was adopted to designate citywide
smoke-free locations including outdoor public spaces, and within common
areas of multi -unit residential housing complexes.
Economic Development/Redevelopment
• Ombudsman services continue for the Gateway Project, including assistance
with permitting and tenant attraction. Construction is now underway on the
project's underground parking structure.
• The completion of a financial proforma warranted the feasibility of a mixed-use
project on the former Alpha Beta site. To accommodate a future proposal, the
Planning Commission will consider amendments to the Downtown Specific
Plan on June 25.
• The City's two-year economic development strategy kicked -off in February,
and will be completed in May. The effort identifies short- and long-term
economic development goals for City implementation. The strategy also looks
to use the City's $8 million Economic Development Reserve Fund.
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May 21, 2013
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Citizen Education/Communication
• A comprehensive communications platform was deployed during construction
of the Rosemead Project. Weekly radio broadcasts via AM 1690 and e -
messages convey valuable construction information, including anticipated
traffic impacts and other community advisories. A 24-hour customer service
response time is in effect for the project's designated hotline and general e-
mail account.
• Development of the City's new website began in February. Planned for a soft
launch this summer, the new and intuitive website will act as a virtual City Hall,
making City resources more accessible to residents, businesses and visitors.
• The City's communications office continues to set industry best practices, as
evidenced by its three first place awards from the American Planning
Association and California Association of Public Information Officials. Connect
Magazine received two awards of excellence in communications and planning
journalism, while the Las Tunas community meetings campaign received an
award of excellence in civic engagement.
Sound Fiscal Policv
• Pursuant to Assembly Bill (AB) 1484, due diligence activities were completed
in an effort to retain $2.2 million in former redevelopment agency bond
proceeds. A formal Notice of Completion is soon expected from the State
Department of Finance, confirming the City may retain proceeds to fund future
affordable housing programs (i.e., roughly $400,000), and $1.8 million in
construction costs for the Rosemead Boulevard Beautification and
Enhancements Project.
• The City received an unqualified—or "clean"—audit opinion regarding financial
reporting, subsequently allowing for the completion of the Comprehensive
Annual Financial Report (CAFR). The document provides the public with
detailed information concerning the condition and performance of City
finances. Furthermore, the CAFR was submitted to the Government Finance
Officers Association for a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in
Financial Reporting, the highest form of recognition in governmental
accounting.
• An upgrade of the City's financial software was accomplished, thus providing
new fiscal controls and enhanced checks -and -balance systems to meet best
practices in prudent financial management.
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Sustainable Infrastructure
• Adopted in January, the Energy Efficiency Climate Action Plan provides a
framework for how the community can meet long-term energy efficiency goals
pursuant to AB 32 and Senate Bill 375 (i.e., greenhouse gas reduction
mandates). A first -phase pilot program to encourage the installation of
commercial energy efficiency improvements is underway between the
Chamber of Commerce and Green Globe, an environmental non-profit
organization.
• A draft pavement management strategy was completed to assess the
conditions of all city streets, and prioritizes the programming of funds for street
repairs within the next three to five years. The strategy also includes
recommendations for necessary sidewalk and curb installations, as well as
construction techniques that employ the use of green practices (e.g.,
rubberized asphalt). Scheduled for Council review this summer, the adopted
strategy will set in motion the development of a five-year Capital Improvement
Plan to appropriate funds and schedule street improvements.
• Using County grant funds, over 200 public trees (of 300 total trees funded)
were planted to replace those lost in the 2011 windstorm. Proactive measures
were also taken to protect the City's $17.4 million urban forest by enacting an
ordinance that expands the duties of the Parks and Recreation Commission to
matters involving the care and maintenance of City -owned trees. A revised
Commission work plan is underway for the next fiscal year, and incorporates
the development of a tree ordinance, as well as updates to the citywide tree
master plan.
Basic Citv Services
• Nearing completion are standard operating procedures to formalize customer
service expectations for the Parks and Recreation Department. As the City's
most visible and service intensive department, upcoming trainings will assist
its primarily young and part-time staff in exceeding organizational expectations
and delivering high-quality public services.
• Mandarin and Cantonese speaking volunteers are now deployed at special
events to assist frontline recreation staff with community inquiries. The
designation of bilingual points of contact ensures proactive customer service.
• With a voluntary compliance rate of 83%, the Focused Area Systematic
Enforcement (FASE) program received an Innovation Award from the
California Association of Code Enforcement Officers for its approach in
simplifying and communicating property maintenance regulations. Proven
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successful, FASE has saved valuable staff time, allowing for the creation of a
second program that targets commercial corridors.
Qualitv of Life
• Investigating new avenues of civic engagement, a separate Dim Sum and tea
event, as well as youth activities were added to this year's Lunar New Year
Celebration to further cultural awareness, and bridge cross-cultural and
generational barriers.
• A thorough evaluation of recreation classes resulted in the need for new
programming to serve the growing Baby Boomer and Asian populations. Ten
new classes will be introduced this summer – including senior fitness activities
and computer courses taught in Mandarin – to meet community demand, as
well as to keep programming competitive and serving a regional niche.
• Design documents are currently underway to construct 12.6 miles of premiere
bike lanes, and numerous pedestrian amenities and facilities, near nine Temple
City schools. Funded by nearly $1 million in federal and state grants, the
improvements are slated for completion next year.
Attachment "A" includes 2012 Fourth Quarter and 2013 First Quarter updates on the
City's Two -Year Work Plan, organized by department. Progress to date has resulted in
23 completed projects, 64 projects underway, 23 projects not yet started, and 5 projects
canceled or under reassessment.
Moving Forward
Heading into the Second Quarter of 2013, towards closing out the Work Plan, staff will
continue to focus on major planning initiatives. In the economic development realm, the
City's draft economic development strategy—including recommendations for
programming the City's $8 million Economic Development Reserve Fund—will be vetted
and finalized by the City Council. Preparation will also commence on a specific plan for
Temple City Plaza, allowing for zoning amendments that enable the property to change
in line with anticipated market conditions—including property and building
reconfigurations and mixed-use concepts. And finally, should the City receive the up -to
$7 million in grants for which it applied, construction drawings would commence on the
Las Tunas Project.
With the Parks and Open Space Master Plan and Fixed Route Transit Needs
Assessment wrapping up in the next few months, recommendations from these and
other recently completed planning studies will be examined and prioritized into a
Citywide Strategic Plan—a process which seeks to program and budget all planning
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May 21, 2013
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initiatives to date, based on community need and priority. The Strategic Planning
process begins this summer.
CONCLUSION:
The 2012 Fourth Quarter and 2013 First Quarter progress reports recognize Council
and staff's combined efforts in transitioning the City organization into a high-
performance operation. Regular status updates on Work Plan initiatives keep the
Council and public informed of City developments, while also promoting government
accountability and transparency.
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This item does not have an impact on the FY 2012-13 City Budget.
ATTACHMENT:
A. 2012 Fourth Quarter and 2013 First Quarter Progress Reports
Attachment "A" will be provided on a separate cover
tH
May 17