November 24, 2013Article

North Denver Tribune: Denver Named Trendsetter in Delivering Highest Quality Services for Lowest Possible Cost

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Denver was named a national trendsetter for using data to provide better services for residents. In response to the recognition from Results for America and The Bridgespan Group, Mayor Michael B. Hancock shared the secret to the City and County of Denver’s success: its employees.

“Denver is a $1 billion operation, and we owe it to our residents to make smart business decisions with every penny,” Mayor Hancock said. “Through the leadership of our greatest asset – city employees – we are delivering the highest quality services at the lowest possible cost.”

In 2011, the Mayor began to change the culture of city government by creating an innovation training program that empowers city employees to identify inefficiencies, reduce waste and increase customer service.

The “Peak Academy” initiative has trained nearly 2,000 employees and has identified more than $11 million in savings to date. The savings in time and money are then redirected toward improving programs that provide a strong return on investment.

“In a climate where morale is traditionally low and government staff are asked to do more with less, this initiative brings people together—whatever their title – to problem solve,” Chief Performance Officer David Edinger said. “The overall aim is for staff to become innovators, changing the way the city operates to deliver better services.”