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Success Stories

Success Stories

Many cities and towns have tried creative ways to save money, improve services for their citizens, or tap new ways to pay for programs. Successful programs are featured so that local governments can freely borrow and use sound ideas that have worked. You are invited to send your success stories to MRSC to share them with others.

Contents

Alternative (Non-Tax) Revenue Sources

MILL CREEK - In response to projected decline of revenue in the next 5 years, the City began to examine alternative (non-tax) revenue sources in early 1996. For purposes of identifying alternative revenue sources, each department determined how services would be provided if they had to operate without tax dollars (what would the City have to sell, and who would purchase our services, etc.). Although it was recognized that there may be legal, operational, and political problems associated with new non-tax revenue sources, these barriers were not considered as a limitation to generating new ideas. From this activity, a laundry list of alternatives was created that we are still in the process of examining for their practicability and cost effectiveness. Citizen comments were also solicited as part of this process. There are two alternative revenue sources that have been implemented from this list to date. The first alternative revenue source was to increase the City's development fees to more closely match the City's actual cost in terms of staff time for processing permits, while remaining comparable with other jurisdictions charges and fees. The second alternative revenue source involves the recovery of more of the Recreation Division's indirect costs (Recreation Coordinator's salary, marketing, utilities, facilities, etc.) associated with providing recreational programming through fee adjustment that can be supported by market conditions. These new non-tax revenue sources are projected to raise more than $50,000 in additional revenue over the 1997-1998 biennium. Although neither of the above fee adjustments are innovative or new municipal practices, the City has taken a great first step in examining alternative revenue sources as a means to maintain the high quality of service provided to the community.

Contact Bob Stowe, City Manager or Debbie Tarry, Finance Director at (206) 745-1891 for more information.

Auto Patch Radio System

KENNEWICK - The auto patch radio system used by Public Works has eliminated the need for cellular phones in the Public Works Department. This radio system allows telephone access to individual mobile radios. A central number is called and a given employee's auto patch number is entered to establish communication. The cost to install this system was approximately $3,000. As radios are upgraded within the department, they are purchased to work with the auto patch system. Even with cellular phones, most agencies continue to operate their radio systems. Consequently you only add to your communication costs with cell phones. Agencies using cell phones in our area report that it is common for bills to average $100 per month per user. A department of our size could easily have ten cell phones at an annual cost of $12,000. Other than the initial installation cost, we've provided a new dimension in communications to our field personnel without incurring additional on-going costs.

Contact Roy Cross, Public Works Director at (509) 585-4249 for more information.

Biennial/Expenditure Control Budget

MILL CREEK - The City of Mill Creek is developing a new budget system that includes two significant changes to current business practices. The first change is to convert from an annual budget to a biennial budget. Most City Council goals are multi-year goals, and a two-year budget can better reflect policy priorities. Equally important, the time saved by not doing number crunching in the "off-year" can be better spent on thorough review of programs, service levels and goals.

Also the Mill Creek budget process will include expenditure control budget techniques to create incentives for expenditure reductions through flexibility and innovation. City departments will be allowed to carry over a portion of savings from one fiscal biennium into the next fiscal biennium to save funds for the future purchase of a needed piece of equipment or other improvement. Expenditure limits will be established before the budget process starts based upon an inflation formula to better control expenditures. This type of process changes traditional governmental budgeting from a "spend it or lose it" to a "save it and invest it" philosophy. The expenditure control budget also encourages departments to identify and create new non-tax revenue sources for the department and City to utilize for either maintaining or improving City services.

Contact Debbie Tarry, Finance Director at (206) 745-1891 for more information.

City Gift Catalog

KIRKLAND - First published in 1994, the city's Gift Catalog (or wish list) has produced more than $35,000 in private donations for public amenities such as benches, drinking fountains and picnic tables. Add three sculptures which have been gifted to the city, and the charitable giving total to date approaches the $200,000 mark.

The gift catalog publicizes amenities that the city needs or wants, but have not been included in the budget due to financial constraints. Contributors have found the gift catalog donations to be an excellent way to recognize an individual or organization, or to create a memorial.

Contact Marc Connelly at (206) 828-1216 for more information.

City of Woodinville Takes to the Streets

WOODINVILLE - City staff now have a quicker, quieter and more economical way to reach their customers. The City recently purchased a mountain bike for staff use to get around town for official business and for special events. The bicycle is an alternative mode of transportation that brings a unique identity to Woodinville.

The City's new set of wheels has definitely come in handy for special events sponsored by Woodinville. A recent parade along the City's downtown arterial allowed staff to distribute road closure notifications to businesses along the downtown corridor quicker than it would have taken to drive a city vehicle, park it, and hand deliver the fliers. This outreach to the business community proved positive when staff heard comments such as "Cool Bike," "Glad to see the city is environmentally sensitive." For the City's upcoming Fourth of July Fireworks show, the bicycle will again get staff quickly from one site to another.

It's a known fact that bicycles save time. If the commute is less than 4 miles, a bicycle is probably as fast as a car or bus (and you don't have to sit in traffic!). Bicycles are non-polluters too! As for savings, the bike has the potential to reduce the demand for using city vehicles and reduce the reimbursement for business use of personal vehicles.

For more information, contact Marie Stake, Community Services Coordinator, at 489-2700, ext. 245 (email: comments@woodinville-city.com)

Combination Permit

BELLEVUE - The City of Bellevue has instituted combination permitting for all single family residential permits. This means that all review and inspection related to any single family residence occurs under a single combined permit, rather than requiring a separate permit for each type of work being done. Today one permit, and one application, covers all clearing and grading, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and building work done for a new house. This greatly simplifies the permitting and inspection coordination process for contractors and staff alike. It has reduced processing time and saves clients an average of $392 in fees for each new home.

For more information, please contact Toni Cramer, Department of Community Development at (425) 453-2972.

Communications Center "Zone 2" Dispatch Service Contract

BELLEVUE - In January of 1997, the Police Communications Center began providing fire and emergency medical dispatch services to King county Fire Zone 2 fire departments which include Districts #10, #27, #4, #50, #51 and the City of Issaquah Fire Department. Service to these districts had previously been provided by District 10's dispatch center. District 10 had found that it was no longer cost effective to continue to operate and maintain their own dispatch center.

Cost savings and efficiencies associated with this change include the following: Zone 2 agencies now share the cost of Bellevue's fire and emergency communications budget with Bellevue's share of that savings at $76,000 in 1997.

A greater share of the City's general overhead costs applicable to the communications center budget is recovered through the contracts with the Zone 2 agencies (15.3%)

Greater efficiencies in the access and use of fire/medical resources are realized because those resources are all dispatched and controlled through a single dispatch center.

Bellevue Advanced Life Support Medics provide services to the Eastern areas of King County. Because Bellevue now dispatches for these Zone 2 agencies, we retain greater control of those resources.

For more information, please contact Alan Komenski, Communication Center Manager at (425) 462-2055. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2055.)

Community (Citizens) Academy

BELLEVUE - The Police Department started a training academy for its citizens in September, 1992. The academy is taught by police officers, detectives and supervisors on a variety of subjects of interest to the community. The purpose of the academy is to build a better understanding between citizens and the police department through education. The academy strives to foster citizen support and confidence by our graduates with a resulting commitment by the community to report crime, report suspicious activity and maintain involvement in neighborhood watch groups and problem-solving efforts. Thirteen academies have been completed since 1992, with 359 citizens graduating from the 12 week (one night a week) academy. Many of the graduates have joined the police department volunteer program.

