Major Accomplishments. The sixth exchange visit from Naryn to Great Falls took place April 19-24, 2001. A delegation consisting of the Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx, Mayor of Xxxxx, and Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Chief Engineer of the Water System visited Great Falls to finalize work within the action plan of the partnership and to discuss the forthcoming and final exchange and Best Practices conference to be held in September, 2001. Great Falls suggested that Naryn concentrate its resources on low cost short-term solutions. Engineers from Great Falls outlined the following steps to remedy the most pressing issues in water and wastewater management:
1. Keep the seasonal melt waters from penetrating into the water system by constructing a barrier at the city’s open-air water intake, (2) improve bill collections.
2. Great falls digitized the Naryn Water Vodokanal maps, which supplied the city with a GIS system to facilitate the process of management and decision-making. Xxxxx Xxxxxxx of ICMA Kazakhstan spent a day in Naryn adapting the Great Falls software into the Russian language and training Naryn city employees on how to access the system. Great Falls experts finalized the master plan for this work area and offered the following recommendations: a) raise incentives for the property owners to maintain sanitation facilities so as to prevent water leaks that dilute wastewaters and exceed the capacities of the existing treatment plan, b) convert unutilized biological filters at the treatment plant into additional settling basins by removing the filtered material.
Major Accomplishments. On May 23, 2001 Xxxxxxx Xxxx, the Director for the Bureau of Financial Management; Xxxx Xxxx, the Principal Financial Analyst for the City of Portland; Xxxxx Xxxxx, the Development Manager for the Portland Development Commission; and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, the Principal Planner traveled to Rayong, Thailand for the third exchange. During the previous exchange, Rayong and Portland agreed that the City of Rayong would appoint a five-person citizen task force to act as advisors to the budget committee as the third exchange would confront the financial and budgetary process. Much of the exchange was spent discussing the five-year revenue and expenditure forecast and the estimated budget for fiscal year 2001. The Portland delegation has asked Rayong Municipality to translate both the budget and the five-year capital plan, which provides a list of capital projects that the municipality will submit to the central government for possible funding. The two delegations successfully completed the work plan objectives as defined in the February Work Plan review. The Portland delegation met with the task force to discuss citizen involvement and their future relationship with municipal staff. The task force will receive instruction in revenues, expenditures, and the general budgetary process, similar to the instruction given to the Portland delegation.
Major Accomplishments. After the first exchange visit in March, Ulaanbaatar City officials agreed to supply Bakersfield officials with baseline data so that preparations could be made for the second exchange in May. This baseline data included the size of the city budget, city expenditures, current non-tax fees, total revenue generated from non-tax fees, and the legal capacity to charge non-tax fees. The second exchange between Ulaanbaatar and Bakersfield took place from May 6-11. Enkhbold Mieygombo – Mayor of Ulaanbaatar City; Bat Choimpog – Chief of Economic and Strategic Policy Department; Xxxxxxx Xxxxx – Chief of Financial Division; Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx – Officer of Economic and Strategic Policy Department,; Bayar Budragchaa – subcontractor to ICMA and exchange interpreter; Xxx Xxxxxx – Director of Resource Cities, ICMA; and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx- Partnership Manager, ICMA traveled to Bakersfield, CA on March 5 to begin a full week of meetings with the city of Bakersfield officials. During the week of May 7, the participants from Ulaanbaatar met with various officials in Bakersfield including the Mayor of Bakersfield – Xxxxxx Xxxx; City Manager – Xxxx Xxxxx; Assistant City Managers – Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, and Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx; council members; Director of Development Services – Xxxx Xxxxxxxx; Finance Director – Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx; Xxxxxx Xxxxx – Assistant Finance Director; City Treasurer – Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx; Chief Appraiser for the County of Xxxx – Xxx Xxxxx; engineering department staff; Solid Waste Director – Xxxxx Xxxxxx; Water Resources Director – Florn Core; Director of Recreation and Parks – Xxxx Xxxx; etc. During this exchange, Ulaanbaatar officials became familiar with the structure and functions of both the City of Bakersfield and Xxxx County. They also met with the various Bakersfield officials involved in designing and implementing non-tax revenue generation plans. At the end of the week, officials from both cities finalized the partnership work plan. Finalizing the work plan included setting indicators and objectives for the two partnership priority areas: improve the ability of Ulaanbaatar City to raise non-tax revenue to provide services to the citizens of Ulaanbaatar City and enhance the budgetary and financial management systems of Ulaanbaatar City in relation to the non-tax revenues. They also agreed upon dates (July 21-
Major Accomplishments. In April, a delegation from Xxxxx traveled to Subotica. The objectives of the visit were to assist the City identify a suitable site for its new landfill and develop a scope of work for its future solid waste disposal needs, and to conduct a preliminary SWOT analysis of the economic sector. The delegation was comprised of Xxxx XxXxxxxxx, Utilities Services Division Manager, Public Utilities Bureau, Xxxx Xxxxxxx, Public Works Manager, Department of Public Service Bureau of Public Works, and Xxxx Xxxxxxxx, Economic Development Manager. The partners spent several days in Subotica addressing water and wastewater issues, and helping Subotica to begin the process of identifying strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to its economic development. Representatives from Szeged, who shared their experience in developing successful EU funding proposals for the construction of new solid waste and wastewater treatment facilities, joined the Akron delegation. Szeged has offered to provide assistance to Subotica in developing similar proposals for infrastructure improvements as funding sources become available. In addition, Szeged’s experience in redeveloping its downtown has many applicable lessons for Subotica. Mayor Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxxx, who was in the region on unrelated business, followed up with a brief visit to Subotica in mid-May to provide additional assistance to Subotica in thinking through an appropriate institutional framework to support the city’s economic development efforts. The outcomes of the April visit include: - A proposed addendum to the partnership action plan to assist Subotica create the institutional framework to support an active role for the City in economic development - A preliminary strategy for Subotica’s economic development - A job description for an economic development officer for Subotica. Subotica is currently recruiting for this position and anticipates hiring a full-time economic development officer by early August. - Recommendations for improving the management and treatment of environmental waste. - The identification of a site for a new regional landfill for Subotica and surrounding communities.
