Mayor Stoney Announces Updated City Government Performance Review
Posted October 30, 2024
90 percent of the 228 recommendations made in 2017 were implemented, partially implemented, or an alternative solution was found
Richmond, VA – Today, Mayor Levar Stoney announced the release of an updated city government performance review during his last 100 days in office. Jim Burke and Linda Pierce, who conducted the 2017 performance review, were hired again earlier this year to comprehensively assess the City of Richmond’s progress on the 228 recommendations provided in the 2017 report. Jim and Linda are consultants from Teo Consulting.
According to their analysis, 90 percent of the 228 total recommendations were either implemented, partially implemented, or an alternative solution was found, showing significant progress on city government operations since 2017.
“After the release of the 2017 report, my commitment was to be about the fix – to break down silos and unnecessary bureaucracy and create a strong cross-functional team that delivers for Richmonders,” said Mayor Levar Stoney. “As this report undeniably shows, we have made significant progress to improve core city agencies and make this city stronger than it was a decade ago.”
In 2017, during Mayor Stoney’s first 100 days in office, he commissioned a comprehensive performance review of city government. That review was released on May 25, 2017, and revealed “a need for improved financial controls and reporting (Finance), better hiring processes and career development (Human Resources), streamlined procurement practices (Procurement) and upgraded and integrated technology (Information Technology).”
These four departments have been the main focus of the core improvements made since 2017 given that they touch almost every other city department and can impact service delivery.
“Despite unprecedented hurdles like a global pandemic, civil unrest, and leadership turnover, the City of Richmond remained steadfast in its commitment to continuous improvement,” said Lincoln Saunders, Chief Administrative Officer. “We made some big moves over the past eight years, such as the overhaul of Human Resources, the implementation of the purchasing card program, and thorough engagement of our workforce, that have significantly improved the efficiency of how we operate and the overall culture of City Hall. I am proud of the progress we’ve made.”
The following are highlights of the progress made to date based on the consultant’s comprehensive qualitative assessment of all city departments:
- In 2017, we noted that Human Resources, Procurement, Finance, and Information Technology were negatively impacting the functioning of all the other areas within City Hall in various ways. The current heads of each of these departments have taken action to improve the effectiveness of their areas, thereby positively impacting City Hall.
- Several heads of other departments and offices noted that they have seen significant improvement in the response time of Human Resources and Procurement. HR underwent a significant reorganization in 2023. The P-card system has had a positive impact on all departments.
- We heard that Finance and IT are working closely together to make much-needed improvements.
- Finance has increased their staffing levels and is raising the bar on the qualifications for new staff.
- Unlike in 2017, we heard of increased collaboration across all areas. This needs to continue and expand, but collaboration is moving in the right direction. This is an important cultural shift.
- Similarly, staff (especially those who have been part of this administration for most or all the time) highlighted the improvement in the culture and morale within City Hall since 2017. The City has implemented a number of programs to retain skilled employees and to recruit highly qualified people to City Hall.
Detailed information about each recommendation can be found in pages 18-130 of the attached report. On pages 1-17, you will find information reflections from the consultants on major themes and trends, as well as information about the report’s methodology.