Peter Auger, Auburn Hills City Manager
Thoughts on running a city, daily musings, and everything in between.
Peter Auger
City Manager, Auburn Hills, MI
Goals and Objectives
Every year our City Council holds an annual Goals and Objectives workshop on a Saturday about this time of year. Why this time of year? Well, we are gearing up for our annual budget process and we feel that if there ever is a good time to lay out a map for our organization, it is before we produce next year’s budget.
We look at this process as simple as possible, laying out strategic goals as where or what the city should be focusing on in the next 5 years or so. Then we break down objectives in each category, things we can do in the next year that would move us closer to the goal.
The City Council sets the overall view for our organization and then each department follows their lead for their part of the organization. It is important for the process for the City Council to say where they want to go, but not necessarily how to get there.
Here are the 2014 Strategic Goals (Roman Numerals, followed by the objectives in the bulleted points):
I. Continue relentless fiscal sustainability
- Continually update/evaluate the 5-year financial plan
- Update/evaluate the capital improvement plan
- Emphasize operational efficiencies
- Reevaluate the overall investment plan for greater returns
- Maintain a general fund balance of 50% or more
II. Deliver outstanding city services
- Raise staff educational credentials
- Evolve emergency services to address future demands
- Support the library
- Prioritize infrastructure needs
- Reinforce existing high quality service culture (employees as ambassadors)
- Respond to differing generational needs
- Services to teens
- AARP pilot/Community for a Lifetime
III. Drive smart community development
- Continue downtown development & expansion
- Continue initiatives to attract new commercial/industrial development
- Butler Rd., University Dr. bridge, Taylor Rd.
- Develop a residential plan which includes seniors to youth
- Develop a plan to address vacant retail storefronts
- Collaborate with neighboring local units for optimal compatibility of development
- Adjust/fine tune economic incentive programs
- Protect/enhance neighborhoods
- Help facilitate a Pontiac School resolution
IV. Leverage University/College Assets
- Brand Auburn Hills as a center of higher education
- Create a welcoming environment for students
- Develop student transit
- Introduce/integrate Auburn Hills into the OU community – students, faculty
- Cooley, OCC, Baker, OU/Wm. Beaumont Med School as well
- Expand & strengthen relationships with higher ed. leaders
- Address “OU as an island” perception – reduce barriers
- Host a VIP event
- Encourage university/college ancillaries downtown
V. Engage citizens
- Develop comprehensive generational initiatives
- Teen programs (consider creation of a citizens advisory committee, incl. members from schools, churches, emergency services, the Parks & Rec Director, Great Lakes Crossing, & teens)
- Community for a Lifetime
- Conduct a citizen survey (independent)
- Make better use of TV, website, municipal events
- Encourage more citizen participation on boards & committees
VI. Lead Environmental Stewardship
- Continue discussion of/investigate burning impact
- Educate about/encourage/promote recycling
- Continue Clinton River stewardship
- Protect the natural beauty/resources/character of Auburn Hills
- Pursue green building initiatives
- Encourage the use of alternative energy
When departments follow this process it makes budgeting simpler. No one can afford to do all they want or even need, so we must have a decision tree, our Goals and Objectives act as part of that decision tree. We have 2 projects vying for the same dollars, if one fits on the goals and the other does not (although it may still be a good project) the funding goes to the item that fits with the City Council Goals and Objectives.
Posted in Communication, Finance, Leadership, Planning, Projects
More list
I was reading Crain’s and found another interesting list. The Largest Divisions, Affiliates and Subsidiaries for 2012. There was a list of 25 organizations of who is who in the supply networks. You guessed it, 7 of the top 25 are located in Auburn Hills, the most of any southeastern Michigan community.
What a neat stat, talk about clustering and being where the action is. The synergy of these first class businesses, along with the fortune 500 companies that are headquartered here, all the Research and Design facilities, the universities and colleges, plus companies from over 30 different countries really makes a hub of activity.
So glad our staff works on relationships and values results.