For more information, please contact Captain Bill Thomas at (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2821)

Community College TV Station Partnership

BELLEVUE - The Bellevue TV Channel was established as a joint venture between the City and Bellevue Community College. The City provides a manager and BCC provides the facilities and staff which is mostly student interns. The City funded new equipment for both the City Hall and the TV studio through fees on the cable TV franchise. The channel is provided by the franchisee. City Council meetings are broadcast live and filmed for re-broadcast. A number of special programs have been filmed and more a planned.

For more information, please contact Larry Southwick, Bellevue Utilities Department at (425) 455-6922.

Community Service - Property Maintenance

CHEHALIS - The Property Division of the Chehalis Community Services Department is responsible for maintaining all city buildings and grounds other than those under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department. This includes parks and other landscaped areas, athletic fields, community buildings and office space, the library, police and fire station, etc. The Division has one manager, four other fulltime employees, and five part time (seasonal) employees.

Without the assistance of county jail and juvenile detention facility work crews, and people performing community service under court sentences, the Property Division staff could not complete the many tasks assigned to them. For example, during February 1997, that "free labor" came to 410.5 hours, supplementing the Division staff's own work time by 37 percent.

Contact Andy Sennes, Property Manager, at (360) 748-0271, for more information.

Community Stations (Storefront Offices)

BELLEVUE - The police department opened its first community station in a low income housing residential neighborhood in .September of 1993. The Department has added two more community stations since that time, one opening in a shopping mall in 1994 and another opening near a highly populated area of the city in 1995. The primary reason for the community stations is to establish a viable twenty-four hour law enforcement presence in the neighborhoods, providing services to the neighborhood and working on problems with the community residents. The officers at the stations are assisted by many citizen volunteers, and they work closely with area businesses, schools, and social service agencies to serve the community.

The establishment of the community stations has reduced call loads for the district officers so they have time for other duties and has provided excellent service to the community in the area. Officers at the three stations handled the following activity in 1996:

    Calls for service - 1,542
    Case reports - 450
    Arrests - 57
    Station Visitors - 13,889
    Police Officer Use - 5,585
    Community Presentations - 336

For more information, please contact Captain Bill Thomas at (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2821)

Computerized Irrigation System

KIRKLAND - In l995, the City of Kirkland began installation and testing of a computerized irrigation system in ten of the city's larger parks. It is anticipated that the initial capital investment will be recovered in approximately seven years through savings in water costs. It is also anticipated that staff savings will result in future years, however, this has not been the case during this initial test period, as the system is very effective in identifying irrigation system maintenance and repair problems which had previously gone unnoticed.

Contact Mark Johnston at (206) 828-1216 for more information.

Computerized Reference Library

BELLEVUE - The City of Bellevue has created an electronic library that contains information staff use for a wide range tasks. The library includes the complete text of the Bellevue Municipal Code, the Land Use Code, Council Meeting Minutes, Ordinances, Resolutions, an award winning Online Policy Library, several administrative procedural guides, and online reference manuals supporting commonly used software. The City realizes a cost savings in two dimensions. First, materials need not be published in hardcopy and the City avoids the cost of duplication and distribution. Second, staff realize a time savings by using their desktop computers to search for the answers to questions on a "just-in-time" basis. No need to search through hard to find hardcopy documents. Once the needed information has been located in the library, text passages are easily cut and pasted to working materials with a few clicks of a mouse. It is estimated that the original investment in the equipment hosting the library can be recovered in less than 1 year from reduced duplication costs alone.

For more information, please contact Bruce McDonald at (425) 452-2985.

Contracting

BELLEVUE - Over the past 12 years, the Bellevue Parks and Community Services Department has expanded its use of contract services at a rate significantly faster than other types of management and service delivery. In all, contract services comprise over 20% of the total Parks/Parks Enterprise operating budget.

Contract services are used for the following reasons:

    Reduced operating costs and budget
    Contains growth in FTE staffing
    Transfers liability to contractors
    Efficient and effective service delivery

Contract services are used extensively throughout the Department, including human services agency contracts, recreation instruction, golf professional services, and maintenance services. Department staff have gained considerable knowledge and experience developing and managing contract services. Our use of public maintenance service contracts is unparalleled regionally.

For more information, please contact Lee Springgate at (425) 455-6881.

Contracting Plan Review Services

FERNDALE - The City Planning and Building Department has contracted out the building plan review function of its department to a private consultant. The plan review fees received by the city entirely cover the costs associated with the consultant's work. This arrangement benefits the City by providing it with a means to complete the plans review it requires for complex construction projects, while at the same time relieving it from the burden of paying the costs of a permanent employee during those times of the year when the permit fees received do not cover the salary/benefit costs of an employee. This approach saved the city over half the cost of hiring a full time employee in 1996 and has since been expanded for use with fire marshal plan review services and engineering consulting services for large commercial projects.

Contact Rick Simon, Planning Director, at (360) 384-4006 for additional information.

Contract Renegotiation

MILL CREEK - During 1996, the City renegotiated a number of its contracts (landscaping, banking, legal, and fire/emergency medical services) to achieve savings and better cost control for services in the future. The City's cost containment efforts are expected to provide a savings of more than $355,000 over the 1997-1998 biennium. In addition, the renegotiated banking contract resulted in the bank purchasing approximately $5,000 of computer hardware for the City so that banking services could be automated. The largest savings came from a renegotiated long-term fire/emergency medical services agreement that is projected to save the City in excess of one million dollars over the next five years from the previous contract.

Contact the following individuals at (206) 745-1891 for more information.

Landscaping Contract - Craig Stampher, Public Works Director
Banking Contract - Debbie Tarry, Finance Director
Legal Contract & Fire Contract - Bob Stowe, City Manager

Contracting Mail Service

LACEY - The City generates approximately 120,000 utility bills annually. Once the bill is printed, it must be folded, inserted in an envelope along with a return envelope, and mailed. As the City was evaluating the cost of acquiring new equipment to perform this task, it was determined that the most cost effective solution was contracting these tasks with a private mail service. The vendor also provides certification of customer extended zip codes for the lowest postal rate available via priority mail. The estimated direct dollar savings from contracting for this service versus leasing and maintaining costly postage equipment is $125 per month. An added benefit is the "freed" staff time to perform other tasks which is valued at $200 per month.

Contact Blaine Martin, Finance Director at (360) 491-3212 for more information.

Copy Center

BELLEVUE - Through an innovative Request for Proposal (RFP) process, staff developed a contract that achieved an estimated cost savings of $23,000 per year on the facilities management of the City's Copy Center. This also resulted in the elimination of one full-time position. The RFP was based on a specific set of prescribed requirements such as hours of operation, turn-around time, list of necessary equipment, offsite facilities, etc. The goal was to select a firm that provided a full-time Printer, along with the necessary equipment to provide at a minimum, the current level of service the City was already receiving, and at the lowest cost method of providing these services. A mandatory pre-submittal conference was held at which any vendor interested in being considered for the contract could ask questions and receive general interpretation of contract requirements. An interdepartmental team evaluated the proposals using a pre-determined set of criteria, followed by interviews and site visits to talk with key staff and for demonstration of equipment. The end result was the selection of a firm who has provided the expected services and a confirmed cost savings.

For more information, please contact Earle Stuard, Purchasing & Graphics Services Manager at (425) 455-6894. (Note: prefix changes to 452 on June 2.)

Cost Containment Study

BELLEVUE - In 1995, the Utilities Department hired a consultant to thoroughly review the entire department for a variety of cost containment efforts including: financial policies and procedures; organizational relationships; and service provision. After thorough review, interfund charges for General Fund support was reduced by $ 180,000 per year. Utilities reserve fund levels were reevaluated which resulted in a collective budget reduction of over $ 1 million. Financial policies were developed and approved by the City Council which solidified fiscal management. A long term capital facilities replacement account was established and provided initial funding. Management span of control was increased which further reduced middle management levels.

