By Kathryn Kretschmer-Weyland
November 21, 2005

The United States Conference of Mayors recently welcomed EMA as its newest Platinum Member. Based in Minneapolis'st. Paul, EMA uses industry best practices to maximize the effectiveness of city government operations. Working closely with the mayor and department heads on operations ranging from everyday business practices to the latest technology, EMA expanded in 2004 from its traditional base in utilities and public works, to all municipal operations. Recognizing that cities are faced with shrinking budgets, aging infrastructure, regulatory pressures, the soaring cost of benefits and a demanding customer base, the mayor’s job is one of the toughest around. EMA’s public sector team, under the leadership of Judith Cascio, is focused on identifying and capturing opportunities for cities to save money, avoid privatization of jobs, and achieve the greatest possible return on revenue. EMA’s expertise includes proficiency in a wide array of areas including public works, health and human services, finance, and citizen response. EMA focuses on providing municipalities with an overall assessment, suggested efficiencies, and implementation services.

xpertise includes proficiency in a wide array of areas including public works, health and human services, finance, and citizen response. EMA focuses on providing municipalities with an overall assessment, suggested efficiencies, and implementation services.

Saving City Dollars/Maximizing City Resources/Alternative to Privatization

EMA’s expertise has been utilized by Louisville-Jefferson County, Hartford, and Colorado Springs. Cascio is currently leading an organization-practices-technology project with the city of Akron; an ongoing effort that has, to-date, saved the Akron Public Utilities Bureau $11 million with zero layoffs. The project is now expanding across Akron’s entire public works operation.

“I was skeptical at first,” said Akron Finance Director Diane Miller-Dawson. “I am no longer skeptical. If they (EMA) say they can do it, I tend to believe that they can because they’ve proven it. The economics work.”

“Mayors can benefit from the best practices in management that EMA brings to the table,” says Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic. “Akron has reduced the number of employees needed to provide good service through increased productivity, while utilizing a team-based approach that allows our employees to have a voice in how we manage the operation.”

Working hand in hand with the mayor, municipal managers, employees, and unions, EMA identifies new efficiencies, service enhancements and sustainable solutions that can improve productivity, eliminate waste, and yield improved resource management and financial savings.

“Every city’s needs are different,” Cascio said. “The key is to identify what the real needs are and then devise a plan that makes sense. For some cities, it is a one-call service delivery system or 311 as it is commonly known or the implementation of enhanced GIS (Geographic Information System) technology. For others it might be organizational alignment, workforce development, asset management, systems integration or technology or infrastructure. The solution is tailored to the specific needs of the city and its mayor.”

“Platinum Member EMA significantly enhances USCM’s ability to bring the best in best practices to our cities,” said Conference Executive Director Tom Cochran. “It is the goal of the Conference to lead not only in public policy initiatives and legislative matters but to bring the best industry resources to our mayors and cities.”