What are you waiting for? Come grow with us.
Posted in Business, Infrastructure, Leadership, Planning, Programs, Projects, Service
PPPPP
Something I learned a long time ago, don’t remember where though…Could have been while in the army or even from my dad. Growing up as a carpenter’s son, I learned a lot of what I think are common sense things that still pay off today. Also learned a lot of colorful comments that won’t be posted on this blog, but hey that is the real world.
Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance (PPPPP) is something that we strive for in our organization. We attempt to involve the entire team (all departments) in most capital projects. This can save time and issues later. One thing I know I learned from my dad was “measure twice, cut once”, not the other way around. I was reminded of this from an article in Governing Magazine it was called Think Twice, Dig Once. Same principle.
If we are redoing a road, we look at all infrastructure from water, sewer, storm drain etc… How old is it? What shape is it in? What can we include in the same project so we don’t have to go back in five years and redo something that we are putting in? We also include any utilities that are in the right of way (ROW). There is a lot of spaghetti underground from gas lines, cable, telephone….. anything that people want to hide.
This strategy has help us reduce cost and help build relationships over time, it still doesn’t always work because Mr. Murphy could always raise his head just when you think you planned for everything, but we believe we can improve by PPPPP.
Posted in Business, Infrastructure, Leadership, Planning, Projects, Service
Rainy Days
There are sometimes when you read about governments and rainy day funds. Some wonder is that the same as “slush funds?”
No, it is not, and depending on the philosophy of the organization Rainy Day Funds or Reserve Funds are just like a person’s savings account and emergency fund wrapped into one.
A case in point, The State of Michigan has more funds coming in than anticipated. The amount depends on who you are speaking with, but let’s take the lowest amount I have seen which is about $75 million. As on cue, almost every community, school and/or cause has a hand stretched towards Lansing for some of these funds, and maybe they have good reasons to do so. If you look at running a government entity you normally like to have a certain amount of cash on hand for several reasons. The Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recommends at least 2 months of operating funding on hand. That would mean that Michigan would need approximately $1.5 billion on hand.
For one, we receive a majority of our funding through local taxes which are scheduled to come in once a year. Other funding comes in from the state and they are normally 3 months late. Therefore, we like to have at least a quarter of operating cost on hand.
Emergencies are another reason for having funds on hand. Acts of God and other man caused disasters can tap an organizations funding, and at the local level they don’t let us print money yet so we try to stay liquid enough to be able to respond in appropriate manner.
Third, there is infrastructure. This is a major focus for us in Auburn Hills. We are a pay as we go community that does not believe in borrowing funds for projects and equipment. Most of these capital cost are foreseeable and therefore we not only plan out the maintenance schedule but also the cost. This does hurt us in our Bond Rating because we don’t have a long history of paying off Bonds, but it puts us more in control of our own destiny.
Don’t get me wrong, we have borrowed money when it makes sense and we see it as a financial gain long-term for the organization and the community. It is expensive to run a successful local government, but as some are finding out, it is even more expensive to run a nonfunctional government.
Posted in Communication, Finance, Legislative, Planning, Programs, Projects
Recognizing Value
Some may not realize that this week is National Police Week, which occurs each year during the week in which May 15th falls. This is a week in which we can take a moment to recognize the service and sacrifice of not only local law enforcement officers, but all U.S. law enforcement. The recognition week was established by a joint resolution of Congress in 1962.
Specifically, National Police Week pays special recognition to those law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty for the safety and protection of others. Our heartfelt prayers go out to those spouses and children who carry an extra burden because one of their love ones did not finish their shift.
We, in Auburn Hills, are very fortunate to not have lost an officer in the line of duty. Our officers have set up a Law Enforcement Benevolent Fund incase that dreaded day ever comes so that we can help our own people. More information on this fund and how to donate can be obtained by contacting the President of the Law Enforcemnet Benevolent Organization, Officer Brown at (248) 364-1232.
I tip my hat to all in the Law Enforcement profession and specifically to the finest department in the State of Michigan and therefore one of the finest units in the Nation.
