Project Ideas + Academy Participants =
TEAM PROJECTS
Team projects provide a real-world learning and leadership experience for Academy participants. A PowerPoint presentation (but no written report) is required. The maximum duration of the oral presentation (not including Q & A) is 20 minutes. Two to three members of the team will make the formal presentation. Other team members can respond to questions and comments.
A run-through practice session of the team presentation will be held at the Academy during the last few monthly meetings. The run-through will be filmed for the team to review and the Executive Sponsors will attend this run-through and provide feedback. A formal team presentation will be made to the Executive Sponsor and key staff members of the local government client agency or to the City Managers Association.
To learn more, please click here. To access the Team Projects documents, click the button below.
A run-through practice session of the team presentation will be held at the Academy during the last few monthly meetings. The run-through will be filmed for the team to review and the Executive Sponsors will attend this run-through and provide feedback. A formal team presentation will be made to the Executive Sponsor and key staff members of the local government client agency or to the City Managers Association.
To learn more, please click here. To access the Team Projects documents, click the button below.
2022-2023 Team Projects
Project #1: Senate Bill 1383 - Organics Recycling Best Practices Toolkit
Starting January 1, 2022, the State of California, Alameda County, and the City of Union City require residents and businesses to separate and keep recyclable and compostable materials out of landfills under the State’s Organics Reduction and Recycling Law (Senate Bill 1383). This law aims to reduce methane gas emissions and address climate change by reducing the amount of recyclable and compostable materials sent to landfills by 75% by January 1, 2025.
This law is already having an impact on how Cities manage/reduce waste, procure materials, and distribute compost. A best practice guide for policies, trainings, and outreach materials, would be helpful to ensure all Cities remain compliant with this critical mandate.
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will develop a best practices toolkit for Cities to comply with SB 1383.
SPONSOR: Joan Malloy, City Manager | City of Union City
Starting January 1, 2022, the State of California, Alameda County, and the City of Union City require residents and businesses to separate and keep recyclable and compostable materials out of landfills under the State’s Organics Reduction and Recycling Law (Senate Bill 1383). This law aims to reduce methane gas emissions and address climate change by reducing the amount of recyclable and compostable materials sent to landfills by 75% by January 1, 2025.
This law is already having an impact on how Cities manage/reduce waste, procure materials, and distribute compost. A best practice guide for policies, trainings, and outreach materials, would be helpful to ensure all Cities remain compliant with this critical mandate.
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will develop a best practices toolkit for Cities to comply with SB 1383.
SPONSOR: Joan Malloy, City Manager | City of Union City
Project #2: Addressing Unhoused Encampments on Limited Resources
Unhoused encampments are increasingly becoming an issue for all Cities across the Bay Area. While even large cities have limited resources, smaller cities are often less equipped to address this issue and must rely on scarce support from Counties for response solutions. A guide of resources, policy options, best practices and case studies would be incredibly helpful in helping all jurisdictions find appropriate solutions for these complex challenges.
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will develop a best practice guide for smaller and under-resourced Cities for addressing issues around unhoused encampments. The practices should be applicable countywide with a broad countywide lens.
SPONSOR: Joan Malloy, City Manager | City of Union City
Unhoused encampments are increasingly becoming an issue for all Cities across the Bay Area. While even large cities have limited resources, smaller cities are often less equipped to address this issue and must rely on scarce support from Counties for response solutions. A guide of resources, policy options, best practices and case studies would be incredibly helpful in helping all jurisdictions find appropriate solutions for these complex challenges.
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will develop a best practice guide for smaller and under-resourced Cities for addressing issues around unhoused encampments. The practices should be applicable countywide with a broad countywide lens.
SPONSOR: Joan Malloy, City Manager | City of Union City
Project #3: Police Recruiting Strategies and Best Practices
The law enforcement profession as a whole continues to have difficulty recruiting and retaining staff. In addition to retirements, the impact of social/political unrest (like the George Floyd protests) and most recently the impacts of the "Great Resignation" have severely affected the recruitment and retention efforts of police professionals across the nation. In fact, an early 2021 survey conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) revealed that (nationwide):
“[T]he typical hiring rate of Police Officers fell by 5% while resignation and retirement rates increased by 18% and 45%, respectively. Exacerbating our staffing situation is the ongoing impact of COVID and non-deployable officers due to job-related injuries.”
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will explore any best practices and/or strategies being implemented to effectively recruit and retain law enforcement professionals (specifically Police Officers).
