In early 2011, the Lee’s Summit Public Works Department worked for several months developing a new
Strategic Plan for the department. The Strategic Planning process was initiated to identify priorities for the department and to assess new and emerging issues impacting the responsibilities of the department. Once short term and long term strategic initiatives were identified and the Strategic Plan was finalized in May 2011, four implementation teams were created within the department to begin development and execution of each of the four short term strategic initiatives, as identified below:
· Improve Internal and External Customer Service and Communication
· Increase Productivity and Improve Efficiency and Processes
· Improve Employee Relations
· Plan for Future Solid Waste Management
Each of the implementation teams meet on a regular basis and are comprised of approximately six to eight Public Works Department staff members.
Since development, the Customer Service Implementation Team has worked on creating a Facebook page for the department and improved the department’s pages on the City’s website. The team is also establishing a department information officer and improving communication within the department using staff meeting notes and the monthly departmental newsletter, The Pulse. A call center is also being developed for the department and staff will be assigned and trained in an effort to improve customer service to residents.
The Efficiency and Process Implementation Team has worked on reviewing equipment utilization and emergency response activities within the department. The team determined that proper procedures and documentation for equipment utilization is in place; however, the team is working on improving accessibility to the documentation. The team is also working on improving the department’s response to emergencies and coordinating departmental efforts with those outlined and required by the existing citywide emergency response plan.
The Employee Relations Implementation Team has developed an internal preconstruction meeting format to improve communication between all divisions prior to a project, completed a department-wide survey to determine how staff want to receive communication and what information they want communicated to them, developed a periodic Morning Mixer to encourage staff to get to know one another better over an informal breakfast, and enhanced the existing departmental mentoring program. The team is also working on improving the departmental employee recognition program.
The Solid Waste Implementation Team has addressed and/or implemented many of the goals and objectives included in their initiative, including development of a curbside recycling program at the direction of the City Council, landfill maintenance issues, and progress toward a second landfill for the City, as the current landfill is scheduled to close in approximately 5 years. The team is also working on expanding recycling opportunities at the drop off recycling centers, improving customer service at the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) facility, and improving volunteer efforts and public communication.