MPA Capstone Learning and Professional Development Portfolio

MPA Capstone Learning and Professional Development Portfolio
Piece of Evidence Cover Sheet
Name: Samuel T. Weekley
Title/Label of Evidence: An Analysis of Policy Analysis Tools for Policy
Recommendation: Stanley Park
Type of Evidence:
o Course assignment for (identify class): RES 562, Program Evaluation in the
Public Sector, Dr. Norma Antuanano
o Internship artifact for (identify internship):
_____________________________________
o Written reflection produced for the portfolio
o Other (explain):
__________________________________________________________________
__
Competency/capacity addressed: 2d: Design policy implementation methodology
Self Assessment
Score: 2
Criteria you have met: Possesses a rudimentary understanding of policy
implementation processes within specific contexts.
Instructor Assessment
Score: ___________
Check list:
o Written assessment follows completed rubric
o Evidence is located after written assessment or may be found under another
tab/page of the portfolio (add location):
_________________________________________
o Additional supporting evidence included
Written as a course-required assignment for RES 562, Policy Analysis in the
Public Sector, this piece focuses on the tools required to conduct a policy analysis,
and produce substantive results. Using the City of Kelsey simulation my team and I
were expected to provide a recommendation report for the Mayor of the City of
Kelsey detailing the process, and identifying the necessary tools for conducting a
policy analysis of a simulated project called the Stanley Park Project. Using a
simulated budget, as well as a well-known book by author William Dunn (2008)
entitled Public Policy Analysis: An Introduction, our team identified performance
measurement as the number one challenge facing the implementation of this
simulated project. Performance measurement has the capacity to facilitate an
environment conducive for efficiency, as well as providing transparency to
constituencies concerned or interested in public affairs and policy. My team and I
also recommended a series of improvements that needed to be made to the current
policy to ensure fiscal accountability, and transparency through the budgeting
process.
Stanley Park Stakeholder Recommendations
Name:
Course:
Instructor:
Samuel T. Weekley
RES 562
Dr. Norma Antuanano
Introduction
The City of Kelsey is experiencing a situation that requires a reassessment of the
Stanley Park project. Before the city can decide what changes they will make to the
project, the current state of the city, along with how the changes will affect the citizens of
Kelsey, needs to be assessed. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the situation of the
city and to use this information to identify performance measurement tools that will allow
the city to identify the ideal and practical changes for the park project. Once this is done,
the city will be able to make a recommendation for changes to the proposed project.
Community Situation for City of Kelsey
The City of Kelsey has a population of 625,000 residents (University of Phoenix,
2011). The population is trending upwards with substantial growth in families with
children. The city has a relatively low crime rate, positive business climate, low
unemployment rate, and amenities for residents that include parks, restaurants and good
schools.
The problem the city is faced with is providing adequate recreational facilities for
the growing population, particularly young people. The increase in population was the
main issue that resulted in the idea of the Stanley Park project because the city’s Parks
and Recreation Department had detected an increase in the use of the current recreational
facilities. These facilities were unable to accommodate the population or special requests
for facility use.
The Stanley Park project created a way to address the need for additional
recreational facilities by including in its’ site planning documents: athletic facilities,
community center, restroom amenities easily accessible for park patrons and access to a
walking track.
The most important information to be considered in the decision for the city to
proceed with the Stanley Park project would be to employ the forecasting methods of
projection and prediction to ascertain if the facilities offered at the park will
accommodate the increased population utilizing the city’s recreational facilities. The City
of Kelsey’s Mayor and City Council had to consider the projected number of residents
wanting to use the new facilities and predict whether the proposed recreational facilities
would allow the increased use of facilities to accommodate all city residents.
Effects of Community Situation on Approach to Program Evaluation
The City of Kelsey utilized a management-oriented approach to program
evaluation in developing the Stanley Park project. The management-oriented approach
cements the program decision-maker’s need for evaluation results, the reason being that
evaluative information is an essential part of good decision-making.
The city’s Mayor and City Council reviewed all information regarding the
trending population growth for the city and the need for new recreational facilities to
accommodate the growing population. All affected stakeholders in the city were given an
opportunity to provide feedback regarding the Stanley Park project and the final decision
to proceed with the project was made only after all information was gathered.
Policy Recommendation Tools
Cost benefit analysis is a method for policy recommendation that allows the
analyst to compare the total cost versus the net benefit of a program or policy, and is used
to “recommend policy action and to evaluate policy performance” (Dunn, 2008, p. 234).
Varying factors such as internal versus external and tangible versus intangible benefits
are measured to determine the cost value, and net value of the program or policy in
question. Problem structuring, specifying objectives and goals, identifying alternative
solutions, target groups and beneficiaries, an information search (as well as the
interpretation of the data produced from that search), a cost-value estimation of the
perceived benefits, and a recommendation based on this data are tasks that Dunn (2008)
deems “important for making maximally plausible recommendations” (Dunn, 2008, p.
238).
The budget crisis that Kelsey currently faces and the loss of the federal justice
grant by the Kelsey police department are examples of scenarios where cost benefit
analysis is used as a method for program policy evaluation and recommendation. The
outside contractor charged with the audit of the Kelsey police department must consider
numerous contrasting factors based on stakeholder input when determining the possible,
plausible, or likely outcomes of the policy in question. These combined factors are what
is commonly referred to as multi-attribute analysis, and they allow the auditor and the
policy analyst the ability to determine accurately agents such as stakeholder
identification, specification of relevant issues and possible, plausible, or likely policy
outcomes, identification, ranking, and scaling of attributes and benefits, and a
measurement of the policy outcomes, which enable the auditor and the analyst with the
ability to view the policy from the standpoint of the stakeholders who are the most
concerned with the current program policy.
