Accomplished

On Going

To Do

History and Background Research:  30-60 days before employment begins

·         Read historical background literature on Lawrence origins and progression thru the years

  • Not without laughter – Langston Hughes
  • The Devil knows how to ride – Edward Leslie William Clark Quantrill
  • Postmarked bleeding Kansas – Letters from Edward and Sarah Fitch (given by Chad Lawhorn)
  • Just mercy by Brian Stephenson
  • Industries of the Future by Alec Ross

·         Conducted review of:

  • City’s charter code and policy manuals
  • State laws
  • Financial reports, including recent budgets and annual reports including bond rating agency scorecards
  • Comprehensive plan
  • Departmental annual reports, organizational charts and union contracts

·         Sent introduction letter to all city employees, asking for the employees support and to respond to short survey

 

 

 

Making Connections:  First 35 days

·         SWOT Analysis w/CC individually

·         SWOT Analysis w/Dept. Heads individually

·         Send written communication to stakeholder groups, various other groups, universities, etc.

·         Meet w/local newspaper editors

·          LJW – 03/24 and 04/19

·         Meet w/State, Federal legislative delegates, neighboring cities/county leaders

·          Senators Roberts and Moran (04/13)

·          Representative Highberger (04/14)

·          Met w/key KU staff (05/03)

·          Met w/Baldwin City Administrator (05/26)

·          Leslie Herring – Eudora ACM (05/31)

·          Mike Gaughan (06/08)

·          Nancy Thellman (06/09)

·          Met w/Kansas Athletics Staff (06/19)

·          Met w/Topeka/Manhattan City Mgr’s (05/06)

·          Mtg w/Johnson County Administrator (07/15)

·         Continue current schedule of staff meetings

·          ERC (04/19)

 

·         Attend mtgs of advisory boards

·          Traffic Safety Commission

·          Lawrence Alliance

·          Citizens for Fair/Impartial Policing

·          Historic Resources Commission

·          Hospital Board

·          Parks & Recreation Advisory Board

·          Affordable Housing Advisory Board

·          Aviation Advisory Board

·          Public Health Board

·          Pedestrian Bicycle Task Force

·          Future Industrial Sites review

·          DGCO Criminal Justice Coordinating Council meetings

·          JEDC meetings

·          DLI annual meeting

·          EDC meetings

·          Sustainability Advisory Board

·          Food Policy Council

·          Live Well Committee

·          PIRC

 

 

Continue to Connect and Understand the Lawrence Culture:  Second 35 days

·         Attend stakeholder group mtgs in response to letter sent

·          Noon rotary (03/28)

·          Round table w/nonprofits (03/31)

·          DLI (04/12)

·          Kiwanis Club (04/14)

·          Haskell University event (04/15)

·          Jayhawk Breakfast Rotary  (04/28)

·          Bridge Haven Ground Breaking (04/29)

·          The Shelter, Inc. (05/04)

·          LAN (05/05)

·          Lawrence Rotary Club (05/16)

·          NAACP (05/23)

·          ELNA rep (06/02)

·          Toured Humane Society (06/03)

·          Hillcrest Neighborhood mtg (06/05)

·          ACLU (06/13)

·          Bowersock Tour (06/14)

·          Lawrence Central Rotary (06/15)

·          Just Foods (06/16)

·          Lawrence Homebuilders (06/16)

·          Peaslee Center (06/20)

·          Ramadan Event (06/23)

·          Cottonwood, Inc., rep (06/30)

·          Toured Arts Center (07/14)

·          Toured Emergency Communications (07/20)

·          Lions Club (08/02)

·          Toured Boys/Girls Club (08/05)

·          Tour BTBC

·          Mtgs w/numerous developers

·          Numerous Chamber meetings

·          DT Grocery Committee

·          Lawrence Center for Entrepreneurship (08/04)

·         Visit each department

·         Summarize SWOT analysis and comparisons

 

·         Schedule team building exercise w/dept heads and administrative staff to strengthen team approach (scheduled 09/14/16)

·         Initiate regular in-service training component for dept heads and admin staff based on training needs as determined by mgr and staff

  • Accomplished with staff presenting Ted Talks and Round Robins during staff meetings.  Staff retreat is scheduled for 09/14.

·         Schedule in-depth mtg w/Finance director re: understanding financial SWOT/nuances of KS State Law related to municipal finance

  • Numerous meetings with Bryan and created a better understanding of Kansas finance/refinancing

 

·         Prepare report for CC on options for undertaking strategic plan and place on agenda (planned for 09/13/16 work session)

·         Establish schedule of listening posts for public to meet with CM

·          Despite numerous citizen engagements, I still plan to hold a couple of listening posts before the end of the year

 

 

Last 30 days

·         Draft succession plan has been developed

·         Completed and submitted paperwork for STAR rating program; awaiting the rating from STAR.

·         Complete 100 day city manager report for CC

·         Identify unique cultural qualities that define Lawrence and consider them when analyzing and providing recommendations on city issues

·         Finalize basic elements of strategic plan process (scheduled for the 09/13 work session)

·         Examine City’s customer service levels and discuss options for improvements – should be based on results of 2015 community survey

·         Examine level of technology and identify needs

 

·         Compare SWOT analysis conclusions w/list of challenges and opportunities from recruitment brochure and determine steps to be initiated to resolve issues

·         Join at least one civic group