5.2. SR 06-14-2010REQUEST FOR ACTION
To Item Number
Ma or and Ci Council 5.2.
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Worksession une 14, 2010 Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator
Item Description Reviewed by
Goal/Visioning Proposal
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Authorization to contract with Jermaine Davis Seminars and Workshops, Inc., to facilitate discussion on
creating and achieving Elk River's purpose, vision, and goals.
Background/Discussion
Earlier this year the Council authorized me to work with staff to develop a set of city goals for the
Council to review and consider. I was requested to bring back a proposal to achieve this goal for Council
consideration.
As part of developing the proposal that is in front of you, I asked department heads and some division
managers to assist in refining the need and goals, setting the process, and selecting a facilitator by serving
on two different committees that I facilitated. Members included John Cunningham, Tina Allard, Jeremy
Barnhart, Troy Adams, Tim Simon, Bill Maertz, and Jeff Beahen. One committee focused on
teambuilding and another on visioning and goals. Overwhelmingly, the request of the committees was
that the teambuilding need was insignificant and that the focus should be on setting city wide goals. The
committees strongly felt that having well defined goals in it self further unifies the team.
With this in mind committee members Tim Simon, Bill Maertz, Jeff Beahen, and I identified and
reviewed possible facilitators and eventually interviewed two. The committee unanimously recommends
Jermaine Davis as the facilitator. Mr. Davis has worked in other cities to accomplish a similar outcome.
The committee felt that his energy, experience, and knowledge of the topic would produce the best end
result by engaging the department heads and division managers throughout the process.
The proposal includes two eight hour facilitated discussions to develop the purpose, vision, and goals.
Approximately 30 department heads and division managers would be involved in all or parts of these
discussions. The proposal also includes a four hour follow up three to five months later to monitor
progress and determine any additional steps needed to achieve the desired outcome. In the end, the
result of this entire exercise is to develop a plan to make the work actionable and sustainable.
Finally, as we discussed previously, the Council would review the purpose, vision, and goals that the staff
develops and respond to those with Council feedback and eventual adoption. The clearly defined
Council approved goals will help the staff work efficiently and effectively to achieve the Council's
objectives.
S:\Public Bodies\Council\I.ori\2010\Visioning Goals Proposal.doc
Financial Impact
The majority of the $16,500 cost will be taken from existing training budgets. Additionally, the Elk River
Municipal Utilities Commission at its meeting on June 8 approved funding $2,000 from ERMU funds.
Approximately $5,000 is requested from the Council Contingency budget to cover the balance. There are
adequate funds in the Contingency budget to fund this expenditure.
Attachments
None
Action Motion by Second by Vote
FOllow Up
S:\Public Bodies\Council\Lori\2010\Visioning Goals Proposal.doc