| Greetings!
My office has two reports coming before the Berkeley City Council on Tuesday, October 13; a presentation at the 5 o'clock special workshop and an audit on the 7 o'clock Consent calendar. As always, your support for our recommendations to Council and the City Manager is key to making sure that the City continues to improve its stewardship of public resources. |
| Investing in Long Term Savings: Workers' Compensation and Wellness (5 p.m.) |
An important part of balancing the budget is avoidance of wasted resources. To reduce workers' compensation costs, the City must implement the recommendations in our June 2009 audit Workers' Compensation Costs Can Be Reduced, ensure that supervisors prioritize safety, and engage employees in establishing a "safety first" culture. To reduce lost time due to sick leave, the City should explore an employee wellness program with measurable goals and results. To increase the effectiveness and efficiency of all City services, the City must emphasize the importance of setting clear expectations and measuring results. Basic tools needed include software, performance measures, documented work instructions, and improvements to training and job standards for more effective services.
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Audit: Utilization of Public Works Sewer Staff Can Be Improved (7 p.m.) |
| Too many sewer spills are caused by intrusion of roots and grease into the sewer lines. Fundamental causes of this problem can be addressed with the same basic tools noted in our 5 o'clock presentation: better software design and use, clearly documented work instructions, performance measures, training, and a committment to employee safety. Use of data to manage the work and better supervisory practices are key to improving service.
The City Manager's information item #29 on the October 13 agenda describes the serious consequences
of not improving delivery of this vital City service.
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