By MATT PIKE
St. Joseph Post
In response to a city-wide survey, leaders around St. Joseph's different departments have developed a business plan for how to improve in those areas.
City Manager Mike Schumacher says each department director along with their teams helped put together a business plan that went before the city council to help improve resident satisfaction, along with play into the council's strategic plan.
Schumacher says there will be one other key to this that will play a big role. . .
"The directors will go in front of council at every meeting, a different team at every council meeting with work sessions to update council on their progress on these items," Schumacher tells KFEQmunnity host Brent Martin. "That gives us all a chance to talk through any barriers or problems, and successes, where we're going with improving our services."
Schumacher says that accountability and transparency to the public is key in showing a focus towards improving those areas the survey showed needed improvement.
Recent results showed city officials residents were concerned with three key areas, code enforcement, law enforcement and crime, and communication.
Schumacher says those three areas are the key focus of a business plan developed by department leaders that has been put before the city council
"Communications was kind of identified as an opportunity very early on, so that was already in motion," Schumacher explains. "The Police Chief, I feel, is doing an outstanding job, but like many police departments, could do a better job talking about it."
Schumacher says that while he knows most things the Chief is working on, and the mayor and council know many things, residents don't, and they need to ensure the department is telling their story and what they are working on to residents
Schumacher says have come up with 24-page plan put before the city council with their ideas to help improve residence perception
But also, Schumacher adds, this business plan will tie well into the city council’s strategic plan
"We don't have the resources to do everything all at once and impact change across the entire organization in every area that's in a strategic plan, so you have to sort out what you're going to address first, and what's important," Schumacher says. "And that's what our customers gave us, and then you break that down even further, into the trenches if you will or into the weeds, and that's that business plan that staff comes up with."
Schumacher says the business plan going before the council makes it public to show residents they've been heard, and their concerns are being addressed.
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