HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - March 5, 2003 D-03aAGENDA TITLE: E: presentation Of The 2003 League Of California Cities Award For The Advancement
Of Diverse Communities To The City Manager
MEETING DATE-, Burch 5, 2003
BACKGROUND. It `SI B Debbie Olson, Regional Representative with the League of California
Cities (LCC), will present City Manager Flynn with the.003 LCC
Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communitie& This award
was established by the LCC to honer a city manager or assistant who
has been most successful in promoting the advancement of diversity within the community• and. the
workplace through the development and impiementation of effective programs, policies, and/or practices
encouraging diversity.
FUNDING. none required.
IJBIJ AP
Susan J. Blackston
City Clerk
.-_. Dixon Flynn -- Cify Morar
iaiM
League of California Cities
NOMINATION OF H. DIXON FLYNN
CITY MANAGER, City of Lodi
L�aggue of California Cities Award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities, 2003
City Managers Department
11111 Film,
professlon
Implemented, encourage,d, and supported programs that provide.employment
opportunities. for people with disabilities
1. For almost three years, a young autistic man has been employed in the
City Manager's office.
1 In the summQr of 2001, the Public Works Streets Division be.gan a
pro grmn that utilizes a work crew provided by UCPA (United Cerebral
Palsy Association) to clean various city parking lots and facilities.
3. Work crews provided by UCP A renders landscaping services at the City's
Conn-punity Center, Hutchins Street Square
4. During his tenure as Finance Director at Presidio, instituted program that
employed 22 hearing impaired people
Developed progoTain that employed disabled work crews for downtown
maintenance while working for the City of San Luis Obispo,
* South Asian Culture Club
1, Relpe d group of young Pakistani -American risen to plan, organizo, and
realize their dream of having a "Pakistani Independence Day ela" at a
public park
2. Encouraged individuals in the group to believe in their own self-worth by
teaching them how to run an effective meeting, how to fund -raise for their
cause, and how to coordinate an event
3. Contributed, with both time and personal financial support, to the event
* Project Breakthrough
I , Encouraged the establishment and participated in an organization,
established after a cross burning at a local high school in the 1990,swhose
goal is to build bridges between groups in Lodi that have traditionally
been at odds
2. Encouraged staff to participate in organization
* Celebration on Central
I , Facilitated in the planning and implementation of a multi -cultural,
educ,ati onal event that, for the last 3 years, has attracted approximately 5-
6000 people
2. Encoura ed staff to participate on a vol -antecT basis
. 9
3, Authorized Public Safety Staff to participate in event
Community Partnership for Fainifies of San Joaquin
I. Member of organization whose, mission is to more efficiently deliver
services
2. Encouraged and provided resources for others on staff to participate
I Dedicated staff and provided resources for staff to participate in
organization and facilitating establishment of Neighborhood Service
Center in Lodi
4. Participating in educational workshop for first-time home buyers and
finw-icial assistance
After School Programs in under -served neighborhoods
I. 'Lodi City Council directed. that all after school progranis provided by the
City of Lodi would have 100% cost recovery. Many students living on
Lodi's impoverished East Side, however, were not able to afford the cost
of the service, Mr. Flynn directed staff to seek grant funding in order to
serve the less privileged portion of the community. Because of this
direction, the three schools whose population could Dot afford the monthly
fee of after school child care now have quality programs serving
approximately 420 students annually
* Advocate of employee training and education programs
* Encourages (actually, badgers!) staff to pursue degrees
* Significant increase in the number of women working in the mid- and
executive management level within the City of Ladi. since his appotutment
NOMINATION ION F H. DEXON FLYNN
CITY MANAGER, City of Lodi
League of California Cities award for the Advancement of Diverse Communities, 2003
City -Managers Department
The City of Lodi is a community of just ender 60,000 residents located in
California's fertile Sari Joaquin Valley. A general law city established in 1906, its
economic as well as cultural bases are rooted in the well-established German farms
fa i6i s that immigrated to California in the, nineteemb century. The winegrape industry.:
continues to dominate the local economy and many of the growers are descendants, fifth:
and sixth generation, of the original landowners.
Over 600 full- and part -tine employees serving minae departments comprise the
organization's workforce, With an annual budget of just over $100,000,000, the agency
is fortunate to have a municipal electric utility department that contiibutes generously to
the community. A two percent growth limit on residential building was enacted by voters
in the early 1990s has con.t6buted to the containment of development within the twelve
square miles of the city limits.
H. Dixon Flynn, City Manager for the City of Lodi, was appointed to the position
in 1995 after serving as its Finance Director for four years. He worked for the City of
San. Esus Obispo for six years after a successful military career that had placed hire in
.locations throughout Europe, Asia, and the United States. With this broad background,
Mr, Flynn was well prepared to introduce, practices advancing diversity within the City of
Lodi.
Primary among Mr. Flym-i's interests is promoting job opportunities for people
with. disabilities. Almost tree years ago, Mr. Flynn personally hired Jay Jensen to work
in his office. .fay is a 22 -year-old autistic man who has s caws idly integrated into the
day -today routines of the City manager's Office, performing data entry tasks. Mr, Flynn
made a bold statement by implementing a program in his own office prier to asking
others to do the same. In the summer of 2001, with Mr, Flynn's persuasion., the Public
Works Streets Division began a program that utilizes a work crew provided by UCCA
(United Cerebral palsy Association) to clean various city parking lots and facilities. A
year later, work crews provided by 'UCP.A began rendering landscaping services at the
City's Community Center, Hutchins Street Square. The City of Lodi has been honored
by being named Large Employer of the Year by the Sart JoaquinMayors' C omia-iinee for
the Employment of people with Disabilities in both 2001 and 2002 for its successful
efforts. Below is an excerpt -orn the San Joaquin Mayor's Committee for the
Employment of People with Disabilities nomination for Employee of the Year.
