Author: Melanie James

In June 2017, the Appeal Democrat published an opinion piece thanking Sutter County supervisors and staff are putting their top priorities in writing, setting goals that everyone can see so that everyone can measure the progress over time.

We appreciate that Sutter County supervisors and staff are putting their top priorities in writing, setting goals that everyone can see so that everyone can measure the progress over time.

That is, after all, one of the reasons people don’t totally get local government … there’s not much notice of accomplishments. What does government do? What do supervisors get paid for? What do all those bureaucrats do for us? Of course there are duties lined out for everyone in county government.

But constituents like the feeling that progress is being made, and the county building is perceived as mostly a place that houses offices that do things over and over again … assess value, notify taxpayers, receive taxes, provide specific services …

But what headway is made?

A top 10 list gives you that feeling that county government isn’t just a bureaucracy, but is actually making plans to get some big things done.

Sutter County’s list as of this date:

• Develop a customer service philosophy.
• Put a long-term homeless management plan in place.
• Move the district attorney’s office and child support services to a new building and complete the jail expansion.
• Accommodate development of Sutter Pointe.
• Review the marijuana cultivation ordinance and recommend changes, if need be.
• Starting fiscal year 2018-19, have the county’s first comprehensive annual financial report.
• Review land use plans and look for needed revisions in certain areas.
• Continue work with flood control agencies and complete countywide levee improvements.
• Improve communications with residents, businesses and other governments.
• Resolve Sutter County Airport land use issues.

A couple of those are no-brainers … developing a customer service philosophy. But a few of them seem significant – an actual financial report, for instance.

The idea that progress can be made in local government … that’s nice. It invites transparency and accountability and we like that. County Administrator Scott Mitnick mentioned that the goals can be used in delivery of employee evaluations.

It’s not unusual for government organizations to do some goal setting … but usually they’re more general and the whole exercise is used more to communicate within the organization. Here, they’re setting actual goals and putting them out there and planning on getting them done. We can watch.

At least that seems to be the idea.

Are they all the right goals? They don’t look bad, just as long as they don’t end up in one of those spiral-bound booklets that goes on a shelf somewhere.

The goals will be before the board June 13 and the public will have a chance to weigh in. And when they’re finally adopted, we can all check on them from time to time.

Read the full story here.

Leadership, homelessness and the consolidation of departments topped a list of priorities the Sutter County Board of Supervisors established last week.

In a special study session, the board established a proposed top 10 list for the fiscal year 2017-18. Additionally, it established a 2017-18 top 10 countywide goals. According to Scott Mitnick, county administrator, the items on the priorities list are specific and reflect the more pressing issues facing the county. Proposed countywide goals are broad in scope and serve as ethical reminders for staff to follow.

“By putting together this list, it instructs staff on what we need to spend our energy on,” said Mitnick. “If you take a look at a prospectus of a Fortune 500 business or any successful company, it will include a list of its priorities.”

Mitnick said the priorities and goals are not yet finalized and will come before the board on June 13. The public will get a chance to weigh in on the items on both lists.

The lists are established before preparation of the proposed budget, which allows staff to incorporate funding for those priorities, said Mitnick.

Mitnick said the priorities list also serves as a good management tool. In annual reviews, he can use the list to keep department heads accountable.

The lists were created after each board member submitted items. The lists were consolidated through a vote total.

“In the past, we had some department heads that had their own individual goals,” said Supervisor Jim Whiteaker. “Our goal is to have a business statement that will be beneficial to all our employees and allows them to work in the same direction.”

Supervisors will direct staff to prepare a long-term strategic plan, which will include a county mission statement and “customer service philosophy.”

Many of the items on the priorities list, including development of a homeless management plan or facilities master plan, will take several years to complete, said Mitnick.

Some items that were proposed by supervisors did not make the list.

Whiteaker who proposed a public safety item that he said would support fire fighters and law enforcement by giving them the latest technologies was not supported by any other supervisor.

“It doesn’t mean it is not a priority,” said Whiteaker. “Even though it didn’t make the list, it is still an item that will receive attention by the county.”

According to Sutter County Administrator Scott Mitnick, the public will have a chance to discuss the items before the top 10 lists are finalized.

Proposed Sutter County fiscal year 2017-18 countywide top 10 priorities (condensed):

1. Direct staff to prepare long-term organization strategic plan, which includes a county mission statement and customer service philosophy. Set up an employee succession plan by March 30, 2018.
2. Develop and implement a long-term homeless management plan (with measurable target dates) by December 31, 2017, and provide quarterly updates.
3. Complete comprehensive county facilities master plan with measurable target dates by December 31, 2017.

Complete transition of District Attorney’s Office and Child Support Services to a new building. Complete jail expansion project. Obtain approval to consolidate multiple Health and Human Services Department offices.

4. Continue to work on Sutter Pointe specific plan to ensure development commences in either 2018 or 2019.
5. Conduct thorough review of county’s existing marijuana cultivation ordinance and recommend potential revisions.
6. Starting with fiscal year 2018-19, prepare traditional budget document and county’s first comprehensive annual financial report.
7. Review county’s land use plans, and suggest revisions for areas along state Highway 99 north and south of Yuba City boundaries.
8. Continue to work with Sutter Butte Flood Control Agency, state Department of Water Resources, local levee and reclamation districts, and other government agencies to complete ongoing countywide levee improvement projects.
9. Improve mechanisms to communicate with residents, businesses and other governments. Improve website and other social media.
10. Resolve all outstanding Sutter County airport land use issues by June 30, 2018.

Following are proposed countywide general goals and guidance for the coming fiscal year:

1. Provide local government leadership, which is open, responsive, ethical, inclusive, and transparent.
2. Operate county government in a fiscally and managerially responsible manner.
3. Maintain a strong commitment to public safety.
4. Provide responsive and cost-effective social services.
5. Provide and enhance public infrastructure.
6. Remain committed to community and cultural programs and services.
7. Reduce the number of county facilities and ensure that all buildings are maintained at high standards.
8. Protect, support, and enhance Sutter County’s rich agricultural base.
9. Work in partnership to ensure timely implementation of the Sutter Pointe specific plan.
10. Implement forward-thinking and “best management practices.”

Read the full article here.