Citygate assisted the Los Angeles County Office of Emergency Management in preparing a comprehensive and neutral external After Action Review (AAR) of the Woolsey Fire Incident on behalf of the County and inclusive of the major agencies that interacted with and assisted the County during the historic event. This AAR was completed over 11 months, incorporating all the best practice elements as recommended by the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services. The County’s Woolsey Task Force and Board of Supervisors unanimously accepted Citygate’s Woolsey Fire AAR Final Report. The Board also passed a motion to retain Citygate for implementation support related to the report’s recommendations—specifically, the development, implementation, and monitoring of an After Action Plan (AAP).

Citygate provided an independent evaluation of the City of Sacramento Animal Care Services Division’s efficiency and effectiveness and the appropriateness of existing services and processes, best management practices, and benchmarking compared to agencies of similar size. Citygate also provided an operational review of the Division for the City, with recommendations on policies to implement and ways to streamline workflow, enrich services, and increase safety for customers and staff. The study also included a workload and staffing analysis to evaluate the appropriateness of the staffing level and ensure fees provide an optimal level of cost recovery.

Citygate completed an organizational and operational review of Goleta’s City Manager and Neighborhood Services and Public Safety Departments, including all divisions within both Departments, with the strategic objective of enhancing organizational operations for current and future needs. This review included recommendations that addressed best practices, staffing ratios, organizational needs, performance measures, optimal organizational model based on available budget, streamlining procedures and processes, cost-saving technologies for current and future programs and operations, training and succession planning, current and future staffing requirements, and best management practices that complement the City’s codes and ordinances.

Citygate completed an organizational review of the Planning Department for the Midpeninsula Regional Open Space District in the Bay Area. As part of this review, Citygate evaluated the existing organizational structure and staffing functions, appraised the Department’s current operational policies and procedures, identified redundant systems and inefficient procedures or practices, assessed and identified operational areas that can be streamlined, and assessed how technology is currently used and how it might be better utilized to enhance project processing.

Citygate completed an independent evaluation and assessment of the St. Louis County Animal Services policies, practices, standard operating procedures, veterinary protocols, and facilities. This evaluation examined compliance with the Missouri Department of Agriculture Animal Care Facilities Act, the Association of Shelter Veterinarian standards and guidelines, and best practices; identified areas for improvements; and made recommendations on tasks necessary to increase the live release rate, eliminate pet overpopulation in the community and decrease the number of animals coming into the facility, and improve Animal Care and Control’s current processes and procedures. Citygate received continual praise from the County throughout the engagement. Our project report was even accepted without revision! In the year following Citygate’s evaluation, as the County implemented Citygate’s recommendations, the euthanasia rate declined from 20 percent to 4 percent and the Public Health Deputy Director indicated that conditions at the shelter “improved dramatically.”

Citygate completed an assessment of the Community Development Center’s organizational structure, staff capacity, policies, processes, practices, and documentation. Citygate identified findings and formulated recommendations to enhance the capacity of the CDC to deliver its complex array of services in a high-workload environment.

Citygate developed a fire service consolidation implementation plan for the Placer County Department of Administrative Services on behalf of the County Executive Office. This study reviewed the adequacy of the current fire services system for not only service delivery, but for fiscal solvency over the long term.

Citygate completed an independent management audit of the Community Development Department for the City of Ojai. The City had several objectives for this audit. First, Citygate assessed Department perceptions from internal and external stakeholders. Next, Citygate evaluated Department practices and performance against best practices and evaluated the Department’s organizational structure, staffing, and workload. Finally, Citygate developed key findings and recommendations to improve Department processes and customer service.

Citygate provided customer service consulting services for the Community Development Department’s Building and Safety Division, and in so doing Citygate identified opportunities for improvement and ongoing performance management.

Citygate completed a comprehensive evaluation and analysis of the Mukilteo Fire Department. This review identified gaps—if any—in operations and resources; developed recommendations to maximize Fire Department operations and resources; and identified best practices that may be appropriate for application in the City of Mukilteo, Washington. Additionally, Citygate’s Project Team reviewed projected growth and developed fire service projections to look at future fire service deployment headquarters program needs and reviewed the emergency services delivery system alternatives.