For more information, please contact Larry Southwick, Bellevue Utilities Department at (425) 455-6922.

Court Consolidation

WALLA WALLA - On January 1, 1997 the City and County reached agreement to consolidate the Municipal and District Courts, after an eighteen (18) month review. Estimated cost savings are about $50,000.

Contact Judge Jerry Votendahl at (509) 527-4455 for more information.

D.A.R.E. Advisory Board

BELLEVUE - The Police Department, in coordination with the Advance Bellevue Leadership Organization, formed a D.A.R.E. Advisory Board, with its first meeting in April, 1997. The Board consists of 14 community members representing a range of diversity of our community, including youth. The main purpose of the board is to focus on 1 ) enhancing community awareness and knowledge of D.A.R.E., 2) raising funds for classroom supplies, and 3) promoting program visibility that helps ensure the programs viability. It is expected that much needed funds to support this important program for youth will be raised by the community. For example, after the first meeting, one board member promised a donation of $7,000 to pay for t-shirts and supplies for the graduating students in May, 1997.

For more information, please contact Bill Thomas at (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2821)

Eastside Radio Communications Conversion

BELLEVUE - Bellevue joined with other Eastside jurisdictions in converting to a new 800 MHz radio network. The City's Electronic Communications Shop (ECS) was instrumental in this conversion, installing all of the new equipment in Bellevue's communication center and in communications centers for four jurisdictions that are connected to ours. ECS also coordinated the purchase and installation of radios for Police and Fire in 1995 and all remaining City Departments in 1996. Over 400 surplus radios have been sold to other municipalities in Washington and Oregon. VHF and UHF radios and associated equipment are still available through the City of Bellevue ECS.

For more information, please contact Don Molander, ECS at (425) 455-6804.

Electronic Home Detention Program

BELLEVUE - A new electronic home detention program will provide an alternative to jail sentences for non-violent misdemeanant prisoners. The program will also reduce the jail population, thereby reducing overcrowding and jail costs. The cost of the program is fully covered through the resulting jail fee cost savings.

For more information, please contact Nick Wuhrman at (425) 455-6956.

Electronic Home Monitoring

PASCO - Concerned about the rising costs of incarceration? You may want to follow Pasco's lead. Pasco is using a private security company, which purchased the equipment and agreed to incur the program's operational costs. Eligible offenders (nonviolent misdemeanant) pay setup costs and daily monitoring fees directly to the private vendor. This approach saves Pasco the full $45 per day cost of incarceration, total savings of about $160,000 in 1995. Contact Pasco's municipal court administrator, Dot French at (509) 545-3492 for additional information. A copy of Pasco's contract can be obtained from MRSC. Also see "Justice by the Foot," Governing, Nov. 1996 for an excellent review of electronic detection issues and experiences around the country.

Energy Conservation Projects Continue to Produce Savings for Bellevue

BELLEVUE - Two major lighting retrofit projects were completed early in 1996 at City Hall and the Bellevue Services Center. These projects are part of a continuing program to reduce energy consumption in City buildings. Beginning in 1996, the City will save $105,000 annually as a result of efficiency projects completed in recent years. In addition, $80,000 in mandated electrical rate increases have been absorbed since 1992. This equates to ongoing annual savings of $185,000. The success of this proactive conservation program has been due in large part to the City's partnership with Puget Power and the grant opportunities they have provided. Additional projects are being studied for savings in future years.

For more information, please contact Steve Sackenreuter at (425) 455-6970.

Energy Savings

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE - Looking for ways to reduce high utility bills, the city has installed an energy saving device on their gas boiler. The municipal swimming pool as well as domestic hot water and building heat uses natural gas year round. By utilizing a special flu stack damper, excess draft is reduced through the boiler and heat is not wasted out the chimney stack. This has resulted in gas bill savings of $3,000 - $4,000 per year.

For more information, contact Jack Gartin, Building Maintenance Supervisor at 776-9173.

False Alarm Reduction Program

BELLEVUE - In January of 1995, the police department was the focus of a concerted False Alarm Reduction effort. Working in partnership with the alarm industry, and supported by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the Cities false alarm ordinance was changed on June 1,1995 in the following ways:

  • Alarm verification by the central station prior to dispatch.
  • Acceptance of alarm cancellation by the police after dispatch.
  • Alarm user awareness classes in lieu of fines.
  • Restricted response (no response to property alarms) after the sixth false alarm in a 6 month period.
  • Use of door hangers to provide timely notice to alarm owners of their false alarms.

Bellevue has reduced false alarms by 32%, handling 6467 false alarms in 1995, and responding to only 4382 false alarms in 1996. Considering a half hour average to handle an alarm with one officer, time spent responding to alarms has been cut from 3,234 hours per year to 2,191 hours. The reduction program has been successful in reducing the wasteful time responding to false alarms, allowing officers more time to handle the more important problems.

For more information, please contact Capt. Bill Thomas at (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to (425) 452-2821)

Fiber Optic Franchise Agreement

TACOMA - The City of Tacoma owns the Tacoma Eastern Railroad. The "Train to the Mountain" project was undertaken by Tacoma to develop an excursion service with freight service options to enhance tourism and business development within Tacoma and Pierce County. The "Train to the Mountain" will eventually carry passengers from the Dome District near downtown Tacoma to the Mount Rainier area. Underutilized railroad rights-of-way offer a revenue-generating potential for their owners through fiber optic franchise agreements. Washington State Department of Transportation policy does not allow fiber optic installation on interstate highways, except for under crossings. Therefore, fiber optic companies are looking at entering into agreements with railroad owners for installation of trunk lines between cities. The City of Tacoma has negotiated a franchise agreement with a fiber optic company that will result in the installation of fiber optic conduit along the Tacoma Eastern Railroad's right-of-way. This will generate approximately $40,000 in additional revenue for the railroad.

Contact Craig Sivley, Assistant Public Works Director/City Engineer at (206) 591-5526 for more information.

Fiber Optic Network Installed Through Bellevue

BELLEVUE - Bellevue is one of the first cities in the region to have a fiber optic communications network installed throughout the City. Foreseeing multiple requests to bury fiber optic cable around the City, staff spearheaded the coordination of all private telecommunications company's installations and encouraged them to consolidate facilities in the same route and trench. The result is a comprehensive fiber optic network that was installed quickly, with limited disruption, and at less cost than each company installing it separately. The City also saved over $260,000 by including conduit for traffic control in the trench at the same time

For more information, please contact Mike Boner at (425) 462-4599.

Golf Course/Puget Power Negotiations

BELLEVUE - In 1995, the City Council voted to sell a small portion of the Bellevue Municipal Golf Course to Puget Power (now Puget Sound Energy) for the purpose of locating the Bridle Trails substation. In 1996, Puget Power paid the City $875,000 in compensation for land costs, mitigation and potential loss of income. The substation is currently under construction. The golf course parking lot is being expanded and improvements are being made to Holes #2, #4 and #18 with proceeds from the sale.

For more information, please contact Roger Hoesterey at (425) 455-6881.

Habitat Restoration

REDMOND - The City of Redmond in collaboration with King county and Mid-Sound Fisheries Enhancement group have partnershipped in successfully restoring habitat along Bear Evans creek. Known as "Adopt a Salmon Habitat Restoration Project", citizens from the community volunteered to plant over 4,000 native trees and shrubs necessary to aid in fish and wildlife protection. To oversee the continual care and maintenance of these plantings, the City and King County will join together in a Habitat Partners program to provide care and maintenance to ensure the successful growth of these plantings.

For more information, please contact John Couch, Director of Parks and Recreation at (425) 556-2310.

