Approve Consultant Proposal for Three-Year Strategic Action Plan, Governance Plan, and Organizational Assessment

In light of the changes to the organization in the past year, now is an ideal time to reassess the City's direction and to take steps to ensure that everyone is working together to achieve our collective goals as an organization.

City Administrator Ulrich and Mayor Strommen have worked with a consultant to develop a list of services that will establish strong direction for the City and get the new Council/staff team rowing together, and pointed in the right direction. The proposed process is very inclusive and involves Council, staff at all levels, and commission members. It is intended to identify common priorities, standards for doing business, and tangible results.

Above all, it is a process. A process that starts with the consultant, but ends with each of us, individually and as a team, owning the responsibilities and the results over the next several years.

Staff has reviewed information relating to a consultant proposal to provide a three year strategic action plan, governance plan and organization assessment. Attached is the proposal from Anita Duckor, of Duckor and Associates, outlining a detailed process to assist the City in becoming a high-performing organization.

A brief biography of Ms. Duckor is attached. Ms. Duckor brings more than thirty years of experience in both executive leadership and consulting. Key areas she would address would be to review, clarify and refine goals, work on building trust, providing direction on governance, roles, responsibilities, and aligning the City's mission with the goals of the new Council. It is expected she would be retained for about four months to continue a follow-up and implementation of the plan. Staff is asking Council to approve hiring Ms. Duckor as the facilitator/consultant for the team building and Council/staff strategic planning sessions. This item was discussed this evening at the Council work session as well.

The Council may approve, modify, or reject this proposal as written. Mayor Strommen has experience in working with Duckor and Associates in organizational development and believes they will be a good fit for our current situation. The proposal recognizes the need to get a quick start to the efforts of a new Council, and to work fast and effectively to solidify a realistic work plan.

It is recommended that the Council approve the consultant proposal from Ms. Anita S., Duckor, Duckor & Associates, for a Three-Year Strategic Action Plan, Governance Plan, and Organizational Assessment dated January 1, 2013, in the amount of $37,500. I believe that this would be a solid investment in building a high-performance work team and would provide for a thoughtful deployment of the City's scarce resources of capital and staff over the next several years. 

It is proposed that salary savings (from 2013 budget) be used to fund the consultant investment. These funds accrue due to the fact that positions are budgeted for a full year and the normal hiring process results in a delay of 2-3 months. For example:

3 months salary savings ED/HRA: $ 3,900 EDA Fund
$11,700 HRA Fund

2 months salary savings Engr: $13,800 General Fund
$4,800 Enterprise funds

2 months salary savings Engr Tech $8,500 General Fund
$2,800 Enterprise funds


Total Salary savings: $45,500

Based upon discussion.  This case has also been placed on the regular Council agenda for formal approval this evening if that is the consensus direction from this work session discussion.