Prior to the budget cuts Kelsey would be expected to notify the police department
that a budget review will take place, which ensures that ample opportunity was provided
for Kelsey’s police department to justify its loss. As the police department prepares for
the audit, the city’s budget review board will contract an outside accounting firm to audit
the Kelsey police department, and to assist in forecasting potential, plausible, and likely
outcomes of the loss of the federal protection grant. For example Kelsey’s police
department spent close to $13 million in taxpayer revenue in 2005-2006, so the primary
objective of the audit will be focused on seeking ways that Kelsey’s police department
could better utilize the funding that they currently receive.
Once the audit is complete, the outside accounting firm produces a final tally of
financial statements, and policy recommendations, which is presented to the budget board
to review and analyze. The budget board is charged with analyzing these statistics and
recommendations as well as seeking financial inefficiencies to that funding can be
utilized much more effectively. The result is an accurate recommendation made by the
budget review board for new or revised policy consideration.
Ideal Alternatives As budget constraints cause other locally funded programs to be reduced and restructured, city officials must determine ideal alternatives for the residents of Kelsey. Already established are the values of residents, including healthy living, education, and fiscal prominence (University of Phoenix, 2011). The ideal alternatives are those that encompass these values and maximize benefits while reducing costs. One alternative is to create a city garden designed to improve the local ecosystem may increase healthy urban lifestyles while creating eligibility for government grants and lower water bills to the facility (Byrne & Wolch, 2009). In addition, a water collection system to recycle water runoff will reduce water costs. Another alternative is to eliminate the technology annex and increase community access to the school and library will maximize return on investment of taxpayer dollars already allocated to the school district for these upgrades. The city may also choose to access volunteers to teach technology training courses as requested. City council may choose to establish or increase monthly membership fees for individuals and families using park resources. However, this alternative may have a negative impact of decreased park use as many in the community are unemployed and household budgets are constrained. The park may choose to delay this alternative until the park is well established and the local economy is stabilized. Finally, using the local police station or hiring off-­‐duty police officers instead of funding police department substation is a better alternative to the onsite police substation. This will help keep police officers working and alleviate funding in the community. Practical Alternatives Although ideal alternatives benefit the taxpayers, these options may be inefficient to implement or not benefit the local economy and society. Practical alternatives are those that may be implemented while remaining inline with established values and goals (Dunn, 2008). Creating the city garden benefits the ecosystem and may generate revenue with sales at farmers market, encourage community involvement in creation and upkeep, increase government grants to the community for developing the ecosystem. The garden is practical to implement because community volunteers are available and materials are inexpensive, but the potential return is significant. In addition, elimination of the technology annex and increasing community access to school and local library resources is a practical and readily available alternative. Funding has already been committed to the school district toward technology improvements and upgrades. Technology resources were intended for children to work on homework, adults for job searches and recreation, and senior citizens to learn more about technology. However, with other available options and a shortfall in funding, these funds would benefit other community ventures in a more positive manner. Finally, using the current police station and staff is a more practical alternative than building a separate substation, as police department budgets have already decreased. Hiring off-­‐duty officers to patrol periodically is more cost-­‐
efficient than funding several full-­‐time officers, especially in a community with low crime statistics. This alternative has the added benefit of additional income to the public service workers who have experienced wage adjustments. Proposed Improvements
The proposed improvements to Stanley Park must meet both the needs of the City
of Kelsey as well as be within the fiscal constraints of the budget. Using the practical
alternatives outlined above, the city will be able to meet both needs. Repurposing areas
of the park to assist with revenue generation will allow the operating expenses of the park
to decrease. Based on this, the proposed improvements for Stanley Park need to be
centered on the ideas of repurposing space and revenue generation.
One of the predicted values of the park was for the park to accommodate larger
groups for meetings and social events. With the removal of the technology center, this
building should be repurposed to accommodate larger events. Rental fees can be assessed
for these events to assist with revenue generation for the park. In addition, the building
that would have housed the police sub-station should be used to accommodate both the
off-duty patrolmen and park staff. This will reduce needed office space for park staff.
The second proposal for the park is to create a community garden for residents. A
community garden helps to promote healthy living, which benefits the city residents. The
city can use the gardens to promote a sense of community. Moreover, environmentally,
the gardens may result in a suitable habitat for particular wildlife species (Musacchio &
Forsyth, 2006). A community garden will be in line with the goals for the park because it
will provide an environment that meets the needs of the community and promotes a
healthy lifestyle.
Conclusion
Stanley Park was designed to meet the recreational needs of the community. The
objectives may have changed, but the goal has not. Through creative repurposing of
structures and access to other facilities, the City of Kelsey will be able to meet the
community needs while staying within the budget. These changes will not require
residents to sacrifice the value the park will bring in the forms of revenue, environmental
returns, and economic growth.
References
Byrne, J., & Wolch, J. (2009). Nature, race, and parks: Past research and future directions
for geographic research. Progress in Human Geography, 33(6), 743-765.
Dunn, W. N. (2008). Public policy analysis: An introduction. (4th ed.). Upper Saddle
River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Musacchio, L., & Forsyth, A. (2006). Things considered. Parks & Recreation, 41( 4), 4247.
University of Phoenix. (2011). City of Kelsey [Computer Software]. Retrieved from
University of Phoenix, Simulation, RES/562 website.