Work in Progress: A Pathway to Open Urban Governance through Citizen Engagement

How does your organization demonstrate public service and/ or urban governance?

During my internship here at Maricopa county, one of the first projects I contributed to was the Customer Engagement project. The county does offer services to its residents in a sense they provide that public service of offering the services that are funded by taxpayer dollars. Those taxpayers have a say in some decisions being that people vote for the people that would best represent their interests and needs. County leaders noticed that the people of Maricopa County didn't have much of a say in decisions outside of the voting process. I am thrilled to be a part of the process to open Maricopa County up to a more open and urban form of governance with the people having a presence and weight of decisions being made. Below is some of the initial planning I did regarding social media and how an open form of government can be made accessible online.

After researching different types of engagement and governance strategies, we found that one of the common denominators in many counties and cities that struggled to connect with their citizen participation in government, was that there was a common mistrust and anger in government. The solution to this among the counties and cities that we looked at as examples was to keep the people informed.

Mistrust/ Anger in Government

Solutions:

Information:

Informing the citizens is the first step to catalyze public participation. Information will assist the public in understanding the problem(s), alternatives, opportunities and solutions. Our promise to the public will be to rapidly communicate official information to public as part of department's core mission or responsibilities to the county. By making a promise to the public, this will promote the organizational TIRA model that outlines Transparency, Inclusiveness, Responsiveness, and Accountability within public organizations.

Our Social Media/Online policies state that information should support and address departments mission, or as directed by the County Manager. With information provided to the public we then seek to build a community of knowledge and understanding of county happenings.

Information for citizens can be made available through fact sheets, accessible websites, and open house events. For example, county’s like Leon County have improved the way their county engages and involves citizens with government. Leon County established a Citizen Engagement Series that promotes citizen involvement to guide policy and shape the community.  Part of this engagement series features a participatory based budget game called Let’s Balance, an immersive hands-on budgeting exercise that offers citizens a firsthand view of the county budgeting process. Leon County’s engagement series seeks to convey the relevance of government and enhance transparency by providing citizens with knowledge.  

Mary Ellen Sheppard's Approach to People

Last week I had the pleasure to sit down with Assistant County Manager, Mary Ellen Sheppard. The purpose of my interview with her was to find out her approaches to leadership to later juxtapose her leadership style to that of another county leader. The time spent with her was phenomenal and I left our meeting feeling inspired and empowered. One of the parts of the interview that I wanted to showcase was her approach on people and how valuing people can change an organization tremendously.

This was a part of my write up following the interview:

Mary Ellen strives to be a part of a department that everyone can be proud of. Mary Ellen identifies that leadership and talent are spread throughout every level of an organization, and that we must capitalize on seeing individuals as valuable contributors to the organization. She approaches people and values them for what they offer her (what makes them unique) and for what they offer to the county. Mary Ellen understands that people are valuable, and she truly believes that if we see each individual based on their skills and abilities, we can then build upon those skills and abilities for personal growth and improvement. She is passionate about seeing others reach their full potential, dreams, and goals.  She adds the most beneficial and memorable parts of her career were when the people that worked with her, cared about her enough to tell her of the value that she brings to the organization while also focusing on her short comings or areas of deficiency.

Mary Ellen embodies a “let’s get real” attitude that benefits every individual and the organization as a whole. She recognizes that to be real with other people, you have to be ‘real’ with yourself when doing self-reflection.  Mary Ellen shared that she engages in a period of reflection to review her actions and decisions that she has made. She examines how she did, or how she could have performed better.  She questions how she could have improved someone’s experience.  She expressed that you must have confidence in your actions; reflection is an area that you can always benefit and improve from. She explains that she does not do well with excuses, status quo, or complacency. She sets expectations for people with an intention for them to grow and benefit from. With these expectations, it somewhat prevents these traits and behaviors that she is not too fond of.

Revenue Forecasting Presentation

One of my learning objectives: Student will research revenue forecasting methods and present findings to OMB Analysts.

The clock continues to count down to the day I give my presentation on Revenue Forecasting. My presentation will include GFOA approved quantitative methods and decision tools used when forecasting revenue. Something really special about this presentation is that I get to present these methods, but I also get to see how these practices are carried out during a simultaneous hand on training conducted by Senior Budget and Management Analyst, Zachary Wolfe. My presentation will entail the topics of Time Series with Fluctuation, Time Series with Differentiation, Regression, Econometrics, and Decision Budgeting Tools. I have made sure to work closely with Zach for him to offer content guidance and feedback. I also want to ensure that this is a learning experience as a present to analysts that have a various years of forecasting experience.

