Title
Approving the Audit Committee’s recommendation to support opportunities for collaboration, cost-sharing, and process improvement between the Saint Paul Public Library and the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department in engaging a consultant to assess current operations and make recommendations aimed at improving service delivery and ensuring efficient use of City resources.
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WHEREAS, the Saint Paul Audit Committee was established in August 2020; and
WHEREAS, the Audit Committee’s mission is to evaluate the financial and program performance of City departments to build public trust and ensure outstanding service delivery, transparency, and accountability; and
WHEREAS, the Audit Committee is in its third year of doing this work and considered several audit topics received from committees of the City Council, resident survey, staff survey, and engagement with the 17 district councils; and
WHEREAS, at its October 2, 2023 meeting, the Audit Committee invited Saint Paul Public Library and the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department to discuss how the Committee could assist the two departments in their efforts to identify opportunities for collaboration, cost-sharing, and process improvement; and
WHEREAS, at its December 4, 2023 meeting, the Audit Committee members and advisors expressed a strong willingness to support the Saint Paul Public Library and the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department in engaging a consultant to assess current operations and make recommendations aimed at improving service delivery and ensuring efficient use of City resources; and
WHEREAS, there are opportunities to streamline processes and workflows within each department; examine service delivery of departments and identify areas of existing or potential redundancy; identify opportunities for consolidation and collaboration; evaluate both departments on the utilization of resources, such as staff, facilities, equipment, and technology; and identify any opportunities for improved service to the community between the Libraries and Parks; and
WHEREAS, the acting members, with the advice and support of the advisors, decided that further study is needed to examine the two departments to enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and optimize resource allocation; and, now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council hereby approves the recommendation of the Audit Committee to conduct a study that would provide opportunities for collaboration, cost-sharing, and process improvement between the Saint Paul Public Library and the Saint Paul Parks and Recreation Department.