10/01/1980 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Smith said that she feels this is an excellent idea. She feels that publicity is the key and infermation should be distributed to neighborheod groups threugh their newsletters. Ms. Baker responded that that had already been done. Mr. Delay stated he also felt it was an excellent e idea. Fer the future, he suggested a staff and boards and cemmissions picnic which would give people a chance to get together infermally. Mr. Obie stated this is an opportunity to recognize those whe have given assistance to the ceuncil. He suggested that Ms. Smith act as liaisen for the' council te work with Ms. Baker. Ms. Miller stated that the open heuse is a goed idea. She alse asked if during this process .of appointments there might be a chance te eliminate committees where no interest is shewn in participation. Council ccnsensus was for Ms. Baker to preceed with her plans. v. INTERGOVERNMENTAL PERSONNEL ACT GRANT DEVELOPMENTAL ASSESSMENT CENTER (meme distributed) Mr. Whitlew stated that the purpose of this preposal is te determine training needs fer City and Ceunty employees and to help these personnel departments to better serve employees in thehepe of reducing turnever. This training will result in better morale and improved werk on the job. John O'Cenner, Persennel, is available te answer questiens. Mr. Lieuallen stated that he has spent time loeking at assessment centers. His main cencern is hew the program will affect Persennel's budget after the grant meneys are gene and the program is developed. Eventually, this e will save the City money but it is also going to cest meney initially. He asked for the approximate cest within a year or so. Mr. O'Cenner respended that there is a cest in staff time but these cests will be offset by the elimination .of seme present training activities. This will result in better training and will give better data. Mr. Lieuallen asked what it will cost on a percentage basis or in dellar figures. Mr. O'Cenner stated that it will take more staff time but the effect on the total budget will be very minor. Mr. Lieuallen stated he feels empleyee training is important and can be very beneficial, but this is a new direction. He feels the council sheuld be aware that assessment centers for training are a new field. The Budget Cemmittee and the ceuncil should try to stay en top .of this fer the first few years. The field .of assessment centers is .only abeut 15 or 20 years old and it was originally used te hire and premete empleyees but the fecus has been shifted into training, persennel skill techniques, and career develepment. This is designed fer empleyees whe want te meve up se that they can learn new skills. It is possible to go .overboard with a project like this. Seme people see it as "trendy.1I Some other jurisdictiens use assessment centers in various ways with varying results. Mr. O'Cennor stated that this grant will be used to develop a pregram. A censultant will be hired with the grant money. This is a portion of Staff Services' work plan which is submitted te the City Manager and it will be shared with the council. Mr. L ieuallen expressed additienal cencern about using assessment centers as the .only mechanism fer skill develepment. 10/1/80--6 .