Headquarters Officer Position

BELLEVUE - In September of 1995, the Police Department, in an effort to maximize street patrol officer time, reassigned one full-time police officer from street patrol to duties as the department "Headquarters officer". This officer works at City Hall in the Police Records Section and serves as the "Westside Community Station Officer". This officer is available at the public counter in City Hall, to provide law enforcement related information and service to citizens who appear both in person and on the phone. This assignment has been a time and cost saver as citizens no longer have to wait for officers to respond to the station when they appear there to report crimes. Many crime reports that would have involved dispatching field officer to homes are now taken by the Headquarters Officer over the phone.

In 1996, the Headquarters Officer handled the following:

    Telephone case reports - 423
    Walk-in case reports - 226
    Telephone Inquiries - 1098
    Walk-in citizen requests - 252
    Follow-up reports - 160
    Arrests - 50

For more information, please contact Captain Bill Thomas (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 1, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2821)

Holiday Foot Patrol

BELLEVUE - 1996 marked the fifth consecutive year that the Bellevue Police Department has assigned two officers to patrol the area of downtown Bellevue during the Christmas holiday season. Two officers are assigned from late November through the first week in January to patrol and provide law enforcement and assistance as well as crime prevention information in the Bellevue Square shopping center and surrounding area, the "Old Bellevue" area around Main Street and the N.E. 6th. corridor. Officers patrol on foot and respond to calls generated in their area as well ad provide assistance and on-view law enforcement.

In 1996, the Holiday Foot Patrol handled 45 calls for service and arrested 31 people for such things as shoplift, robbery, and criminal warrants. Business owners and employees were contacted ruing the course of the patrol and as in past years, the patrol was very well received by them. Because the area involved in this assignment involves such large numbers of people hurrying to compete their holiday shopping, an opportunity for our officers to interact with them in a positive way is presented. This program has been very successful for the department.

For more information, please contact Capt Bill Thomas (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2821)

HVAC System Maintenance

KENNEWICK - The City staff had been supporting 109 heating, ventilation and air conditioning system units at 26 locations, utilizing City Electricians and Parks Craftsworkers. We discovered that frequently maintenance and repairs to the HVAC systems were either performed at the point of system failure or during so-called "slow times" in staff workload. As new systems became more complex, it was increasingly difficult to keep staff trained in the new technology necessary to adequately maintain the systems. We either needed to dedicate staff specifically to the repair and maintenance of our HVAC systems, or contract out for the service. The decision to contract out was made.

A detailed set of performance standards and specifications, together with contract documents,were developed and put out to bid. The result has been a contract with a competent service provider who has reduced system downtime, and more importantly system failures. Overall financial savings to the City is approximately $7,800 per year, or a 25% net savings over prior years where City staff provided service and maintenance.

Contact Russ Burtner, Parks and Recreation Director, at (509) 585-4294 for more information.

I-90 Pedestrian/Bike Path Opening

BELLEVUE - On May 17th, the City celebrated the opening of the I-90 Pedestrian and Bike Path, a one-mile stretch of multi-purpose pathway on the north side of I-90 in Eastgate. The paved trail is a critical link in the Mountains-to-Sound Greenway, a planned pathway that will eventually link Snoqualmie Pass with Puget Sound. Planning, design and construction took three years and represents the combined efforts of the City of Bellevue Transportation Department, The Boeing Company, the Mountains-to-Sound Greenway Trust, the Washington State Department of Transportation, and local residents who spent many hours assisting with the planting of saplings and shrubs donated by Boeing.

For more information, please contact Susan Sanchez at (425) 451-7159 or Lise Northey at (206) 462-6468.

Idylwood Rowing Program

REDMOND - During 1966 a wonderful community rowing program returned to Lake Sammamish, after a twenty year hiatus. This was due to a partnership between a newly formed community group, the Sammamish Rowing Association and the City of Redmond. The result was a full year of rowing programs, single scull to eight oared shells, for youth and adult, with no new taxpayer expense. The City provided space at it's beach front park for a temporary rowing facility, helped with required permits, and provided marketing and registration services. The Rowing Association provided the boathouse, rowing expertise, a first rate neighborhood and community relations program, and developed a well rounded community program of classes and rowing opportunities. After this most successful start, the temporary rowing facility was removed, and the Rowing Association moved into an old restored boathouse, located on a newly acquired county park land Thanks to the very successful first year, the rowing program will continue to grow during 1997 and beyond.

For more information, please contact John Couch, Director of Parks and Recreation at (425) 556-2310.

Industrial Park

LONGVIEW - The city of Longview will use general obligation bonds to develop the first 125 acres of what may eventually be a 445 acre industrial park. Longview prevailed in a legal test case wherein Cowlitz County Superior Court ruled that the project has a clearly defined public purpose, creating between 6000 and 7000 jobs and expanding the tax base. This case creates a strong precedent for cities, also satisfying Longview's bond counsel and state Attorney General's office. Longview is the "developer" in this project, buying property without private sector partners so there is not an issue of using public funds in a way that improperly benefits private industry.

As a catalyst to get industrial development going, Longview will spend about $12 million to acquire land and build infrastructure which includes roads, storm water management, water and sewer service. Prepared sites will then be sold, not leased. Private developers have not been willing to risk the considerable up front expenses and possible slow return on such a project. When completed the project could have as much as 6.5 million square feet of industrial, manufacturing, and office development.

Contact Ed Ivey, Longview City Manager at (360) 577-3310 for additional information.

Joint City/School Sportsfield Renovations

BELLEVUE - The City of Bellevue has a long tradition of working cooperatively with the Bellevue School District, King County, and numerous sports organizations to offer a broad range of athletic programs for the community. In the last seven years, The City has invested over $5 million in the development and renovation of athletic fields, and the school district competed several significant projects, as well. However, since the increased supply has not kept up with the demand, the Bellevue City Council directed staff to work on development of a community-wide strategy to meet the athletic field needs for Bellevue.

In the spring of 1996, the City convened a study team consisting of thirteen sportsfield user group representatives, school district staff and Bellevue Parks and Community Services Department staff, and planning consultant Tom Beckwith. The study team worked very effectively to survey all 57 sports organizations, gathering information on who, what, when and where participants play in Bellevue. Valuable information was gained and a complete inventory of all field sizes and conditions was performed. The work of the study team provided the most comprehensive review of sportsfields, users and demand ever conducted in Bellevue.

Recommendations of the study team included:

    Provide centralized scheduling
    Determine feasibility of lighting select fields
    Increase annual maintenance on school fields
    Upgrade school fields

For more information, please contact Dale Cook at (425) 462-4624.

Joint Employee Training Program

WALLA WALLA - In late 1995, the City of Walla Walla, the County, and the City of College Place established a joint employee training program with Walla Walla Community College. The program has been most successful and probably saves an estimated 10% in training costs through economies of scale. The Towns of Waitsburg and Prescott, and Walla Walla Housing Authority are also now members.

Contact Dave Chandler, Human Resource Manager at (509) 527-4475 for more information.

Jointly Funded Renovations of School Fields

OLYMPIA - The City of Olympia and the Olympia School District have a long standing Joint Use Agreement which allows for mutual use of each other's facilities. With extensive growth in athletic programs, the City was in dire need of athletic fields for baseball, softball, flag football, and soccer.

Five years ago, the School District and the City signed an expanded agreement which allowed for jointly funded upgrades of school fields to facilitate expanded recreational opportunities during non-school hours. Annually the school district and the City budget $20,000 each and fields are upgraded, including leveling, irrigation and support facilities, i.e., fences, backstops, and goal posts which allows for year round use. This approach has received outstanding support from the community who sees one facility meeting a multitude of needs without the expenditure for additional grounds and development.

Contact Jane Boubel, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director, at (360) 753-8380 for more information.

