04/05/2010 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Responses to Council Member O'Donnell's Cost Saving Ideas — March 2010. Public Safety • Revisit consolidation of services with surrounding communities. Ongoing. AIso note the Centennial Fire District. • Look at options for having some or all of public safety services provided by the county. Similar to the model used in Shoreview and Hugo. We should compare costs per capita of this type of arrangement to crime statistics to understand risk/reward. See attached. Fire District • Explore consolidation of fire services with Lexington fire district. The Fire Chief is contacting Lexington -- however there are long standing territorial issues here. • Change funding formula of fire district. The powers agreement stipulates once a city begins contributing 70% of funding. the terms of the agreement may be re- negotiated. We are currently at 69% Other • Understand savings of moving to a 4 day work week and closing parts of City Hall one day a week. I am not suggesting employees cut hours but possibly work 4 10 hour days vs. 5 8 hour days. Not sure if there are any savings from utilities or other building costs that would be associated with closing part of the building one day a week, but I want to throw it out. I understand that this would not be an option for Public Safety. Departments are able to schedule their employees in a way that works firr residents (customer service) the employee and cost savings. For example, public works employees work longer days in the summer to take advantage of the day light as well as cost saving of having a crew working on large pieces of equipment for longer periods of time. It is my understanding that energy savings of closing one day a week are not significant as the Fib 4C system continues to run regardless. There are also concerns regarding the productivity of office workers working past a standard 8 hour clay (i.e. employees who work in front of a computer screen all day vs. employees whose work involves a variety of tasks and maybe inside or outside a building). Finally. unions have argued that this is a topic subject to collective bargaining. • Implement a recognition and rewards program for employees who come up with efficiencies and cost saving ideas. Staff has been solicited ideas. for cost saving — i.e. supply purchases, motion detected light switches. The directors will meet and draft a program that would include low cost - -- but high impact rewards. Any programs that council members operating under in their own professions would be helpful.