Best Practice P3s

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Problem

As traditional funding from the federal government has become increasingly uncertain, state and local governments are struggling to invest in the roads, power grids, and other kinds of infrastructure that we need to ‘build for the future’ in the changing economy. Without a standard set of rules around private funding for public infrastructure, it becomes much more difficult for both the government and private companies to fill this critical void.

Solution

Public Private Partnerships (P3s) are structures to essentially share resources to reduce the cost of construction, and therefore enable more projects, create the associated jobs, and literally build the kind of modern America we want to live in. Senator Keller is working to develop a standard set of best practices for public-private partnerships in order to untap private funding that can lower the cost and speed up infrastructure improvements while still ensuring accountability to the public.

One Stop for Veterans

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Problem

Current programs established to provide benefits and services to veterans often struggle to find and engage the veterans they are meant to serve. Veterans falling through the cracks to the point of homelessness, unemployment, marriage breakups, higher suicide rates only get help when they hit the bottom.

Solution

Mayor Warren proposed a municipally-sponsored Veterans Center, which combined socializing/networking, activities, and speakers along with the opportunity to speak to service providers. This has been a successful model for Newton to better serve the veterans in their community while providing a comfortable environment for them to engage with other veterans.

Digital Operating Agreement (OA)

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Problem

Entrepreneurs often face several challenges in getting their businesses off the ground because of high legal fees associated with making sure they meet legal formation requirements. Because of this financial burden, they may go without the legal and governance structure required to ensure the long-term success of their businesses.

Solution

Secretary Miller created the Digital OA, free software that allows limited-liability companies to exist entirely in digital form with basic legal protections and governance. Entrepreneurs who have never met but want to collaborate on something as simple as an iPhone app can meet via chat room, agree to terms on how to set up their business, form that entity online, and run the company without having met – all through the Digital OA. The program was designed to promote entrepreneurial growth, and allow entrepreneurs to focus their time and other resources on their core business. Digital OA is not simply a start-up resource providing formation structure, as it also serves as a common operational hub through which the company’s ongoing legally mandated meetings, decision making, and recording of events can be conducted.

Resilient Leadership Training

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Problem

Every year, counties are faced with disasters, whether man-made or natural. How a county responds to those disasters can have long-term effects on their economic recovery and future success. Strong leadership during times of crisis can help build resilience within a county and help that area recover faster.

Solution

County Supervisor Linda Langston has proposed a training program in Cedar Rapids to prepare local elected officials and key community members to manage and lead in crisis, particularly in disaster response. Better prepared leaders leads to better response, planning, and recovery after disaster and can help a county sustain its economic competitiveness even after facing such challenges.

Reporting of Elder Abuse

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Problem

Currently, the Oregon Department of Human Services (DHS) has an “ad-hoc” system of investigating reports of elder abuse. With no standard, central intake software or investigatory protocol, and each regional and local office collects reports and performs investigations in a purely subjective manner. This leads to long investigation times, unpredictability for facilities and employees being investigated, and inconsistency in treatment and protection of one of our most vulnerable populations.

Solution

House Majority Leader Hoyle has championed legislation to standardize protocol and software for reporting and investigating allegations of elder abuse. By having a uniform and predictable report and investigation protocol, the state can ensure DHS’ resources are being used in the most efficient and effective way possible, while still providing flexibility to acknowledge the nuance and sometimes subjective and emergency nature of elder abuse.

Enhancing Committee-based Governance

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Problem

When state governments are unable to pass critical legislation because of a lack of cooperation between parties and/or lack of public/private collaboration, everyone loses. This lack of legislative progress reduces trust in governing and hinders necessary reform.

Solution

Senator Duff argued that the state could create an inclusive, transparent model for legislative committees that benefits government, the private sector and citizens by promoting collaboration, fairness and bipartisanship. He implemented several policies to foster greater efficiency including requiring the minority party leadership to be involved in all meetings and decision making to garner strong bipartisan support. And by creating strong partnerships with community groups, nonprofits, and private stakeholders, the legislative committee has been able to create a collaborative environment to help bring solutions to the table that benefit everyone.

Crowdsourcing Iowa 911

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Problem

In our ever-developing digital world, traditional 911 procedures no longer empower citizens to immediately report emergencies. Crowdsourcing 911 by actively engaging citizens to use social media tools & text message alerts in a dynamic two-way conversation ensures timely information is available. Currently, some local public safety agencies were purchasing this technology on their own, layering in unnecessary costs all across Iowa, money that could be saved by having a statewide system available to all.

Solution

Senator Danielson has passed a bill to create Crowdsourcing Iowa 911, which integrates traditional dispatch for police, fire & EMS services with social media tools, empowering Iowans to be the ears & eyes of their communities, allowing for real-time two-way communication in a new & modern way. Iowa’s approach is innovative in that it cuts costs, speeds up the adoption of dynamic two-way 911 communication technologies and improves the interoperability of state & local public safety agencies.

Global Benefits Management Program

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Problem

Public employee benefits are often managed by different agencies, often with different goals and objectives. As a result, the customer experience varies significantly. In addition, the fine points of health and retirement benefits can be difficult to understand and can interfere with employees making optimum decisions for career advancement and retirement.

Solution

State Treasurer Cowell is in the process of merging state health benefits and state retirement benefits under common leadership to create a global benefits program. By combining the NC State Health Plan and the NC Retirement Benefits program, the state will be able to share data and data analytics capabilities, develop unified customer experience strategies, and develop more effective outreach opportunities. Ultimately, the Treasurer hopes to help employees develop a better sense of their financial and physical health and make the best possible benefit choices for their future success.

County and Municipal Fiscal Analysis Dashboard

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Problem

Local government officials are tasked with monitoring and reporting on the financial positions of government but have lacked a method of quickly comparing themselves to peer governments. As a result, it can be difficult for governments to benchmark financial performance and learn best practices related to financial management.

Solution

State Treasurer Cowell implemented the County and Municipal Fiscal Analysis Dashboard, an online tool that helps citizens and public officials evaluate the financial condition of a selected local government on various dimensions of resource flow and stock for governmental activities, general fund, water and sewer fund, and electric fund. This tool allows local governments to learn and implement best practices in financial management, increases government transparency and engages a broader citizen base to help build constituent trust in government.

Mayor’s Neighborhood University

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Problem

City government is on the front line in every neighborhood, but to be effective, it is important to to give a voice to young leaders and help cultivate the next generation of neighborhood leaders who will work to move our city forward.

Solution

The City of Tampa recently launched a “Mayor’s Neighborhood University”, a 12-week course modeled after a local Chamber of Commerce program for business professionals. During the program, participants learn about how City Government operates, as well as gain skills to help establish and maintain successful neighborhood organizations.

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