As sweeping changes occur- throughout the City of Lodi, H. Dixon Fynn, the
Citi% Manager, does not lose sight of the community that lie works with. Daily,
proposals and contract orders cross his desk fear approval as construction takes place
in variou,5 parts of they City, sure to renovate the City without compromising its quaint,
nostalgic feel. His philosophy to support the community and organizations that
contribute to its f6undadon never go unrecognized by rare, Flynn. By enlisting the
services of'UCl' consumers to clear several city owned parking; lets of debris arra other -
unsightly material, .fir. Flynn wants to erasure that the City's :newly restored
appearance will shine. Having these consumers earn the federal minimum wage is as
unpartrant to ;fir, Flynn and has staff of profassron als as it it to DCPA, Currently, the
crew is responsible for maintaining the appearance of cid, owned Iots at Feast two
nights per week.
This is not simply an experiment on the part of Mr, Flynn. For many years he
has had the distinct pleasure of'realaxing the virtually untapped resource that personas
with disabilities provide to large employers. As a former employee of the City of .Sans
Luis Obispo, Mr, Flynn was instrumental in providing real jabs to several challenged
Ordividuals in that city as well. With this experience, personas with disabilities continue
to provide a wealth of dedication and commitment to their employers no matter what
telae job charge.
Mr. Flynn, along with his staff, will continue to give the City of Lerch a stellar
reputation as well as a stunning a e -w appearance.
Providing job €apportmuties for the disabled is nothing new for Mr. FI)mn. While
working for the City of San suis Obispo, he developed a prograin that employed disabled
weary crews from local group homes to provide maintenance services downtown. Davin
his tenure as pinw-ice Director at presidia San Francisco, managing a department that
issued over 120,000 payroll checks monthly, Ire instituted a grogram that employed 2
hearing impaired people. The program grew so successful that the department became
papular recruiting grounds for firms in the blooming Silicon. Valley just ,oath of the City,
Mr. Flynn's support of programs that celebrate diversity are not limited to these
supporting needs of people with disabilities. Since its inception in 1998, he, along with
various staff` members, has been an active inernber in the Community partnership for
panni ies of San Joaquin, a regional organization whose mission is to promote policies
and programs that enable various neighborhood groups, churches, schools, social service,
and crirr ir:al justice agencies, pity arx county government and ih business community to
work together to build strong and resourceful families and con-tmunities. The
organization is working in collaboration with the City to establish a neighborhood service
center and has sponsored a -number of multi -cultural health and safety fairs that draw
5000-6000 guests. Mr. Flynn has devoted personal time to these events. (He has actually
participated in set-up and break -dawn with his Parks and recreation crews?) It also
hosted a Candidates Forum prior to the 2002 local elections. Focusing on the concerns of
people; in the Hispanic and Pakistani communities (and providing translations in Spanish
d 1.1rdu), the for rn boasted the highest attendance rate of all six debates presented that
year,
Through his involvement with the Fealnership, Mr. Flym became instrumental in
the development of the South Asian Culture Club and its first event, the "Pakistani
Independence Day ela", held August 10, 2002 at Lodi Lake. Mr. Flynnmade quite an
impression on this group of young Pakistani -Americans. He was instrumental ire the
planning process of the celebration, attending weekly meetings at the local Boys and
Girls Club to encourage and coach the youth on fundraising and event coordination.
Contfibuting bath time and personal financial support, Mr. Flynn has wren the sincere
admiration and trust of these young risen.
The City of )di is truly fortunate to have Dixon Flynn at the helm. Through his
leadership, personal involvement, encouragement, and example, people ftom different
cultural and religious backgrounds, socio-economic groups, and with extraordinary
challenges are being offered new opportunities and encouragement.
Emm
To,
Whom It May Concern:
January 22, 2003
On behalf of South Asian Cultural Club it is our privilege to write a letter of
recommendation for Dixon Flynn, We have known Mr. Flynn for last year, but he
became very important figure in our lives, He has our sincerest Thanks and appreciation
for suppor(ing our first Pakistan Independence Day Mala by acting as our mentor.
Community Partnership for Families helped us organize the South Asian Cultural Club
(SACC), which is made of young people from Pakistan, After September 11, our
community became very isolated and stigmatized. Our goal for this event was to
celebrate who we are and educate the co unity about our culture and diversity among
the conimunity. We are very proud to put this event in history of Lodi for the very first
time with help ti-orn Community Partnership and Mr. Flynn- During this event we met
Dixon Flynn who is a great inspiration for us. We still could not believe that city manager
took time out from his busy schedule and came to our meetings every Friday. His
presence made the Friday meeting a positive place for youth. to learn and grow. The
Ffiday meeting inspired our club, we look forward to seeing him every week.
Every week he came in with great support, ideas, and made an impact on our
lives. Many group members who were, struggling with identity crisis learned to look at
the up side, of things. He helped us realized we are the creators of our future. He helped
build the bridge between two communities, He is a caring and confident leader, who has
developed a leadership within its.
In the beginning we were anxious by his presence, but Mr. Flynn has always
motivated and encouraged us to ask questions in the meeting, lie respected the
differences between himself and us. He familiarized himself with us, our club, and our
culture.. It has been honor to know him. Although we do not see him regularly, we know
we can walk. into city hall with our heads up high. If you have any question please feel
free to call one of us @ 209-339-1189.
Sincerely,
Kashif Khan., Presidentsur
—4Z
Wiclar-Shah, VicePredent Mubarik Shall, Public Relation
Nawaz Shah, Secretary Iftek-ber an, Volunteer