Definitely adopting this information into my personal life!

This presentation consists of how to choose a technique, the common characteristics of time series revenue forecasting, and revenue forecasting without fluctuation. I highlight the correct formulas to use when finding the best fit line, while displaying the statistical assumptions and advantages and disadvantages of certain methods of forecasting. During the formulation of this project I have noticed that I am working on my time management skills. Who knew that time management skills could be improved and perfected during such a hectic school and intern schedule? I have utilized and adapted skills some of the skills used by my coworkers, and have found that I can accomplish more by staying organized and by prioritizing tasks

Tranforming Juveniles Through Successful Transition

    On Monday October 20th, I had the opportunity to attend a meeting where the Maricopa County Education Service Agency presented on the progress of their 5 year pilot program that aims to make a major impact on juvenile recidivism rates. The meeting was introduced by Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Don Covey. Dr. Covey expressed that the agency has utilized a collective impact model to ensure that there was not a redundancy in services offered throughout the county.  He explained that agencies do not lose their identity; instead there is an enhancement to the system when various agencies collaborate.

     Chief Deputy Superintendent Christine Morris showed how MCESA is shifting from justice as punishment, to an involved system of reform and transformation. Maricopa County realized that the cyclical punishment of youth without foundations to return home to following incarceration aided to the constant reentry of past juvenile offenders into the juvenile and adult jail system.  McESA believes that education can be used as a tool to reduce crime. Statistics show that of 10,634 past juvenile offenders with unknown schooling status, 25% of those youth are of the recidivism population. McESA works as a coordinate of probation responses. They assist with Case Management of kids who were not going to school, who were pushed out of school, or not welcome to attend their former school. The fact that students must find a new school acts as an initial barrier to education, and McESA’s goal is to make this transition easier.

Mrs. Morris defined High Risk youth as youth that cycle through the system, and constantly re-enter it. This project has established Interagency Board of Directors to help monitor the project and see to it that the focus on medium to high risk youth is not lost and the collective vision is carried out.

Here are some of the goals of the Pilot Program:

1. Increase support for youth to reduce delinquency and future incarceration rates.
2. Engage school systems to create conditions for achieving student educational success
3. To reduce recidivism and reentry of juveniles in justice system

 

Stages of Transformation

The Potential Relapse Period for a youth classified as a chronic offender occurs within two major parts of the Stages of Transformation. During 30 days from their Exit from Secure Care and during the aftercare stage that is split into 3 levels (Performing, Transformation, and Sustaining) currently 260 of the 496 cases they have received are active in the stages of transformation. The social cost of recidivism rates approximates to 17.5 Billion dollars. The economy is missing out on those students who become adults that result in citizens not contributing to the community.

Tuesday Reflections

I cannot believe that October is almost halfway over! The time is flying by at the county and I am having fun. On Monday I went to visit the Maricopa County Education Service Agency. We met with the budget director there to review his funds and find out his major concerns, and answer any questions. He was very nice and he explained each fund and its function, and where the money comes from that fills the fund. He told stories of how budgets have changed throughout the years and how he believes in finding new ways to help provide assistance to schools.

On Thursday I will be touring the Maricopa County Human Services campus with other MCLEAPS interns. I am really excited about this tour because everyone says it’s a great experience. I am gearing up and getting started on my presentations that are set in the coming weeks. Later in the week I hope to work on the evaluation of the schedule of federal expenditures. I have been assigned to analyze the federal expenditures that are passed through the state and into the county or to non-profits. This will help the county keep track of the money that comes in and goes out of the county when funds are granted. This will also show the Board of Supervisors how dependent the county is on the allocated percentage of federal funds. 

Responsibilities and Leadership

In my internship I have been given responsibilities within groups that I am to report back to. I have the opportunity to contribute my ideas and opinions in meetings and discussions. Later this month and towards the beginning of December, I will be giving presentations to the analyst in  my department about various revenue forecasting methods used in budgeting and how organizational theory plays a role in the office as part of a diversity based training. These responsibilities hold me accountable to my co-workers while learning the content of my projects and practicing my public speaking and presentation skills.

One of the biggest ways that I have seen leadership displayed in the office is through teamwork. I have found that everyone works well together. If someone doesn’t have the answer to a problem, someone else will surely have it, and everyone is open and willing to work together. After all, everyone is working toward the same goal and it is important to have a collaborative environment.

