Citygate completed a comprehensive management study for the Lawrence Police Department in Lawrence, Kansas. Citygate’s assessment included a detailed analysis of every type of delivered services by the Department, covering its internal support services, community relations, and community oversight. A data-driven review considered the adequacy of the existing deployment system, scheduling, and staffing. We reviewed response time, crime, and call data that drives the recommendations for staffing in Patrol. The project also entailed formal community listening sessions with approximately 100 diverse community stakeholders, including the faith-based community, civic organizations, students, elected officials, and law enforcement, as well as the elderly, LGBTQ, African American, and Native American communities. In addition to interviews with the City Manager, the Chief of Police, and other key positions, this study also included an internet-based community survey to allow for the public to provide feedback regarding current and future service.

As a subcontractor under Jacobs Engineering Group, Citygate assisted with the public outreach component of a regional surface water supply project for the Stanislaus Regional Water Authority (SRWA). The SRWA is a Joint Powers Authority that includes the California Cities of Ceres and Turlock. Because the groundwater that supplies the Cities’ drinking water becomes less reliable, in partnership with Turlock Irrigation District, the SRWA identified the Tuolumne River as a surface water supply that can be used in conjunction with the Cities’ groundwater systems to provide a long-term, reliable drinking water supply for both Cities. Jacobs was selected to complete the construction of the surface water treatment plant and transmission pipelines using the design-build approach. Jacobs selected Citygate Associates to provide strategic input related to public outreach services related to the construction. To provide these services, Citygate Senior Associate Dr. Nicholas Pinhey was retained to advise Jacobs on public outreach. Dr. Pinhey had served as a public works director for cities in the region and as the interim General Manager of the SRWA. His familiarity with the project and his past work with the SRWA partner cities enabled him to provide cost-effective solutions to meeting the public outreach needs for the construction of the major water transmission pipelines, while streamlining parts of the process.

Citygate conducted an organizational review and budget stabilization assessment for the City of Angels, California, with the purpose of developing a strategic, goal-focused, sustainable budget strategy. The Work Plan addressed the following areas: steering committee participation, strategic goal setting, community and council participation, an organizational review, a budget stabilization study, an alternative analysis, and an implementation plan.

Citygate completed a Standards of Coverage and risk assessment study for the Montecito Fire Protection District. This study featured a fire deployment analysis, a comprehensive community risk assessment and gap analysis that included an extensive wildland fire hazard analysis, a review of headquarters staff and operations, and an online community survey. The risk assessment was commissioned to evaluate community risk vulnerability as a strategic planning tool and to address those vulnerabilities as feasible in an effort to mitigate future disasters. This comprehensive assessment included natural and human-caused hazards with potential to affect the Montecito community, with an analysis of the community’s vulnerability for each identified hazard. In addition, Citygate was asked to evaluate current hazard mitigation efforts and propose additional suitable risk mitigation measures for District consideration.

Citygate was asked to conduct a performance audit of the City of Vista’s development review process. The scope of the study included the program areas of building, planning, engineering, inspection services, and other municipal functions that relate to the development review process. As part of Citygate’s review, a customer survey was conducted, as well as an employee survey.

Citygate completed a Standards of Coverage deployment study and Master Plan for the City of Dixon and the Dixon Fire Protection District. This project included facilitation of community focus groups to determine community needs and expectations; outreach and focus group meetings with Fire Department staff related to training, equipment, and staffing; and the development of a written, long-range plan for the City of Dixon and the Dixon Fire Protection District.

Citygate conducted an independent performance audit of Kern County’s Animal Services Division. The study included all major program areas of the Division, including administration, shelter operations, field operations, and community/public relations. Citygate also utilized an employee survey, a customer/citizen survey, and community meetings. It concluded with an extensive report of findings, the analysis performed, and numerous recommendations for improving the Division. Citygate presented the report to the Board of Supervisors, along with an action plan for the implementation of the recommendations.