Landscape Material Recycling

KIRKLAND - The Parks Manager works regularly with the Planning Department to identify upcoming construction sites, where demolition and removal of old landscaping will be taking place. After approval is received from the property owner, parks crews will remove mature trees, plants, landscape materials, rock, etc., that can be used for City park and landscape projects. This approach has saved significant money, allowed the City to install more mature landscape than would be possible through purchase, and reduces waste being sent to the landfill.

Contact Mark Johnston at (206) 828-1222 for more information.

Major Maintenance Plan Preserves Bellevue's Facilities Investment

BELLEVUE - A ten-year major maintenance plan was developed to assist in long-range planning of building preservation projects in City facilities. This plan will help staff anticipate and scope future projects to ensure cost effective management of over $65 million in City assets. Staff, contractors and consultants worked together to conduct facility audits and determine building and site deficiencies that need to be addressed in the next few years. The major maintenance plan will be updated every other year and used as a planning tool for Capital Investment Program revisions.

For more information, please contact Steve Sackenreuter at (425) 455-6970.

More Means Less!

REDMOND - Baseball field maintenance is intensive. Rainouts are costly to youth and adult programs - scheduling is affected. Operations crews have been adding a product to the infield dirt in order to make it drain better in bad weather. This product, known as Turface, has been a huge success. It has cut down on labor, and crews spend less time preparing wet fields, reduction of cancellations and has created a safer surface. Park Operations has been using this product for three to four years, most heavily in the last two years. This product absorbs water and when dries, leaves the field with a nice consistency.

For more information, please contact John Couch, Director of Parks and Recreation at (425) 556-2310.

Municipal Court Community Service Program

PASCO - The Pasco Municipal Court operates a community service program for non-violent, misdemeanor defendants. This program not only serves as a means of punishment for defendants, but also benefits the city of Pasco through the projects and work they perform.

Some examples of the work the community service crews perform include:

    Paint over graffiti
    Pick up garbage along city streets
    Cut down weeds on city owned lots
    Clean city parks of glass and debris
    Assist elderly/disabled with yard work
    Move furniture for city offices, elderly or those in need
    Build shelves for city offices (police, city hall)
    Clean gymnasium and offices at community center
    Office related work for those unable to perform manual labor
    Tear down drywall, remodel projects at low income housing (HUD)
    Plant garden and trees at a HUD development
    Repaint gym and put up backboards at community center

These tasks were performed at no cost to the city other than the expense of the crew supervisor.

Contact Dot French, Court Administrator at (509) 545-3492 for more information.

Municipal Golf Course Contract

WALLA WALLA - In March 1996 the City of Walla Walla contracted out the operation of its municipal golf course. An ad-hoc citizens committee worked with city staff to evaluate options and to evaluate firm proposals. The change reversed a fund deficit of about $25,000 to a positive fund balance of $70,000.

Contact Mike Petersen, Director of Parks and Recreation at (509) 527-4527 for more information.

New Development Manual Published

BELLEVUE - The Development Manual, which establishes requirements for design and development of transportation and parks-related facilities in Bellevue, was updated this year for the first time since 1988. Created as a resource for developers, contractors, design professionals and City staff its purpose is to foster consistent and acceptable construction. Regulations were simplified by moving policy items into a recently written Transportation code and technical drawings were automated for easier use by developers. The Impact Fee Ordinance and Traffic Standards Code were also revised as part of the City's overall regulatory reform effort. The updated Development Manual has been requested by numerous jurisdictions as an aid in creating or updating their own development standards.

For more information, please contact Chris Dreaney at (425) 637-5264.

New Sign Inspector

TACOMA - After a 20-year hiatus, the City of Tacoma hired a full-time sign inspector in June 1996. During the first six months of the new program, the number of sign permits has increased by 35%. The reason for the increase in sign permits does not appear to be that there are more signs being installed, but rather that, because of a faster processing time, more sign companies are voluntarily submitting permit applications. The increase in permit volume means a revenue increase of $12,000 to $15,000 per year. In addition, the more thorough review of sign applications has resulted in substantially more sign exceptions being processed. In the first five months of 1996 (before the sign inspector was hired), there were seven sign exceptions processed by the City. In the last seven months of 1996, with the new sign inspector reviewing permit applications, 17 sign exceptions were applied for worth a total filing fee of $19,500.

During 1997, the sign inspector will begin inspecting signs that project over City right-of-way. The $50 fee for inspecting such signs is expected to generate approximately $15,000 annually. Insuring the safety of signs that project over public right-of-way is an important public service.

Besides the additional $40,000 in revenue that is generated by the new sign inspector, the other benefits are an increased level of service for sign permit approval, public safety, and sign enforcement. The sign permit approval process has been reduced from ten days to only one or two days. Prior to the hiring of the sign inspector, no one person had the specialized expertise to handle all aspects of sign permit approval and inspection. All duties were divided between various City employees. They now have been freed up to concentrate on their respective duties. Sign vendors have been very receptive to the new sign inspector program.

Contact Pam Combs, Sign Inspector at (206) 591-5482 for more information.

Olympia Day Reporting Center Pilot Program

OLYMPIA - Looking for jail alternatives? The Olympia Day Reporting Center, a pilot program with the Olympia Municipal Court, is proving to be a successful alternative to the high costs of incarceration for certain misdemeanant offenders. Since its inauguration in September 1996, the program has prevented the expenditure of over $440,503 in jail costs with the use of the Intensive Supervision Program (ISP), saving over 8140 jail bed days; provided over 1,500 hours of supervised labor to city departmens with the Work Crew Program valued at over $9,800; and managed over 7,300 hours of community service in both nonprofit and tax supported agencies, valued at over $36,725. Centralized probation services provide immediate and appropriate sanctions to misdemeanant offenders while supplying a cost savings and labor ready pool for the community. Sound like something your jurisdiction might use? Cost to the city of Olympia? At $11,600 per month for staff and workspace, the Day Reporting Center has shown a combined savings to the Olympia community in "non-expended funds" of over $487,028. That's $6 "saved" for every dollar spent!

For more information about the program, contact Sue White, Court Manager at (360) 753-8312.

On-Street Parking and Enforcement Expanded in Downtown Bellevue

BELLEVUE - Based on the recommendations of a 13-member task force, the City Council authorized 140 two-hour on-street parking spaces in downtown Bellevue. The Council also approved a contract with Diamond Parking, Inc. for enforcement of the City's on-street parking ordinance, making Bellevue one of the first cities in Washington to privatize parking enforcement. Diamond will enforce on-street parking and off-street handicapped parking areas and will provide a "We Care" service that includes re-charging dead batteries, assisting people who have locked keys in their cars, changing flat tires, and providing information and directions to downtown visitors.

For more information, please contact Susan Sanchez at (425) 451-7159.

Partnership Alliance

BELLEVUE - The Bellevue Parks and Community Services Department has developed innovative alliances to assure delivery of critical services in the most cost-effective and high quality manner. Our partners come from education, non-profit agencies, government, civic groups, businesses, medical organizations and sports organizations. Partnerships give us the opportunity to offer a wider variety of services to our citizens with less of an impact on City resources. Major partners include the Bellevue Botanical Garden Society, Pacific Science Center, Bellevue Boys and Girls Club, Overlake Hospital and the Bellevue School District.

For more information, please contact Lee Springgate at (425) 455-6881.

