KUCIMAT Winter 2007 Newsletter

KUCIMAT Awards 2006

Jonathan Douglass (Class of 2006) - 2006 Intern Excellence Award

Jonathan has worked in the City Manager’s Office in Lawrence, KS, since May 2005. He completed his full time internship in an exceptional manner and, in early 2006, was offered another year of employment in the City Manager’s Office, following the completion of his MPA degree.  The initial offer of a Management Assistant position was due to the many excellent qualities Jonathan exhibited during his internship – enthusiasm, willingness to learn, teamwork, organizational skills, research abilities, and the leadership he had shown in various projects assigned to him during the year.

Then, in March 2006, the City Manager of Lawrence left the City’s employment.  Needless to say, this left our office shorthanded, in the midst of many projects already underway, including the preparation of the 2007 budget, completing the 2007 – 2011 Capital Improvement Plan, embarking upon labor negotiations with our Police and Fire/Medical organizations, as well as some major capital improvement projects (new wastewater treatment plant, downtown waterline project, Kasold Street rebuilding project, etc.).  As Jonathan was processing our offer of employment as a Management Assistant (which is a one year offer of employment that the City Manager’s Office makes to worthy interns after successfully completing their one year internship), we reviewed our staffing issues and decided to re-classify the position to a Management Analyst position, which Jonathan then accepted.  This offer of a position of higher responsibility and greater expectations was not made lightly, but was due to the abilities Jonathan displayed during his internship and the City’s belief that he would be an attribute to the organization as he further developed his skills as a municipal administrator. 

A list of some of Jonathan’s tasks/responsibilities follows.

• Member of the 2007 Budget team – worked with departments and City Manager’s Office to prepare recommended budget document for City Commission review
• Member of the negotiating team for new Memorandum of Understanding with Lawrence Police Officer’s Association
• City Manager’s Office representative to the Lawrence/Douglas County Fire/Medical Department’s Strategic Planning process
• Authors weekly City Manager’s Report for City Commission agenda
• Develops calendar of events/activities for bi-weekly Management Team meetings
• Conducts mini-audits on a variety of issues for the Interim City Manager
• Project leader – Train Horn Quiet Zone
• Research – 311 and 211, surge planning
• Project leader – City’s Grant Team
• Project leader – Comprehensive Vehicle Plan (replacement plan, take home vehicle policy, vehicle purchase guidelines, etc.)
• Drafts for various policies – e.g. Airport Event Policy, Web-based Policies, etc.
• Project leader – All-America City Award
• Staff Liaison – Pedestrian Advisory Committee

Debbie Van Saun
Assistant City Manager
Lawrence, KS