Career Showcase:Budget Analyst

In the Office of Management and Budget there are budget analyst that perform similar functions on a daily basis, but also have such diverse experiences within each department.  Each analyst’s goal is to help develop and maintain a sustainable and structurally-balanced budget for Maricopa County. In support of the County's strategic goals analyst determine how to efficiently allocate financial resources, perform countywide and departmental budget and fiscal analyses, prepare budget documents, and advise departments on strategic and business planning. 

I enjoy being able to see what each analyst is working on within their departments. I believe a career as a budget analyst would be interesting as each department and area of government requires certain needs and services to be provided. Because I enjoy knowing where taxpayer and federal dollars get appropriated, I have really have liked sitting down with senior analysts to review departmental variance commentary. Variance commentary gives a narrative to the numbers of forecasted vs actual expenditures budgeted. I would be interested in being able to dictate and understand the inner workings of the departments that I would be responsible for. I would also being able to collaborate and provide support to others throughout the organization.  

Problems and Defining Them

I am currently working on a customer engagement project that I am having so much fun working on! I am working with one of the Senior Budget Analyst to help define "the problem". In my research I have found that there is never a concrete answer to the problem. Many counties and cities have initiated some form of customer engagement and each one is unique. Each county or city must provide services to its citizens while continuing to address their needs. What makes this project so much fun for me is that each city or town is unique. I have found some great resources to help build our narrative to explain the need for citizen engagement in the county. Open governance consists of the values of transparency, accountability, inclusion, and responsibility, and I am glad that I get to be a part of a group that gets to plan that for the county. I personally think it's a great move for the county, and I believe that the voters and citizens would enjoy having an input.

A Meeting with George Pettit

On Monday September 29th, I had the opportunity to meet with George Pettit from The College of Public Programs. Former City Manager of Gilbert, Mr. Pettit is now the coordinator for The Marvin Andrews Fellowship at Arizona State University.  I decided to meet with Mr. Pettit to satisfy my career development requirement and also because I hold an interest in the fellowship. Mr. Pettit explained to me that the Marvin Andrews fellowship. In this program students would be pursuing an MPA/MPP or a Masters in Urban Governance. While taking classes in the first year, fellows will work in the Alliance for Innovation that will give them the opportunity to apply research methods and recognize trends. In the student's second year, you will be placed within a local area of government (city/county) for an internship where you will be working alongside local government leaders and managers. Arizona State University is ranked #2 in the United States for City Management and Urban Policy, and I have been strongly urged to apply! I will be completing my application for Arizona State University, and also the application for this opportunity.

MAG Meeting & Border Crossing Card

Border Crossing Card

Yesterday on Wednesday September 24th, I had the opportunity to attend a MAG meeting. (Maricopa Associations of Governments) Here, the Executive Director briefed the board of city mayors and representatives about the improvements to the Border Crossing Card. Currently our Mexican neighbors are allowed to travel 75 miles from the border of Mexico, limiting visitors to go only as far as Tucson. MAG views this as a beneficial improvement not only for the people of Mexico, but also the whole state of Arizona. Allowing people with Border Crossing Cards access to the entire state of Arizona would add a 2.7 billion dollar increase to state tourism and trade dollars. In order to retain a Border Crossing Card, Mexican residents must pass a background check. Border Crossing Cardholders are viewed as low risk citizens that have been granted entry to the United States for up to 30 days.

MAG aims to:

1. Make it easier for travelers to connect and visit Arizona
2. Make it possible for pre-cleared visitors to have access to the whole state of Arizona
3. Focus on legitimate security concerns, (instead of visiting families)
4. Attract the business community and legislature to come on board

Members of MAG including, Mayor Sharon Wolcott of Surprise listen to the Border Crossing Card briefing

Because cardholders will have access to the state, this means that every Arizona City would have the opportunity to participate. Overall this is a positive move for Arizona.

For More information about MAG please visit: http://www.azmag.gov

Adopt Trixie!