Partnerships - Redmond Baseball Association and Redmond Little League

REDMOND - As with many communities, Redmond is challenged to provide and maintain high quality fields for youth athletics, in limited resource environment. In Redmond the City and the Little Leagues have developed an outstanding partnership to maintain and improve Hartman Park, a six field little league baseball-softball complex. As the owner of the park, the city provides basic annual maintenance, turf management and other needed improvements. The City also provides a concession stand building for the leagues to operate. the little leagues use their large volunteer base to do daily maintenance and final field preparation during the season, and to make improvements to the site through donations and work parties. The little leagues use this concession stand program to directly benefit the park with funds for improvements and equipment and supplies for in-season maintenance activities. This partnership has been successful for some twenty years, and has kept tax supported maintenance costs at a lower level, while providing a high quality facility for baseball and softball.

For more information, please contact John Couch, Director of Parks and Recreation at (425) 556-2310.

Patrol Section Customer Service Evaluation

BELLEVUE - One of the most effective ways to measure our performance is to determine whether the citizens, our customers, are satisfied with police services. In 1994, the police department began randomly surveying citizens who had direct contact with its officers, which included the arrestee, victims, witnesses, traffic violators, traffic accident victims, and complainants. In 1996, surveys were mailed to these citizens, with a 28% rate of return. Responses to specific categories were:

    Concern for your welfare: 88.% rated excellent or good
    Helpfulness: 86.9% rated excellent or good
    Knowledge: 90.3% rated excellent or good
    Fairness: 86.9% rated excellent or good
    Solving the problem:81.4% rated excellent or good
    Professional conduct91.3% rated excellent or good
    Response time 82.3% rated excellent or good

The surveys and the report were completed by a local college graduate student, with assistance from a college professor whose specialty is administration of surveys.

It is important to continue to survey our customers to assure the most effective and efficient service.

For more information, please contact Captain Bill Thomas at (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2821)

Plan Review for Residential and Commercial Remodels

BELLEVUE - The City of Bellevue has eliminated the requirement for plan review for most residential and simple commercial remodels. This change eliminates the cost of preparing plans to submit with applications as well as the processing time and cost for the City to review those plans. Permits can now be issued while clients wait at the counter or via fax or mail. Eliminating plan review for simple projects saves clients an average of $134 in permit fees per application.

For more information, please contact Toni Cramer, Department of Community Development, (425) 453-2972.

Police Department Civilian Volunteer Program

BELLEVUE - The Bellevue Police Department's Volunteer Program has a three-fold mission: (1) to utilize the skills, talents and energy of local citizens to support and supplement the internal resources of the Department, (2) to free uniformed officers' time to focus on direct and proactive law enforcement activities, and (3) to build strong relationships with the community by creating an environment in which citizens and staff work together, thus fostering mutual understanding and respect.

Volunteers do not replace or substitute for paid staff. Rather, they perform support functions that assist staff in accomplishing the overall mission and operation of the department. Some examples of volunteer tasks include (but are not limited to): computer programming and data entry; staffing Community Station desks; filing; performing home security surveys for Bellevue residents; providing victim follow-up and assistance; enforcing disabled parking laws; and maintaining emergency response information files. Volunteers are carefully screened and matched to tasks that meet their skills, interests and availability.

At this time (April 1997) the Department is supported by 70 staff volunteers who work a regular assignment each week and 40 amateur radio volunteers who maintain training and education to provide back-up support to the 9-1-1 Communications Center. For the calendar year 1996, these volunteers provided more that 12,300 hours and saved the taxpayers an estimated $147,600 in equivalent paid labor.

For more information, please contact Marji Trachtman at (425) 462-6017. (Note: On June 2, 1997, the telephone number will change to 425-452-6017)

Police Department Private Security Training

BELLEVUE - As a part of the Police Department's ongoing efforts to establish cooperative relationships with private security firs, the first training session for private security was held in the fall of 1996. The training sessions will be held twice a year, encouraging police and private security to work together in reducing crime in the city. The first session was a resounding success, with over 75 security officers and managers attending the training. Topics discussed included 911 communications and reporting; ways to identify suspicious circumstances; tips on professionalism and working with law enforcement; courtroom testimony; and drugs, safety and awareness issues.

For more information, please contact Capt. Bill Thomas at (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2821)

Police Explorer Cadet Program

BELLEVUE - The Police Cadet Unit was formed in 1973 to fulfill two primary objectives:

  1. To show young people who are thinking of pursuing a law enforcement career just what the career involves, and

  2. To promote better relations between the police and young community members.

As a career awareness program, it provides insight for young adults to the aims and objectives of police agencies. -The agency in return receives assistance of cadet participants in a variety of activities which supplement police manpower by relieving officers from routine or administrative tasks and allows them to perform other needed police services. For example, the explorers assist the police department by providing traffic security and control at special events and at major accidents; assist in locating missing/lost persons; assist in conducting crime scene searches, etc. In 1996, there were 25 cadets in the program, with 2,115 hours received and 2,940 hours volunteered.

For more information, please contact Capt. Bill Thomas at (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-2821)

Police Explorers Post

LACEY - Lacey Police Explorers Post 747 offers youth, ages 15 to 21 years, the opportunity to interact with police while practicing good citizenship and acquiring important life skills.

In 1996 the Explorers assisted the Police Department with numerous community events, providing a variety of services, such as crowd control, training assistance, directing vehicle and pedestrian traffic, assisting with toy and candy giveaways during the holidays, and chaperoning middle school activity nights. The Explorers also assisted the Police Department with several callouts this year, which included providing security and traffic control during three major accidents; locating missing persons; conducting evidence searches; and assisting with drug searches.

Between 15-20 youth are actively involved with the Explorers Post on a continuing basis. Each Explorer averages 20-30 service hours a month, bringing the total estimate of volunteer hours to 4,500 a year! This incredible amount of volunteer labor allows the police officers to attend to other, more urgent business throughout the year.

Contact Lt. Lorelei Thompson at the Lacey Police Department, (360) 459-4333 for more information about the Explorers program.

Police Park Patrol Program

BELLEVUE - The summer time Police Park Patrol Program began in the summer of 1994. The unit is staffed with six civilians, one of which functions as a field supervisor. The five officers, who are college aged individuals, patrol the over 54 parks in the city between May 1 and September 5, either on foot or on bicycle. They assist park users, warn park rule violators, and ask for voluntary compliance of park laws and rules. The part-time employees wear uniforms, carry police radios, but have no police powers. They serve as additional eyes and ears for the police department. The park patrol officers handle many types of incidents and complaints that police officers previously responded to, ie; skateboarder complaints, minor damage incidents in the parks, dogs off leash complaints, minors in the park after closing, etc. By having the park patrol handle minor complaints in the parks, the neighborhood police officers have more time to handle the more serious problems.

For more information, please contact Captain Bill Thomas at (425) 688-2821. (Note: On June 2, 1997, the phone number will change to 425-452-2821)

Privatization of CBD Parking Enforcement

BELLEVUE - In June of 1996, a Request for Proposal to provide on-street parking enforcement in the Central Business District, was announced by the City. In response to the RFP, eight vendors, including the Police Traffic Section, were invited to participate and compete for the contract. Ultimately, the contract was awarded to Diamond Parking Co. Of Seattle. Diamond was able to provide a broader range of coverage (six days) than the other vendors, including the police department. The awarding of this contract marked the first time in the state's history, that a private firm has been contacted to provide such enforcement services. Diamond's employees receive limited enforcement commissions from the Police Department and provide all parking related enforcement in the Central Business District of the City. Contracted services provided by Diamond Parking began in early 1997 and will include enforcement from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Saturday.

For more information, please contact Mark Poch, Transportation Department (425) 637-6137. (Note: on June 1, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-6940 )

Recycled Fire Station Delights Teens

REDMOND - The city of Redmond had a problem, a rapidly growing older youth program and no permanent home for programs, band shows and other activities. The answer: the city's 50 year old former City Hall and Fire Station. Yes, the building was old and had not been well cared for, but the 7,500 square feet of space, including the large fire bays had a great deal of promise. Through a massive city-wide effort, that involved $70,000 in improvement funds, and a small operating budget form the City, a large fundraising and equipment drive in the community and thousands of volunteer hours, the Old Fire House Teen center was born. Yes, the building is still a bit funky, but it serves hundreds of teens each day, and many say they love it more than a shiny new building, that would have cost at least ten times more.