Posted in Events, Leadership, Programs, Service, Uncategorized
Back in the Chair
First of all thanks for all the encouragement, words of support and taunting over the past two weeks as I enjoyed my first knee replacement. I am still a bit hobbled, but every day it gets even better.
With technology you can really stay connected, even though you are not physically in the office chair. Last week I made it to the office for short durations but this week it will be closer to 8 hours a day “at work”. This does throw my home physical therapy schedule off a bit, but not sleeping at night yet offers some great opportunities.
I think some in the office last week thought I was just checking up on them, you know “while the cats away the mice will play”, but there is no truth to that rumor. We do have a good and efficient team throughout the city. Some say they close more deals and get more done when I am away…Hmmm, I’ll have to look at that.
We do have a lot of neat things lined up, in the pipe line, or at different stages of development, so life here in Auburn Hills will be sure to continue to be a great adventure. I am sure my meeting schedules will resume to their normal level very soon.
Posted in Communication
Community for a Lifetime
By Karrie Marsh, Executive Assistant and Guest Blogger
I seem to frequently mention that the City of Auburn Hills is a busy city, which I know is a vague statement. Hopefully from the blogs offered by various departments, you can get a good picture of the many events and projects that occur or are in the works.
A great example of how busy we are is that the City of Auburn Hills has recently been recognized as a Community for a Lifetime by the Michigan Commission on Aging. These accomplishments do not just happen overnight. Some of the reasons that the City was recognized are because the City hosts multiple community events to promote civic engagement, we offer a range of home chore service options, we provide a comprehensive walkway system and detailed analysis of streets and sidewalk status, and had to conduct a mini-survey to name a few.
Congratulations to the City of Auburn Hills, the many departments involved, and especially Senior Services Director Karen Adcock for her dedication, commitment, and perseverance.
Food for Thought
By Karrie Marsh, Executive Assistant and Guest Blogger
“For, in the end, it is impossible to have a great life unless it is a meaningful life. And it is very difficult to have a meaningful life without meaningful work.” Jim Collins, Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap…And Others Don’t
Posted in Leadership, Random Thoughts
Those senior citizens have it made
By Karrie Marsh, Executive Assistant and Guest Blogger
I don’t want life to fly by, but when I turn 55 years old, I plan on living the good life. Don’t most of us spend alot of time planning for the golden years? We plan on where we want to live, what trips we will take and we plan on how we are going to afford it all years in advance. Already I get envious of the discounts offered to seniors for coffee, tickets to the zoo, movies or theater, to name a few. I just found out about another perk being offered.
Senior citizens can receive a 30 minute chair massage for the low price of $10.00(resident)/$15.00(non-resident). I have a hard time getting my better half to scratch my back for more than 5 minutes, unless I nag, which I do!
Natalie Allinder, massage therapist and holistic health coach, of Grace and Gratitude Wellness will provide a relaxing experience tailored to specific needs. Focus is on the upper body including the head, neck, shoulders, back and arms. Just where I need it!
Natalie will be offering chair massages this Wednesday from 11:00am – 2:00pm and during the same hours on Wednesday, May 22nd. Appointments are necessary, so please call 248.370.9353 to schedule an appointment. But hurry, appointments fill up quickly.
So much to do, so little time
By Karrie Marsh, Executive Assistant and Guest Blogger
Does your business need a little extra help on tasks that you just can’t seem to find time for? Shredding, stuffing envelopes, alphabetizing files, all of these tasks are important but seem to be last on the to-do list.
There is a resource available to businesses, at no charge, to help you get those tasks done. The Avondale SKILL Program is looking to expand its reach. The program helps 18-26 year old students who have a disability build independent living skills in order to obtain future employment.
If you’re interested in giving a young adult this opportunity while getting the job done right, please contact Annette McAvoy. As an instructor her goal is to ensure quality control and timely delivery. Students work on and off site, depending on what your business needs are.
Auburn Hills Social Media
