Item 6-K

Council Meeting: August 17, 1999 Santa Monica, California

TO: Mayor and City Council

FROM: City Staff

SUBJECT: Recommendation to Authorize the City Manager to Negotiate and Execute a Contract with Innovative Resources Consultant Group, Inc. for Organizational Development Services for the Planning and Community Development Department.

This report recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Innovative Resources Consultant Group, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $70,000, to provide organizational development services for the Planning and Community Development Department.

Over the past year, the Planning and Community Development Department has hired new employees to fill many critical positions within the Department. The Department has also implemented a reorganization of its transportation management and traffic operations functions within the past year and is experiencing an unprecedented workload due to the current state of the local economy. As a result of these factors, as well as an on-going need to foster the development of common goals and objectives among all employees, the Department is embarking upon a process of creating an organizational strategic plan for the Department. The process will include the development and implementation of goals such as improving customer service and enhancing teamwork and cooperation.

Proposals to provide facilitation and coordination services for organizational development were solicited from three firms. Two firms responded with proposals and were subsequently interviewed. Innovative Resources Consultant Group (IRCG) is recommended to provide these services on the basis of experience and reputation with similar organizational development processes, approach to the process, experience of key personnel, and reasonable fee proposal. Many public agencies and private corporations have successfully implemented organizational growth under the guidance of IRCG, including the Santa Monica Transportation Department.

IRCG’s proposed approach to implementing organizational growth within the Planning and Community Development Department includes developing vertical and horizontal team-oriented relationships among all members of the Department, creating an organizational strategic plan, including the development of a mission and common goals that are shared by all employees, and focusing on key areas that are in need of special application of the organizational development process.

Funds for this program are available in account numbers 01321.555060 ($17,500), 01415.555060 ($17,500), 01416.555060 ($17,500), 01266.555060 ($5,000), 01266.544110 ($7,500), and 01266.522310 ($5,000).

It is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Manager to negotiate and execute a contract with Innovative Resources Consultant Group, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $70,000, to provide organizational development services for the Planning and Community Development Department.

Prepared by:

Suzanne Frick, Director

Andy Agle, Deputy Director

Planning and Community Development Department