For more information, please contact John Couch, Director of Parks and Recreation (425) 556-2310.

Reducing Inmate Incarceration Costs While Addressing Parks Maintenance Issues

FERNDALE - In an effort to reduce costs to the City for inmate incarceration, while at the same time address maintenance issues in City-owned regional, community and neighborhood parks and open spaces, the City of Ferndale implemented a community service work program in February, 1996. The municipal court assigns law offenders who qualify for the program to work in the parks in lieu of serving jail time or paying fines that they are not financially capable of paying. Program participant's jail time is reduced by one day for each day worked in the parks, thus saving the City nearly $40 per day in inmate incarceration costs. Program participants with fines are credited $50 towards paying off their fines for each day worked. In one year the Ferndale community service program has provided nearly 1400 hours (equal to .67 FTE) of labor helping to maintain parks, open spaces and other public areas. Encouragement to implement the program from the city council and city manager, and cooperation between the municipal court, probation, police, public works, and parks and recreation departments have contributed to the program's success in its first year following implementation.

Contact Stan Strebel, City Manager, at (360) 384-4302, Coleen Gudbranson, Probation Officer, at (360) 384-5421 or Jerry Hanson, Parks and Recreation Director, at (360) 384-4006 for additional information.

Regional/Community Park

MILL CREEK - The City recently completed the joint purchase of approximately 40 acres of land with Snohomish County to be used for a regional community park that will serve the active recreational needs of the City and the surrounding County area. This partnership led to the City paying 25% of the total cost of the land and Snohomish County paying the remaining amount. The City and the County are currently in the process of developing a master plan for the park and determining what share each entity will pay for the maintenance and operation of the park facility. Without this partnership, the City would not have been able to purchase the 40 acres of land at a total cost of approximately 1.1 million dollars.

Contact Bill Trimm, Community Development Director at (206) 745-1891 for more information.

Revenue Enhancement/Net Department Cost Savings

BELLEVUE - After a lengthy planning process, King County determined that an additional paramedic unit was needed on the eastside (in the Issaquah area) due to increased population and emergency responses. Bellevue is the paramedic provider for this area and therefore we received $467,000 from King County in 1997 to fund an additional part-time paramedic unit located in Issaquah. Bellevue is providing the service with existing staff on an overtime basis. The additional revenue received from King County pays the overtime costs and allowed the Fire Department to hire an administrative clerk to provide support in all areas of Advanced and Basic Life Support services.

For more information, please contact Warren Merritt, Emergency Medical Coordinator, (425) 455-6982.

Right-of-Way Permitting Goes On-Line

BELLEVUE - The Transportation Department's Right-of-Way Office completed Phase I of a process to make right-of-way permits available on-line via the Internet. This process is being developed to improve customer service while saving time and money for the City and its customers. Phase II allows the user to download the right-of-way permit form on-line using Adobe Acrobat Software. When completed, the permit can be printed and faxed to Transportation for review and issuance. Phase II (1997-98) will allow the user to fill out the right-of-way permit on-line. Phase III (1999-2000) will allow the entire transaction to take place on-line.

For more information, please contact Karen Lake at (425) 462-4617.

Satellite Copiers

BELLEVUE - Through a Request for Proposal (RFP) process, staff developed a contract that achieved an estimated cost savings of $43,000 per year on the rental of general use City copiers located throughout City facilities. The RFP was based on a specific set of prescribed requirements such as response time, types of equipment, ability to make future upgrades, credits for bad copies, etc. The goal was to select a firm that met this criteria at the lowest cost per copy. An interdepartmental team worked for several months to identify their department's needs and the features that a copier contract should include. A mandatory pre-submittal conference was held at which any vendor interested in being considered for the contract could ask questions and receive general interpretation of contract requirements. Proposals were evaluated against a pre-determined set of criteria followed by interviews and site visits to talk with key staff and for demonstration of equipment. The end result was the selection of a firm who has provided the expected services and a confirmed cost savings.

For more information, please contact Earle Stuard, Purchasing & Graphics Services Manager, (425) 455-6894. (Note: prefix changes to 452 on June 2.)

"Serving" Constituents

PROSSER - City council and the city administrator found an unusual way to serve their constituents; all eight served as chefs and waiters at a community picnic honoring volunteers who helped construct a new park pavilion and concession facility in the city's major park. The local rotary club took charge of this project, attracted lots of volunteer labor. Many local businesses donated materials or provided them at cost. What would have cost the city $100,000 required a cash outlay of only $35,000. This is dramatic example of the power of energized volunteers to accomplish a worthwhile public objective.

Sewer District Consolidation

BELLEVUE - In 1995, the City assumed full operation of the Eastgate Sewer District, including assimilation of eight staff members. In anticipation of the merger, several vacant positions were kept open by the Utilities Department. Three district employees were placed in current vacancies so the total number of staff in the Utilities Department was only increased by 5 positions. All of the overhead related to the District Commissioners was eliminated, including salaries and benefits. The contracts for on-going professional services by the attorney, engineer and accountant were eliminated. The office was closed and related overhead eliminated. Total on-going savings to rate payers was several hundred thousand dollars.

For more information, please contact Larry Southwick, Bellevue Utilities Department at (425) 455-6922.

Shared Information Systems Manager

WALLA WALLA - In February 1997, the Walla Walla City and County expect to reach agreement to share the costs of an Information Systems Manager. Estimated cost savings to the City is $30,000.

Contact Jim Turpie, Support Services Director at (509) 527-4540 for more information.

Shoplifting Program

KENNEWICK - In an effort to reduce the amount of Police response time to shoplifting activities, primarily at Columbia Center Mall, Officer Compton proposed a training program for security personnel at businesses in which the security personnel involved in a shoplifting incident obtained necessary information from the perpetrator and transmitted that information to the City Attorney, who then proceeds to review the material and file the appropriate action. Police Officers had been spending as much as two hours per shoplifting case in response to calls for service. From July 1995 to November of 1996 the reduced call volume has saved the City approximately $29,000 in officer time which has in fact been spent in other activities. Additionally, since a call for service is not issued, there has been a reduction in record keeping for the Records Division in the Police Department, as well as the Emergency Dispatch Center.

Contact Officer Jay Compton, Kennewick Police Department at (509) 585-4212 for more information.

Stream Team, Water Conservation and Recycling Volunteers

BELLEVUE - The Utilities Department has a large number of volunteers who provide a wide variety of important environmental services for the community such as: habitat assessment, riparian restoration, stream monitoring, drain stenciling, stream cleanup and newsletter writing. Volunteers are also used extensively in water conservation, recycling and environmental education programs. It is estimated that over 3,000 hours are donated for this community service each year.

For more information, please contact Larry Southwick, Bellevue Utilities Department at (425) 455-6922.

Supervisor Training

TRI-CITIES - In an attempt to provide better and more coordinated supervisor training, the Cities of Kennewick, Richland and Pasco adopted the Zenger-Miller Training Program. The three cities purchased $12,000 worth of training tapes jointly and trained in-house trainers from all three cities to facilitate the training sessions, thereby eliminating the need to pay trainers. For a $5,000 initial investment, the City of Kennewick obtained access to $12,000 worth of programming materials.

