VOLUME 14  NO. 2

WE DO THE RIGHT THING RIGHT!

City’s New Customer Service Initiative
Promotes Excellence

One of three service improvement initiatives launched by Santa Monica City Manager P. Lamont Ewell earlier this year was to establish customer service standards that all city employees can achieve. An interdepartmental effort determined the fundamental service values and goals of the organization through an
investigation of current operations throughout the city, as well as research and refinement of best practices from a number of local jurisdictions. The resulting standards— expressed by the motto, “We Do the Right Thing Right!”—represent the core mission of all city employees to perform their duties with courtesy, dedication and a commitment to ethical behavior and service excellence.

These standards are intended to be as meaningful to our customers as they are to employees. A new customer service survey, available both on-line and via a postage-paid postcard, asks the public to let us know how we’re doing so that we can continually reevaluate our service delivery, making improvements where necessary and reinforcing the actions of employees that earn customers’ praise. To make your opinion known, please visit www.smgov.net and click on the “We Do the Right Thing Right” icon on the home page, or pick up a survey postcard at most city service counters. And be sure to look for the new Customer Service Standards posted in city offices and facilities, or view them on-line when you take the survey.

MAJOR MATTERS EXPECTED TO COME BEFORE CITY COUNCIL
FROM DECEMBER TO FEBRUARY

• Certification of Municipal Election Results and Installation of Newly Elected Officials (December 5)

• Status Reports on Homeless Initiatives

• Mid-Year Budget Report

• Update on State and Federal Legislative Efforts

• Child Care Linkage Program Impact Fee

• Interim Ordinance on Fences, Walls and Hedges

• Annual Financial Reports of City and Redevelopment Agency

• Pier Access Improvement Project

• Developer Cultural Requirement Ordinance

The long-range nature of this list means that some items may not be heard in the month originally scheduled, as new matters emerge and agendas are re-worked. No item will come to Council before the date originally published. Also available on-line at www.smgov.net.

NEW SMOKING BAN BRINGS MORE
FRESH AIR TO SANTA MONICA

Santa Monicans have one more thing to be thankful for this year—fresher air. The “Fresh Air Santa Monica” campaign is educating the community about the new smoking regulations that the City Council voted unanimously to approve in October and that take effect on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2006. The new ordinance prohibits smoking in a number of new outdoor locations, including all outdoor dining areas, areas within 20 feet of all entrances, exits and open windows of buildings open to the public, the Third Street Promenade, all
outdoor waiting areas, such as ATMs, bus stops and movie lines, and all farmers’ markets. Local regulation already prohibits outdoor smoking at all city parks, beaches and the Santa Monica Pier.

The Council’s action was prompted by a February 2006 report of the California Air Resources Board which deemed tobacco smoke a toxic air contaminant and found that outdoor levels of tobacco smoke can rise to the same concentrations found indoors. The same report noted new scientific evidence linking secondhand smoke to increased breast cancer rates in younger, non-smoking women. Similarly, a recently issued report by the U.S. Surgeon General concluded, among other things, that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke. It cited “massive and conclusive scientific evidence” showing that secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in adults and children including cancer, cardiovascular disease and asthma.

The new ban will primarily be enforced through education, awareness and voluntary compliance. If necessary, and if a smoker refuses a request to stop smoking in a prohibited location, police officers may also give citations. The maximum penalty for violations is $250. The ordinance does not place liability upon business owners whose buildings are open to the public; however, they are expected to request that their customers obey the law, as with similar laws prohibiting indoor smoking, fighting and disturbing the peace. For more information on the smoking ban, please visit www.freshairsantamonica.org or call (310) 458-8336.

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LAW ENFORCEMENT VETERAN PICKED FOR CITY’S TOP POLICE POST

Timothy Jackman, deputy chief of the Long Beach Police Department and a 23-year veteran of the force, has been selected to lead the Santa Monica Police Department. City Manager P. Lamont Ewell announced Jackman’s appointment as police chief following a two-month, nationwide selection process that included interviews of the top seven finalists by a panel of residents, businesses representatives, clergy, and school officials. He will assume the post on December 11, 2006.

“I am impressed with Mr. Jackman’s balanced background and leadership ability, as well as his strong commitment to working with and including the community in decision making,” Ewell said. “I know Mr. Jackman will be as successful here as he has been in Long Beach.”

With extensive experience in both field operations and administration, Jackman has covered the spectrum of public safety posts from community relations to internal affairs, information technology to terrorism prevention.

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