SPONSORS: Tina Gallegos, Human Resources Director | City of Fremont
Kelly Wright, Deputy Human Resources Director | City of Fremont
The law enforcement profession as a whole continues to have difficulty recruiting and retaining staff. In addition to retirements, the impact of social/political unrest (like the George Floyd protests) and most recently the impacts of the "Great Resignation" have severely affected the recruitment and retention efforts of police professionals across the nation. In fact, an early 2021 survey conducted by the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF) revealed that (nationwide):
“[T]he typical hiring rate of Police Officers fell by 5% while resignation and retirement rates increased by 18% and 45%, respectively. Exacerbating our staffing situation is the ongoing impact of COVID and non-deployable officers due to job-related injuries.”
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will explore any best practices and/or strategies being implemented to effectively recruit and retain law enforcement professionals (specifically Police Officers).
SPONSORS: Tina Gallegos, Human Resources Director | City of Fremont
Kelly Wright, Deputy Human Resources Director | City of Fremont
Project #4: Centralized Customer Service
The pandemic has changed when, where, and the way we work. It has also changed opinions about how we interact with our customers. Regardless of these changes, our residents still want responsive service, and they don’t want to try and figure out whom they need to call, email, or see to get it.
What if there was just one number, email, and place to go to get all of your questions answered and issues resolved?
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will develop an implementable plan to establish a single point of contact for customer and resident service (best practices, what is needed for implementation, identification of policy changes needed to support the change, etc.).
SPONSOR: Regina Youngblood, Assistant City Manager and Interim HR Director | City of Hayward
The pandemic has changed when, where, and the way we work. It has also changed opinions about how we interact with our customers. Regardless of these changes, our residents still want responsive service, and they don’t want to try and figure out whom they need to call, email, or see to get it.
What if there was just one number, email, and place to go to get all of your questions answered and issues resolved?
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will develop an implementable plan to establish a single point of contact for customer and resident service (best practices, what is needed for implementation, identification of policy changes needed to support the change, etc.).
SPONSOR: Regina Youngblood, Assistant City Manager and Interim HR Director | City of Hayward
Project #5: New Employee Orientations (NEO) that Don't Suck
New employee orientation (NEO) is an important milestone that should reaffirm a new hire’s decision to accept employment. NEO should also provide important information about policies, benefits, and company culture. However, they often end up being paperwork sessions where participants are fed information like water from a firehose. Public sector NEOs don’t inspire, they don’t excite, and they don’t support retention.
What can we learn from the private sector and other public entities that do NEO well?
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will recommend new employee orientation content and process that will help new employees feel grounded in their respective agency’s values, prepared to be successful, and excited about their decision to join our organization.
SPONSOR: Regina Youngblood, Assistant City Manager and Interim HR Director | City of Hayward
New employee orientation (NEO) is an important milestone that should reaffirm a new hire’s decision to accept employment. NEO should also provide important information about policies, benefits, and company culture. However, they often end up being paperwork sessions where participants are fed information like water from a firehose. Public sector NEOs don’t inspire, they don’t excite, and they don’t support retention.
What can we learn from the private sector and other public entities that do NEO well?
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will recommend new employee orientation content and process that will help new employees feel grounded in their respective agency’s values, prepared to be successful, and excited about their decision to join our organization.
SPONSOR: Regina Youngblood, Assistant City Manager and Interim HR Director | City of Hayward
Project #6: Camera Surveillance Cost-Benefit Analysis
Technological advances are making easier for Cities to apply “smart cities” solutions. This includes camera surveillance infrastructure along city streets and roadways. Cameras could help cities with roadway usage/counting, illegal dumping tracking, and “soft policing.” However, such a program would come with its own deltas and fiscal and political costs. The team will explore these issues to help Cities determine the feasibility of implementing these types of programs.
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will develop a policy brief or presentation on the pros, cons, costs and benefits of implementing a citywide camera surveillance program.
SPONSOR: Joan Malloy, City Manager | City of Union City
Technological advances are making easier for Cities to apply “smart cities” solutions. This includes camera surveillance infrastructure along city streets and roadways. Cameras could help cities with roadway usage/counting, illegal dumping tracking, and “soft policing.” However, such a program would come with its own deltas and fiscal and political costs. The team will explore these issues to help Cities determine the feasibility of implementing these types of programs.
TEAM PROJECT: The project team will develop a policy brief or presentation on the pros, cons, costs and benefits of implementing a citywide camera surveillance program.
SPONSOR: Joan Malloy, City Manager | City of Union City