From the City of Kennewick, 86 supervisors and trainees have taken one or more of the classes. All together the City has received the benefit of 196 half day seminars for our supervisors. Taking into account consideration of the cost of each training session notebook at $15 to $20 per participant per class, and calculating the normal training cost of $50 for a half day seminar, we believe we've provided quality training at a savings of about $5,000 thus far.

Contact Kevin Ferguson, Kennewick Assistant City Manager at (509) 585-4240 for more information.

Tacoma CARES "Contract Neighborhoods"

TACOMA - The Bryant neighborhood in Tacoma's Hilltop was targeted to become a "Contract Neighborhood." Meetings were held with the neighborhood to identify their concerns along with ways to address those concerns. An action plan was created. Representatives from Police, Public Works Street Lighting Design, Public Works Building and Land Use Services, Tax and License, the Washington State Liquor Control Board, and the Hilltop Action Coalition were brought together to determine each group's role in implementing the action plan.

Over a four-month period, a transition occurred within the Bryant neighborhood. This included special police emphasis, concentrated code enforcement, street light installation, tree trimming to reduce hang out areas, removal of phones that were a constant source of illegal activity, a neighborhood-wide cleanup and a community fund raiser.

The result of these efforts was a 30% reduction in the number of calls for police service within the neighborhood. It is difficult to put a costs savings figure on the reduced number of calls, but the obvious benefits are an ability to focus police efforts elsewhere and an overall safer neighborhood. City costs have also been reduced through volunteer efforts in cooperation with various City services. Work is currently underway to develop partnerships with the housing industry to focus their efforts in the Bryant neighborhood.

Subsequently the program has expanded to eight other neighborhoods within Tacoma.

Contact Lisa Wojtanowicz, Tacoma CARES Coordinator at (206) 591-5267 for additional information on this program.

Traffic Accident Prevention

BELLEVUE - Mark Poch, Traffic Operations Engineer, was recognized by the Transportation Research Board (TRB) for his work on the causes of traffic accidents. Mr. Poch presented his work at TRB's annual meeting in January. Mr. Poch has used his findings to help identify and implement traffic accident reduction projects city-wide, and is currently working to make his findings available statewide.

For more information, please contact Mark Poch at (425) 637-6137.

Two-Year Police Department Budget

BELLEVUE - For the first time in its history, the Police Department has developed and implemented a two year operating budget. This budget plan, which has a full year in the development, is unique in its inclusion of various effectiveness and efficiency measurement categories. The document has required the department to examine the things that it does and to quantify those tasks and their individual outcomes. This budget will serve to give a more accurate indicator of the effects of what the police department is doing. The efficiency of this budget, over and above the fact that time involved in development is reduced due to its two-year span, is centered in its direct examination and analysis of all of the major functions of the department. This analysis will allow for a more informed and educated decision making process and ultimately to cost savings.

For more information, please contact Deputy Chief Paul Olson (425) 455-6933. (Note: On June 2, 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-6933.)

Utilities Department Consolidation

BELLEVUE - In 1993, the Water/Sewer Utilities Division from the Public Works & Utilities Department was consolidated with the Storm & Surface Water Department and the Utility Billing Division from the Finance Department to form what is now the Bellevue Utilities Department.

In the consolidation effort, every function was evaluated to determine the following: was it still needed; was it staffed appropriately; should it be reorganized; or should it be merged or reassigned to other units? Duplication and redundancy were eliminated. Management was reduced. While no current employees were laid off, several vacant positions were eliminated. And a number of functions were merged resulting in annual operating savings.

For more information, please contact Larry Southwick, Bellevue Utilities Department at (425) 455-6922.

Violations Bureau Activities Transferred to District Court

BELLEVUE - Through a comprehensive study, the functions of the Violations Bureau were transferred to the Bellevue District Court, and achieved an estimated cost savings of $60,000 per year. This also resulted in the elimination of two full-time positions. The goal was to perform a cost/benefit study of this function to determine whether it was more cost effective to keep the function within the City or transfer it to the County. A team worked for several months to identify the pros and cons of transferring this function to the Court. Meetings were held with representatives from King County, staff from our City Attorney's Office, and Finance to determine if such a move would be feasible. The end result is that the Bellevue District Court has successfully taken over the City's Violations Bureau in a manner that is financially beneficial to the District Court and the City.

For more information, please contact Kim Monson, Tax & Treasury Manager, (425) 462-4087 (Note: prefix changes to 452 on June 2)

Volunteer Handicapped Parking Enforcement Program

BELLEVUE - In an effort to augment enforcement capabilities for handicapped parking violations, the Police Department, through its Traffic Section, has developed and implemented a Volunteer Handicapped Parking Enforcement Program beginning in May of 1995. The program involves the recruitment and training of ten civilian volunteers who receive limited police commissions to enforce handicapped parking ordinances within the city. Compliance through education is a priority with this program and a major part involves educating property owners and managers and obtaining correct handicapped parking sign compliance.

Volunteers patrol in pairs throughout the city, using their own vehicles. The enforcement that these volunteers provide, of the many handicapped parking stalls located throughout the city, could not be accomplished with existing department staff.

The total hours of work provided by the civilian volunteers for this program exceeded 1,050 in 1996 and stands at 203 through March of 1997. The Volunteer Handicapped Parking Enforcement volunteers issued 95 citations in the first three months of its existence in 1995 and 375 in 1996.

For more information, please contact Major Tim Johnson,- Traffic Section (425) 455-6940. (Note: On June 2,- 1997 the telephone number will change to 425-452-6940)

Volunteer Projects

KIRKLAND - While Kirkland uses volunteers extensively, one of the greatest cost savings produced has been through the use of volunteers to do construction projects at athletic facilities. Youth and adult sports groups are well organized, and typically willing to donate time and materials toward projects that will benefit their membership, including building scorers booths, dugouts, concession stands, and storage sheds.

Contact Lynn Stokesbary at (206) 828-1199 for more information.

Water Conservation

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE - By utilizing the swimming pool water as a coolant for a dehumidifier, the city is able to save money on domestic water as well as saving some costs on heating the pool water. The pool water is piped through the condenser of the dehumidifier, much like the radiator of a car, instead of using domestic water which would need to be constantly added. The condenser transfers the heat to the pool water to 105 degrees, and then is piped back to the pool, thereby helping to heat the pool water.

For more information, contact Jack Gartin, Building Maintenance Supervisor at 776-9173.

Work Involvement Now (WIN) Program

LACEY - This is possibly the most popular and successful program ever initiated by the city of Lacey. In April 1994, the City Council adopted a resolution to "encourage youth groups to participate in projects that foster community pride, enhance and beautify neighborhoods and business districts, improve public safety, and expand involvement by youth in the community." The WIN program was an outgrowth of this effort to involve youth in the community.

The Council allocated $5,000 to the program in 1994 and increased the amount to $10,000 in 1996 because of its great success. Applications are accepted from youth organizations (e.g. boy and girl scout organizations, track teams, softball teams, 4-H, school clubs) from throughout Lacey's school district. A list of projects is provided by the city's field maintenance supervisors along with an application packet. Groups earn up to $250 for accomplishing a public improvement project of their choice. Projects vary significantly, but include painting fire hydrants, spreading beauty bark, creating trails, picking up litter, washing street signs, stenciling storm drains, painting well and pump houses, and planting flowers and trees.

Adult supervision is provided by parents and group leaders. Because the ages of participating youth ranges from 8 to 18, the City has some discretion over the types of projects they can perform.

All of the projects are those that need to be accomplished, but are often set aside because of other higher priority duties. Field supervisors have nothing but praise for the work of the kids and their leaders. Work is performed that they otherwise might not be able to complete and often times is accomplished at 1/3 to 1/2 the cost. Community youth learn about civic responsibility and community pride. This is a "win/win" program. Contact Steve Beard, City of Lacey, 360-438-2671.