HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #02 - Discussion ItemCITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO The Honorable Mayor and Members DATE . March 23, 1995 FILE
of the City Com fission
SUBJECT City Efficiency Programs
FROM : REFERENCES:
VVifr=lly) Gort ENCLOSURES:
Co loner
As you know, I have advocated the engagement of a consultant to
analyze and improve the efficiencies of the City's various non -uniformed
operations. As a result, the Mayor and Commission appointed me to interview
consultants to analyze the efficiencies of those operations. The Commission
allocated $100,000 to support that effort.
However, after discussions with several major public accounting firms, it
was determined that a comprehensive review of the City's operations would cost
approximately $500,000 or more and would require considerable time for
completion. In that regard, I wish to acknowledge the efforts of Richard
Berkowitz, Sharon Brown, Ron Thompkins, and Corinne Brody for their tireless
efforts in the analysis and formulation of a framework for the development of a
request for proposal consistent with the Mayor's Transition Team's
recommendations.
Upon discussion of these circumstances with the City Manager, he
informed me that he was conducting a comprehensive review of the City's
organization and associated functions to determine the most effective and
efficient service delivery categories and levels for the City's future. For the past
several months, the City Manager has focused upon the City's long-term
financial and service delivery planning through a reorganization committee
composed of several senior -level executives and the City's four union presidents.
The City Manager directed the reorganization committee to recommend
wholesale changes to the City's organizational structure and to reduce service
delivery costs.
As a continuation of the reorganization process, the City Manager
conducted an initial series of meetings with numerous City departments at the
Orange Bowl Stadium press box on January 24 and 25, 1995. The City
Manager directed each City department head in attendance to discuss and
justify his current organizational structure and supporting individual position
classifications.
95- 211,1
010,
Mayor and Commission
March 23, 1995
Page 2
I personally attended those meetings. At those sessions, the City
Manager and his staff concentrated on duplication of functions, unnecessary
services, privatization of certain services, inefficient work processes, and
budgetary requirements for FY'96. The duplication of budget, payroll,
personnel, and procurement functions and the elimination of over -specialized
or inefficient organizational units were identified and critically discussed. In
addition, the City Manager communicated the FY'96 budgetary environment and
the importance of the City's long-term fiscal soundness to those executives.
In all cases, the City Manager instructed department directors and
assistant city managers to review and to effectively modify their current
organizations. In addition, several committees were created to review major
issues and to report their recommendations to the City Manager within specific
deadlines.
The City Manager and his staff are highly committed to eliminate the
"business as usual" mindset within the City and are further motivated to modify
and improve the City's current fiscal direction. From my personal observation,
the complexity of the City's organizational and financial structures is substantial.
The effective modification of those areas will require considerable effort and
cooperation on behalf of the City Commission, the City Attorney's Office and the
Administration.
I remain committed to the City Commission's original intent to improve the
efficiency of the City of Miami. However, I am also strongly supportive of the City
Manager's current initiatives to achieve the same goal. It is my expectation that
this effort will be concluded by June 1, 1995.
In addition, 1 recommend that a committee of six members be constituted
as the Independent Management Review Committee to develop in conjunction
with the City Manager a framework for future independent performance
evaluation and management review initiatives consistent with Mayor's Transition
Team's recommendations. I suggest that the Mayor and each Commissioner
appoint one member and that the City Manager appoint one member.
95- 211.1
Or.,
Mayor and Commission
March 23, 1995
Page 3
I also recommend that the qualifications for committee membership be
determined as soon as possible and that the committee members be appointed
at the conclusion of the Manager's reorganization. I have some suggestions with
regard to the qualifications of committee membership which I will transmit to you
on March 27, 1995.
If you have additional suggestions, please raise them at the March 27,
1995 Commission Meeting. I will keep you apprised of developments in the
City's efficiency -related programs.
cc: Cesar H. Odio
City Manager
I
95- 211.1
4&,
CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
r
The Honorable Mayor and March 27 1995
To Members of the City Commission DATE : FILE
SUBJECT
Discussion Item
FROM : REFERENCES:
Wifrq&: I(Willy) Gort
Cosioner ENCLOSURES:
Would you please place on the Commission Agenda of March 27, 1995 as a discussion
item the audit of the City Administration.
Thank you for your cooperation.
WGlbd
cc: Cesar Odio, City Manager
Elvy Gallastegui, Agenda Office
1SICIUSS110144
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