Finance (2)

Citygate is currently performing a Finance Department Operational Review and Budget Stabilization Update to Citygate’s prior organizational review and budget stabilization project for the City of Sonora. Citygate’s review will focus on specific recommendations and cost priorities identified previously as part of the prior study in 2023. Citygate will seek stakeholder input to determine the status of the recommendations and assess actual implementation costs, and will review the applicable updated fiscal (and related) documents, policies, and procedures implemented after the previous study’s conclusion to provide targeted updates to key findings and recommendations.

Citygate is currently conducting a Financial Analysis of Fire Services for the City of Sebastopol, CA. The first phase of analysis will examine the feasibility and cost implications to the City to maintain an operational and fiscally sustainable independent fire service—including an “as-is” review and projection assuming expansion of coverage and services within the City, with the assumption that the City remains independent. The second phase of analysis will examine the cost implications should the City agree to a proposal from Gold Ridge Fire District to annex the City. Citygate will provide a side-by-side, bottom-line comparison of services and near and long-term fiscal impacts.

Citygate conducted a Citywide staffing analysis for the City of Novato’s Administration (including the City Manager’s Office, IT, City Clerk, Economic Development, Homeless Services, Communications, and Sustainability); Community Development; Finance; Human Resources (including Risk Management); Parks, Recreation, and Community Services; Police; and Public Works departments. Through document reviews, questionnaires, interviews, and detailed analysis, Citygate evaluated whether the existing staffing and structure aligned with the City’s priorities, providing recommendations on staffing levels and organizational structure, including specific position counts per function, as needed.

Scope of work: A follow-on engagement to the previous operational review, Citygate conducted an analysis of progress and an update of recommendations made to the Finance Department, identifying current operational strengths and weaknesses and offering a Revised Priority Action Plan.

Scope of work: A strategic planning and facilitation session for the City of San Juan Bautista, including a high-level organizational review to identify current issues and develop recommendations for workload management. After conducting varied stakeholder interviews and community and employee surveys, Citygate assisted in a Citywide update to establish vision and mission statements and identified key strategic goals and core priorities alongside developing new processes to monitor progress and update the Strategic Plan.

Scope of work: operational review for the Coachella Valley Association of Governments (CVAG) Finance/Administration Department. This review included assessment of current operational structure, staff duties, and responsibilities and analysis of operational and fiscal policies, procedures, and practices—with attention to operational functions, workflow processes, and use of technology and automation in performance of operational responsibilities. Citygate offered comparison to best practices and made recommendations in accordance with the findings of this review.

A collaboration with Stantec to develop a Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan for the City of Reno. The Master Plan will serve to forecast responsible expansion of the existing parks and open space network to accommodate growth, enhance pedestrian and bicycle connectivity within the City and to open space and public lands, ensure parks, recreational facilities, trails, and open spaces are well maintained and accessible, and conserve and protect Reno’s natural resources. Citygate’s scope of work for this engagement includes review and analysis of the City’s existing draft Master Plan document and relevant regional plans, Level of Service alternatives, financing alternatives (capital and operating), urban forestry initiatives, and recreation services for the City.

Citygate performed an operational review and provided mentoring for the Western Riverside Council of Governments’ Finance Department. The operational review will include an examination of the Department’s organizational structure; a review of the financial policies, procedures, and practices; and a review of the Department’s operational functions, workflow processes, and documents to identify overall strengths and weaknesses and provide recommendations for streamlining procedures and processes. The mentoring will entail assisting the Finance Director in the development of long-range financial planning and forecasting models based on industry best practices and providing professional guidance and mentoring to key management staff as needed.

Citygate provided strategic planning and facilitation assistance for the City of Angels, California, as a follow-up to Citygate’s previous two studies for the City: the 2018 organizational review and budget stabilization study and the 2020 financial action plan in response to COVID 19. For this project, Citygate interviewed key staff, City Councilmembers, and community members to gauge current operational efficiency, identify goals and priorities, and identify general and operational issues/priorities to assist in the development of Council priorities. Citygate also reviewed the City’s current fiscal condition at a high level to identify present opportunities and challenges.

Citygate reviewed the proposed tax sharing agreement between Contra Costa County and one incorporated city within the County. This review compared the current tax sharing agreement and the proposed amendment to the current agreement in regard to the County’s allocation pertaining to the development recently approved by the city.