The Observation Deck

I've heard some talk on threads and in the city council meeting about CitiStat. I'm not familiar with it and did some research. This next excerpt is from an article on the City of Baltimore's use of the software, "CitiStat is a computer database system that allows the City of Baltimore to regularly review every aspect of its city government. This advance in public administration, in use since 2000, serves as a transparent accountability and management tool through which the city can collect and thoroughly analyze data on an array of civic issues, including city workers, potholes, housing, leaf collection, and many more.

CitiStat is not complicated. It simply allows the Mayor to run his city more efficiently. The technology fueling it is derived from off-the-shelf software, costing Baltimore only $20,000. In total, CitiStat cost the city only $285,000 to set up, which included four full-time staffers, renovations to the new CitiStat Room in City Hall, and the software. The idea behind it was pioneered by the New York City Police Department's CompStat program, which played a significant role in the reduction in crime throughout the city in the 1990s.

In fiscal year 2001, the impact that CitiStat had on Baltimore's budget was an estimated savings of over $13 million, mostly the result of reduced operational costs, increased revenue streams, reduced absenteeism and accident time utilization, and terminated costly and inconsistent initiatives."

It sounds as if Lakewood bought this software? Is this true? Do some people and/or political figures feel the city is not using it to it's full potential?

Dave Sharosky wrote:It sounds as if Lakewood bought this software? Is this true? Do some people and/or political figures feel the city is not using it to it's full potential?

The City has already announced that they don't anticipate any cost savings or operating efficiencies.

A City 10 times the size of Lakewood was able to implement the program citywide in about a year and realize savings of tens of millions of dollars. Apparently they weren't aware that the Citistat program is not meant to save money or increase operating efficiencies.

Some cities have a bureaucracy. In Lakewood the bureaucracy has a city.

Dave Sharosky wrote:It sounds as if Lakewood bought this software? Is this true? Do some people and/or political figures feel the city is not using it to it's full potential?

Dave

From what I know of this which is very little I believe we got a scaled down version of citistat. Right now only being used in a handful of departments.

I do know that at the Waste Water Department, they were actually keeping better management numbers that CitiStat could handle.

Sgt. Ed Favre is in charge of implimentation of CitiStat, and loves talking about it. Rarely posts here as he is busy and had a really bad experience on forums.

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Dave Sharosky wrote:I've heard some talk on threads and in the city council meeting about CitiStat. I'm not familiar with it and did some research. This next excerpt is from an article on the City of Baltimore's use of the software, "CitiStat is a computer database system that allows the City of Baltimore to regularly review every aspect of its city government. This advance in public administration, in use since 2000, serves as a transparent accountability and management tool through which the city can collect and thoroughly analyze data on an array of civic issues, including city workers, potholes, housing, leaf collection, and many more.

CitiStat is not complicated. It simply allows the Mayor to run his city more efficiently. The technology fueling it is derived from off-the-shelf software, costing Baltimore only $20,000. In total, CitiStat cost the city only $285,000 to set up, which included four full-time staffers, renovations to the new CitiStat Room in City Hall, and the software. The idea behind it was pioneered by the New York City Police Department's CompStat program, which played a significant role in the reduction in crime throughout the city in the 1990s.

In fiscal year 2001, the impact that CitiStat had on Baltimore's budget was an estimated savings of over $13 million, mostly the result of reduced operational costs, increased revenue streams, reduced absenteeism and accident time utilization, and terminated costly and inconsistent initiatives."

It sounds as if Lakewood bought this software? Is this true? Do some people and/or political figures feel the city is not using it to it's full potential?

Thank you for an independent perspective. Citistat is not software. It uses Microsoft products to quantify the data that is gathered through the management process.

Citistat is a management tool. There is no "scaled down" version only scaled down implementation. You're absolutely correct about larger cities doing this in a shorter time and realizing immense savings. The key to Citistat is the buyin of the administration. The Citistat folks were very clear. The committment of the administration is key for maximum success.