Hello blogosphere, meet Trixie the dog! Here at Maricopa County after the invocation and the pledge of allegiance, the Board of Supervisors allows Animal Care and Control to showcase a special animal friend that is up for adoption. Trixie is available at the West Valley Animal Care Center located at:

West Valley Animal Care Center
2500 S. 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85009
(27th Ave, South of Durango)
(602) 506‑7387

Monday - Friday 11 AM to 6 PM (All Services)

Saturday - Sunday 11 AM to 5 PM (All Services except Owned Pet Surrender)

For more information on Trixie and Maricopa County Animal Care and Control, please visit: http://www.maricopa.gov/pets/

A Typical Day at The Office

How it all starts: I wake up at usually 5 or 5:30 am. I get ready then bike from my apartment to the ASU West campus. I then take the 7:00am shuttle to the Downtown campus. It’s usually a 30 minute commute so I either review class notes or bump some inspirational tunes to get me in the zone for the workday. I then arrive to the Downtown campus around 7:30am, and then I bike from campus to the Administration Office. I then head upstairs to the office and fire up the computer. Email is a key form of information in the office, so I check that first. After email is checked I then take out my calendar to see what is on my schedule for the day. I then make a list of priorities and tasks that I want to accomplish. This helps me to be able to organize my time spent working on projects for different people I have to report to. If I have meetings listed for the day, I make sure I have all materials and information I need before going. I take notes at meetings, and I make sure to ask questions if I want to know more about a topic or project. Everyone at the office is very helpful and is always offering advice, knowledge, and guidance. It’s a great setting to be in, because you are constantly learning through and from your actions. If I’m not in a meeting you can find me researching and working on projects. I have found that being able to apply your research for more than a check for understanding and a grade, is very rewarding. Knowledge truly is power and having the know-how and research skills to find answers to your budget matters or policy questions can open up an entire world of learning, and I find it fun. To finish the timeline, I take lunch around noon, and continue to work or go to meetings until 5pm.

Does the size of a flagpole really matter?

At last week’s Board of Supervisor’s meeting, the residents of the New River Desert Hills Community Association came to voice their opinion, that size really does matter. The Desert Hills Community Associations mission strives to preserve a rural lifestyle. The two representatives of the association spoke about proposed renovations to a major cell-phone carrier cellular tower disguised as a 70ft flagpole. The cellphone carrier asked the Board of Supervisors for approval to extend the height of the flagpole by 10ft and the width by 12in. These extensions would be made to increase a 4G LTE network to the New River area. The residents were concerned that the flagpole was no longer looking like a flagpole and the flagpole would distort the rural setting of the community if renovations were approved. After questions from the board, the proposal was delayed, pending the communication and collaborations of the cell carrier and community organization. Chairman of the Board Denny Barney, suggested to the carrier to work closely with the community to create a model that the community can agree on. Find more info on Desert Hills Community Association here: http://www.newriver-deserthillscommunityassociation.org/

Organization is Key!

As a full-time intern and a full-time student, life can get a bit hectic. Knowing when assignments are due for class is a must, especially if you are taking multiple online classes. For future interns, I suggest that you keep a calendar and preferably try to color coordinate it. I keep track of my homework assignments for school, my project due dates for the internship, along with a follow-up timeline. These tasks are usually listed in different colors to keep your calendar from blending together and to keep schedule organized in order for you to maximize your time. Even though I have been assigned projects to work on and a team to report back to, I also have the opportunity to attend various county meetings. Sometimes you never know when a special opportunity(like touring the Medical Examiner's Office and seeing how facility functions and discovering their budgetary needs)might pop up so…

Maricopa County Office of Manangement and Budget

The organization that I am interning for is Maricopa County’s Office of Management and Budget. The Office of Management and Budget oversees the budgets of various departments within the county. The staff consists of budget analysts, budget administrators, deputy budget directors, strategic business planning administration, and finally policy and compliance. At my internship I will be working on an array of projects. My current research and analysis projects include the best practices strategies for participatory governance, an analysis of federal transfers between state and local government, and diverse models of revenue forecasting methods.

Hello from Rosie

Hello Internet, class mates, professors, and fellow OMB employees! My name is Rozan Latham, but feel free to call me Rosie. I am in my senior year at Arizona State University, majoring in Public Service and Public Policy with an emphasis in Leadership and Management. I am an intern at Maricopa County's Office of Management and Budget(OMB) as a partnership between Maricopa County and Arizona State University called the MCLEAPS* Internship. HR calls me a McLeaper! *(Maricopa County Leadership and Education Advancing Public Service) While at OMB I plan to achieve the goals of understanding a comprehensive budget system on a county level, learning the processes and official procedures of local government, and finally networking with the people I interact with, and ultimately learn from them. There are a multitude of talented and resourceful people throughout the Office of Management and Budget, and if I could walk away with just a sliver of their knowledge, I would be happy! Overall, I am so happy to be here at OMB and represent ASU. It's only Wednesday, and I have already learned so much!