City looks to improve communications, customer service
The City of Redondo Beach is set to begin a new project to improve its customer service.
The six-month effort, approved by the city council at its September 5 meeting, includes monthly team meetings and city-wide customer service training with a focus on consistent messaging to residents.
“The external (communication) is a direct reflection of the quality and the health of internal communication,” said Elizabeth Hause, assistant to the city manager.
The project originated during city council strategic planning meetings. It’s meant to improve customer experience, address “brand alignment” (uniform email sign-offs, etc.) and to encourage community involvement in new ways.
A previous, related plan was created in 2009 and updated in 2017 to account for social media.
According to Hause, the earlier directives “lack in application measures and offer little structure on how to engage employees in the implementation effort.”
This year, over the spring and summer, a group of city staff has worked on the new project with representatives from each department.
Forbes leaves, Scully takes over community development
Sean Scully, previous Redondo Beach planning manager, is now acting community development director, after the Sept. 7 departure of Brandy Forbes to become community development director of Rancho Palos Verdes.
She worked for Redondo Beach for five years in the role. Scully has worked for the city for the past seven years.
“Please, as a community, go easy on him,” said City Manager Mike Witzannsky, with a smile.
Chamber of Commerce to cut ribbon on new office
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon-cutting Sept. 20 for its new office at the Beach Cities Health District campus on Prospect Avenue. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. with the Chamber’s September Happy Hour Mixer to follow. The address is 514 N. Prospect Ave., Suite 301.
BCHD honored fifth time for financial reporting
Beach Cities Health District has been honored for the fifth consecutive year for “transparency and full disclosure” in financial reporting by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). The award is for BCHD’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending in June 2022.
“The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting, judged by an impartial panel to meet the program’s high standards,” said Michele Mark Levine, GFOA director of technical services.
The GFOA began its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting in 1945. ER
