[Durham INC] Durham Publishes Strategic Plan Progress Report

[Blalock, Amy]

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CITY OF DURHAM
Office of Public Affairs
101 City Hall Plaza
Durham, NC 27701


News Release


News Media Contact:
Amy Blalock
Sr. Public Affairs Specialist
(919) 560-4123 x 11253
(919) 475-7735 (cell)
Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Amy.Blalock at DurhamNC.gov>
http://Facebook.com/CityofDurhamNC
http://Twitter.com/CityofDurhamNC


For Immediate Release: August 13, 2013


Durham Publishes Strategic Plan Progress Report
Crime Data Now Reported Weekly on Strategic Plan Dashboard

DURHAM, N.C. - Residents who want more information on how the City of Durham is reducing crime can now get updates on a weekly basis, while also getting reports on efforts to revitalize neighborhoods, maintain the City's infrastructure, and much more.

As part of its continuing commitment to transparency and accountability, the City has published its fifth Strategic Plan Progress Report, which is a bi-annual report to give an update on how the organization is achieving the goals and initiatives outlined in the City's Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan is the City's business plan, which establishes priorities and objectives for the organization and defines selected actions and activities within the financial limits set by the City Council. The bi-annual interactive and printable progress report is now available on the City's website, http://www.DurhamNC.gov/StrategicPlan/Goals, and is updated each February and August.

According to City Manager Tom Bonfield, in addition to now weekly publishing of citywide crime statistics to the Strategic Plan dashboard, the Durham Police Department also updates mapping information related to crime reports nightly on its RAIDS Online site, which is part of the City's efforts to be transparent to residents. "Publishing updated crime data every week, and the other data every six months, helps to fulfill the City's promise to be accountable to Durham residents and illustrates how we're doing with our 'Safe and Secure Community' goal," Bonfield said. "We want our residents to review this progress report and be fully engaged and knowledgeable about how we are working toward reaching all of our Strategic Plan goals."

The progress report delves into each of the City's five goals ― Strong & Diverse Economy; Safe & Secure Community; Thriving, Livable Neighborhoods; Well-Managed City; and Stewardship of City's Physical Assets. Some other specifics in this progress report include completed initiatives that will now be denoted by a green check mark as well as a link to the City's new Strategic Plan website, which includes the recently updated Strategic Plan along with a new section on joint City/County initiatives.


According to Audit Services Director Germaine Brewington, residents can be assured that steps were taken to ensure the integrity of the data in the progress report. "Continuous data monitoring is critical to ensure data alignment as well as to ensure reliable, appropriate data is distributed to our residents," Brewington said. "We take this role very seriously since this data is used by the City Council and the Administration to make informed, data-driven decisions as to how we move this community forward."

The award-winning interactive site and progress report allows residents to easily view advances made on citywide measures and initiatives as well as view positive and negative trends. The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) recently recognized the City for superior performance management efforts with a Certificate of Excellence by using performance data in strategic planning and online dashboard reporting. Durham is among 28 jurisdictions in the United States receiving this highest level of recognition. For more information on this recent award, visit http://durhamnc.gov/Pages/NNDetails.aspx?detailId=502.

For more information about the City's Strategic Plan, visit http://www.DurhamNC.gov/StrategicPlan or contact Strategic Initiatives Manager Jay Reinstein with the City's Budget & Management Services Department at (919) 560-4111, ext. 20102 or by email at Jay.Reinstein at DurhamNC.gov<mailto:Jay.Reinstein at DurhamNC.gov>.

About the Budget & Management Services Department
The Budget and Management Services Department is responsible for preparing, implementing, and monitoring the City's annual operating budget as well as the five-year revenue/expenditure projections for all City government services. The department also provides operational and organizational studies as identified by the City Council, City Manager's Office, and department staff. Guided by the City's Strategic Plan, which the department established and maintains, the department helps to ensure that the City of Durham is a well-managed city by working with City agencies to build and implement performance measurement monitoring and evaluation. The department is also responsible for preparing the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), coordinating the City's process for petition and City-initiated annexations, conducting resident satisfaction surveys, and evaluating departmental achievement of City goals and objectives. For more information, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/as/bms/Pages/Home.aspx.


About the Audit Services Department

The Audit Services Department performs an independent appraisal function designed to examine and evaluate activities within the City as a service to management, the Audit Services Oversight Committee, and elected officials. The department acts as a managerial control that measures and evaluates the effectiveness of other controls.  It also reviews external entities to determine whether revenues have been properly remitted to the City and whether grant and pass-through funds are appropriately used. The department is also responsible for the administration of external audit contracts. Guided by the City's Strategic Plan, the Audit Services Department helps to ensure that the City of Durham is a well-managed city and good stewards of the City's physical assets. For more information, visit http://DurhamNC.gov/ich/asd/Pages/Home.aspx.

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