CITY OF SUNNYVALE

City Council Study Session Summary
Review of Performance Audit Report of Police Services Program

February 8, 2005

The City Council met in study session at City Hall in the West Conference Room at 456 West Olive Avenue, Sunnyvale, California on February 8, 2005, with Vice Mayor Swegles presiding.

City Council Members Present:
Mayor Dean Chu, Vice Mayor Ron Swegles, Councilmembers Fred Fowler, John Howe, Melinda Hamilton, Julia Miller, and Otto Lee

City Council Members Absent:
None.

City Staff Present:
City Manager Amy Chan, Interim City Attorney Joan Borger, Deputy City Manager Chuck Schwabe, Director of Finance Mary Bradley, Director of Public Safety Don Johnson, Director of Public Works Marvin Rose, Public Safety Deputy Chief Mark Stivers, Deputy Chief Greg Kevin, Senior Management Analyst Pete Gonda (Finance).

Visitors/Guests Present:
Jack Rowe, Harriet Rowe, and Tim Risch, Sunnyvale Citizens

Study Session Summary:

Purpose of Study Session – City Manager Chan remarked that this study session had been requested by the Council as a way to review the police services audit findings in more depth. The City Manager underscored that the audit was based on FY 2001/2002 data, and that program restructures and other efforts have since been undertaken by public safety management to improve upon conducting operations and measuring results. The City Manager further indicated that the new Public Safety Director will continue to refine the outcomes management system in public safety to ensure that useful data is generated.

A brief discussion ensued by the Council as to the size of the police budget, the timing of addressing the audit findings, and the importance of moving ahead by conducting follow up audits to assess system improvements. The City Manager indicated that a follow audit would occur as part of the standard performance audit practice. Councilmember Howe indicated that a Council study session should occur to discuss the fire services audit.

Overview of Audit Findings and Recommendations and Department of Public Safety Response – Finance Director Mary Bradley and Public Safety Director Don Johnson conducted a presentation to review the overarching issues from the audit findings, the public safety response, and the next steps in the process.

Council Discussion – The Council discussed the importance of ensuring that data gathered is not only measured in a meaningful way, but that results are clearly and easily communicated to the lay citizen. The City Manager and Deputy City Manager indicated that efforts are underway to simplify city processes and procedures to make them more meaningful and understandable.

Respectfully submitted,
Pete Gonda
Senior Management Analyst, Finance