HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9053INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
iVO. 9053
Page 1 of 2
SUBJECT: Citizen Engagement in FY2010 Budget Process
On May 6, 2009, Councilmembers were provided preliminary results of the annual citizen survey.
Survey results showed that customer satisfaction has increased in 88 of the 90 areas surveyed.
In addition to asking residents to rate the quality of the city services, residents were asked to rate
their level of support for key city programs and initiatives and were invited to participate in
resident focus groups.
Consideration of a contract in the amount of $49,800 (M&C C-23530) is on the City Council
agenda for consideration today. City staff will engage the services of Open Channels Group,
L.L.C. (OCG) for coordination of citizen engagement. OCG's experienced public participation and
community engagement professionals will identify focus group participants, develop questions
and convene the focus groups. Focus group participants will be representative of all areas of the
city and will reflect the racial, ethnic, gender and age diversity of the people we serve. OCG will
provide a summary of the information solicited from focus group members and will share the
results of the public engagement process with city representatives.
City staff and OCG will also enlist the advice of financial analysts and legal counsel to ensure that
the options presented to focus group participants are economically feasible, financially sound and
consistent with current regulations, statutes and ordinances. On your agenda for consideration
today is M&C G-16569 approving a resolution authorizing the retainer of $50,000 for outside
counsel to consult with city staff on legal issues associated with the FY2010 budget.
The valuable input from this significant public engagement process will help to ensure a budget
strategy that will address the needs of residents today, while safeguarding our resources for the
future.
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH. TEXAS