Scope of work: Citygate provided strategic planning and facilitation assistance for the City of Angels Camp, 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.

Scope of work: In partnership with Griffin Structures, Citygate will conduct a summary-level gap analysis of the City’s public safety programs and compare them with the likely impacts of growth. This review will be based on current California and federal standards and other best practice publications. Citygate will examine existing agency caseloads and will prepare executive summary-level reports for the Fire and Police Departments.

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: A citywide strategic plan and budget stabilization study for the City of Sonora, California, with the purpose of developing a strategic, goal-focused, sustainable budget strategy. The project included Steering Committee participation, strategic goal-setting facilitation with the City Council, community participation including Citygate’s facilitation of a Community Town Hall meeting, an organizational review, a budget stabilization study, an alternative analysis, and an implementation plan.

Scope of work: Citygate built upon our previous 2020 Community Risk Assessment / Standards of Coverage (SOC) Analysis for the City of Carlsbad Fire Department. This engagement included reviewing the older fire stations and apparatus; preparing a functional Master Plan for their long-term use, modification, or replacement; and providing options for how to fund future fire stations.

Scope of work: Development of a Fire Master Plan for the Cy-Fair community of the northwest Houston metropolitan area. This engagement—based on Harris County Emergency Services District #9’s unique Fire and EMS fact pattern and varied risks—included a community risk assessment, a standard of cover study, and a compliance audit. The Master Plan also included the development of a strategic plan to ensure goals are actionable and categorized by priority over the long term.

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 organizational review and analysis of Monterey County’s current homeless programs, funding, and coordination services. For this review, Citygate identified, evaluated, and recommended funding sources and budgeting structure for the Homeless Services function; identified and recommended organizational best practices, including comparisons with similar cities and counties; evaluated and recommended best practices for collaboration and coordination with various County departments, the Continuum of Care, local cities, school districts, businesses, and homeless service providers; and evaluated and recommended formal and informal organizational alignment, structure, and staffing for the Homeless Services function.

Citygate is currently preparing a Capital Facilities Master Plan for the County of Santa Barbara Fire Department. This in-depth master plan for the Department’s buildings will include all fire stations, headquarters, logistics, and aviation and will be sufficient to estimate major repair costs or the need for total replacements over a feasible, multiple-year timeline. Citygate will work with County staff to prepare facility financing strategies considering the Department’s revenue sources.

Citygate performed a fire services Master Plan assessment for the City of Turlock, California. As part of the Master Plan, this assessment included a Community Risk Assessment, Standards of Coverage study, and headquarters programs adequacy and facility and fleet assessment. The Master Plan organized all of these pieces into an organized whole from which immediate and longer-term fire service programs can be managed. The facility assessment also identified modifications and the possibility of long-term continued use.