Immediate Release

Contact

October 1, 2002

Michael Lawson, Director
ICMA Center for Performance Measurement
mlawson@icma.org; (202) 962-3634

Tom Manheim, Public Outreach Manager
City of San José, (408) 277-5131

San José Recognized for Performance Management

Philadelphia, PA ---- The ICMA Center for Performance Measurement today recognized the City of San José for its use of performance information in managing the delivery of municipal services.

San José was one of 17 cities and counties recognized from among the more than 120 organizations participating in the ICMA Center for Performance Measurement. In order to receive recognition, communities were required to use performance data in budgets, newsletters, management reports, or information provided to city or county councils. The criteria necessary to achieve recognition include longevity and breadth in reporting performance information, as well as training and support for staff in performance management.

“Performance measurement is one of the best tools we have to help us improve the quality and efficiency of the services we provide to the people of San José,” said Mayor Ron Gonzales. “Through regular measurement and customer feedback, we can do a better job to enhance quality of life in our neighborhoods and provide the value our taxpayers expect from City Hall.”

“For more than three years the City of San José has been moving toward performance-based budgeting and customer-driven government, with unqualified support from the Mayor and City Council and with our organized employees as full partners,” said City Manager Del Borgsdorf who attended the ICMA annual conference where San José was cited for its leadership in this area. “Through our Investing in Results program, every City department has identified core services and established systems for measuring how well we are providing those services. Since our performance standards measure success through the eyes of our residents and businesses, they are the real winners in performance measurement efforts.”

In recognizing the 17 communities at the organization’s annual conference, ICMA Executive Director Bill Hansell remarked, “Performance measurement that simply stops with data collection rarely achieves anything…other than to collect dust on a shelf. But it is a very powerful tool when used by elected officials to set priorities and by management to determine how best to achieve those priorities. I applaud all of the cities and counties that voluntarily participate in the Center for your commitment to continuous improvement in the services you provide to your citizens. And I congratulate the 17 communities who merit special recognition today.”

About ICMA
The International City/County Management Association (ICMA) promotes excellence in local government through professional management, and provides an information clearinghouse, technical assistance, and training and professional development to nearly 8,000 chief-appointed administrators, assistant administrators, and other individuals throughout the world.

The Center for Performance Measurement began in 1994 as a service of ICMA. Communities report data for 15 local government services (e.g., police, fire/EMS, streets and highways, refuse removal and recycling, libraries, parks, code enforcement). Data then are used to identify management practices that contribute to high performance so that local governments can learn from each other in a process of continuous improvement.

The other cities receiving this special recognition are: Phoenix, Ariz.; Merced, Redwood City, San Mateo, and Santa Barbara Co., Calif.; Sterling Heights, Mich.; Austin, Bryan, and San Antonio, Tex.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Fairfax County and Prince William County, Va.; and Bellevue, Kent, and Lynnwood, Wash.

For a list of all local governments participating in the Center, click here.