City Council Meeting Date: May 21st, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Ben Martig, City Administrator
Risi Karim, Assistant to the City Administrator
Title
Consider Resolution Accepting Administrative Services Organization Assessment Report.
Body
Action Requested:
Consider a motion to approve the Resolution Accepting Administrative Services Organization Assessment Report.
Summary Report:
The City Council received the report presentation at the April 9th meeting. There was a request for some additional information related to the work done on communications in other cities as well as staffing levels in other cities for communication. That information is added to the report and Baker Tilly will focus on those additions at the meeting with their presentation.
Background of Study
In the pursuit of excellence in service delivery and enhanced collaboration, the City of Northfield hired public sector advisory firm, Baker Tilly U.S., LLP, to conduct a comprehensive Administrative Services Organization Assessment. The primary goals of this project is to review all functions of Communications, Human Resources, Information Technology, Finance, and Administrative Services related to the processes within the division to evaluate the Administrative Services Division organizational structure, staffing structure, and efficiency of staff roles and responsibilities.
Through this project, the Division is identifying process improvement areas, areas at risk of significant institutional knowledge loss and level of preparedness as Division responsibilities continue to grow. The attached draft report summarizes the observations and recommendations of the organizational assessment of the Administrative Services Division.
Alternative Options:
None recommended.
The report completes the scope of work in addition to the request for additional communications background from the last presentation. The work with Baker Tilly needs to be wrapped up at this time. If the resolution were not to pass, the study will be completed and the report would be an administrative tool in the future just as would be done as if the resolution were approved. The only practical difference of approving the resolution is that it recognizes the Council reviewed and accepted the report in a more formal manner.
Financial Impacts:
None completed at this time. Consideration of implementation for staffing changes would be a future phase to be presented as part of the 2025-2026 budget process and require City Council approval for any additions of staffing.
The administrative recommendations will begin review by staff to pursue internally for implementation.
Tentative Timelines:
X April 9 - Presentation to City Council of Draft Administrative Services Organizational Assessment
• May 21 - City Council Resolution Accepting Administrative Services Organizational Assessment.
• June and Beyond - City Administrator exploration of cost and implementation considerations 2025-2026 relating to staffing levels.
• June and Beyond - Staff completing administrative recommended tasks internally.