Background Information
The city of Burlington is located in Eastern Iowa and is one of the nine cities in this project. For more detailed information about the city, please go to: www.burlington.lib.ia.us/maincity/maincity.htm.
In fall 2000, the city administration expressed interest in the concept of citizen-initiated performance assessment. Later, the mayor and the city council, as well as a group of citizen representatives also gave support to the concept and decided to participate in the project.
Beginning in June 2001, the city of Burlington will implement citizen-initiated performance assessment in selected public services, and evaluate whether it may expand the mechanism to other services in the future. This information brochure is intended to give citizen representatives who participate in the project some background information about the operation and major responsibilities of the Burlington city government.
Governing Structure
As of 2001, the following are the members of the city council:
Mayor Tim Scott, Jack Wehrle, Garry Thomas, Mike Edwards and Rod Kellog.
The city council appoints the city manager, Bruce Slagle, who provides managerial assistance to the council in the daily operation of the city government. The city council also appoints various boards and committees, such as the library board, to help the governance of the city. Since 1997, the city also conducts a semi-annual Citizen Police Academy to help citizens understand the police operation.
Major Responsibilities of the City Government
The city government is responsible for four major areas of public services:
1. Community Protection (per-capita spending in FY2001: $270)
Police, fire, ambulance, inspection, and other protective services
2. Home and Community Development (per-capita spending in FY2001: $717)
Community and economic development, community beautification, housing, snow
removal, garbage/landfill, airport, public works, water utility, and transit
3. Human Development (per-capita spending in FY2001: $164)
Library, park and recreation, museum, band, and theater, community center, zoo,
and marina
4. Policy and Administration (per-capita spending in FY2001: $53)
City manager's office, finance, and other administrative functions
Citizen Performance Team
The following citizens are the members of the citizen performance team:
Jim Egerton, Dick Distelhorst, Gary Roberts, Rev. Pat Genereux, Dave Hanrahan,
Matt Hennemann, Bill Ell, Karen Clay, Lyn Stinson, Dan Luttenegger, Bob McAnally,
Juanita Kirby, Mike Edwards, Merry Ford, Emily Ertz
They are responsible for developing performance measures for the Iowa CIPA project.