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December 14, 2009
(Red Deer, Alberta) – City Council approved changes to the structure of The City, as an organization to enhance leadership and provide increasingly excellent municipal services. The changes specifically address the areas of leadership, communication and culture.
“The changes coming out of the organizational review focus the leadership and management of The City. It is about the effectiveness of our service delivery from a management level,” said Craig Curtis, City Manager. “The last time The City undertook an organizational review was in 1994 when we had less than 600 employees. We now have close to 1,200 and it was time to make some critical decisions about how we are structured and the leadership systems we use to communicate and provide services.”
Phase 1 of the organizational review includes developing a new Corporate Leadership Team which will focus on strategic priorities that move The City towards our vision of innovative thinking, inspired results and vibrant community. An Operational Leadership Team will allow for greater cross-departmental collaboration and departmental input into decision making. A new Planning division brings together functions related to the ongoing growth of our community.
The City will review services in two areas. The advantages and disadvantages of establishing an in-house planning department as opposed to the present contract with PCPS will be initiated in 2010. As well the current Policing Study completed in 2005 needs updating and will include an analysis on establishing a municipal police force. A Protective Services division will be explored in the next phase of the organizational review.
Lastly, there is a need to review, articulate and communicate the role of Council and its boards and committees.
“The organizational review was considered as part of the 2009-2011 Strategic Plan. It fits within the ‘Be Excellent’ goal area, which focuses internally on our organization,” said Curtis. “These changes are about looking at our services in a more logical and strategic manner.”
Although not part of the organizational review, in response to the economic recession and the drop in service demand in some of our departments, The City has implemented a hiring review. All vacancies will be evaluated for service impact, financial savings or costs and possible reallocation of workload.
Discussions on Phase 2 will begin in January 2010 and are expected to be implemented in six months.
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Q & A Backgrounder attached.
For more information, please contact:
Craig Curtis
City Manager
403 342-8156
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