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SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />Additional Responses to City Council Agenda Items – April 10, 2025 <br /> <br />Special Meeting <br /> <br /> <br />Internal Services and Operational Support <br /> <br />1. Reduction #1 - Further reduce general admin costs (pp. 7-8) <br />a. Is any reduction to the City Council training budget included in the proposal? <br /> <br />Yes, the proposed reduction includes a $10,000 reduction to the City Council <br />travel and training budget, leaving approximately $16,700 in the budget. This <br />means that City dollars for City Council conference attendance should be <br />available for travel, consistent with the City Council travel and training <br />(reimbursement) policy. <br /> <br />This Travel and Training Expense Budget also covers regional events, Chamber <br />activities such as the State of the City, and the Alameda County Mayors <br />Conference. <br /> <br />2. Reduction #3 - Reduce professional services and contracts (pp. 8-9) <br />a. What is the cost of executive coaching contracts citywide? <br /> <br />In FY 24/25 the City has spent approximately $22,500 on executive coaching and <br />associated services. Current contracts also include leadership and workshop <br />facilitation, leadership development, and evaluation (employee and <br />organizational) services. <br /> <br />While contracts like executive coaching for the City’s executive team and/or <br />managers can be eliminated by the Council during the budget process, <br />eliminating the City Manager’s executive coaching contract would require a <br />change to the City Manager’s employment agreement during an annual <br />performance review. <br /> <br />For context, this type of support is standard practice for City executives and <br />others in leadership roles. The City has used coaching off and on in most <br />departments for many years to improve leadership abilities, identify practical <br />solutions, support retention, and in some cases, minimize potential personnel- <br />related legal claims. <br /> <br />Beyond the individual interactions, coaches provide resources and materials to <br />address City needs in a more efficient manner – often saving significant staff time <br />and City funds by identifying best practices and practical solutions to issues the <br />City is facing. Coaching is also a useful tool for promoting organizational stability <br />– it is often much more cost effective to partner an executive with a coach to work <br />through an issue than it is to lose the executive and recruit a new team member.