Major Accomplishments. A delegation consisting of Xxxx Xxxxx, water specialist, Xxxx Xxxxxxx, solid waste specialist, Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx and Xxx Xxxxxxx, public information specialists from the City of Columbus visited Sofia and Nis June 1-10, 2001. The purpose of the visit was to initiate actions on specific technical projects under the work plan.
1. The city of Sofia is projecting a shortage of potable water in the foreseeable future. Columbus is helping Xxxxx develop a water conservation project that will reduce citywide water usage. On this third trip the Columbus team visited a former water tower identified by Xxxxx as a future citizen training and information site. The building will be reconstructed and re-furbished with the technical guidance of Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Columbus Water Department Architect, to function as a center where citizens will receive information and training on efficient water usage. This pilot project will be centered on the school system in Sofia and will draw students from different age groups to learn water conservation techniques. Following the third technical exchange the visiting Columbus expert provided Xxxxx with training materials for the program. The reconstruction of the water tower building reconstruction is expected to finish by the end of this year and the education center will be up and running by the beginning of next year. Nis is experiencing problems in both its water supply and water distribution systems. Several actions will be taken to help the city improve the water delivery service to its citizens.
1. Despite the good source water (from mountain springs) Nis has serious supply problems, particularly in the late summer and fall when output from the spring’s drops off. When this happens they must rely on water taken from the river and treated at the Mediana Water Plant with fairly conventional methods, i.e., flocculation, settling, lime softening and rapid sand filtration. This water is then routed through infiltration ponds for a final polishing before being chlorinated and pumped into the distribution grid. A remote sensor on the river, most likely for hydrocarbons, would provide early warning of a spill or point discharge of hazardous materials into the stream. This would allow time to take the treatment system offline and avoid contamination of the plant. To remedy the situation, Xxxxxxxx has agreed to donate a hydrocarbon detection sensor to be installed in the river used as an intake source. Water experts from Columbus will also help i...
Major Accomplishments. In mid-April, a delegation from UCAZ traveled to the U.S. on a two-week exchange visit. The participants were: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, UCAZ Training Director, Middleton Nyoni, City Treasurer of Bulawayo and Head of the UCAZ Treasurers Forum, and Muzawazi Xxxxx, Town Secretary or Rusape and UCAZ Board Member. The delegation traveled to Las Vegas to participate in the NFBPA annual conference, where they spent several days participating in a number of workshops and other conference activities. The group then traveled to Washington, D.C. where they met with NFBPA staff to work on partnership objectives and also visited several other organizations including ICMA (which included a brownbag luncheon discussion with ICMA and USAID staff), the Washington Council of Governments, and the Joint Centers for Political and Economic Research, and the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. The delegation also traveled to Richmond, Virginia for a day to meet with municipal staff to discuss common management and service delivery issues. The agenda for the April exchange visit and the ICMA program are attached.
Major Accomplishments. In May 2001, USAID extended the duration of the Resource Cities Cooperative Agreement through September 2004. The extension increased the total amount of USAID funding from $3,803,149 to $11,809,655.
Major Accomplishments. Water/Waste Water Management Drug Prevention and Treatment
Major Accomplishments. The third Resource Cities exchange visit occurred during this quarter (June 1-10). U. S. City personnel included Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Environmental Program Manager in the Natural Resources Department of the City of Fort Xxxxxxx, and Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Environmental Education Specialist in the Natural Resources Department of Larimer County, Colorado. Xx. Xxxxxx and Xx. Xxxxx represent key staff responsible for implementing local policies regarding solid waste management and recycling in Larimer County and the City of Fort Xxxxxxx. A number of Cebu stakeholders participated in the June 2001 exchange, including staff from the City’s Planning Department and the Department of Public Services, representatives from the Xxxxx Foundation, and members Barangay Pari-an. The objectives of this third trip/exchange were to: - Introduce U.S. staff to the Cebu community, its existing solid waste management system, and project stakeholders; - Introduce U.S. staff to the barangay system; - Provide Cebu staff with an overview of education and outreach campaign elements; - Further refine the waste segregation pilot - Continue to refine what will be addressed in the Resource Cities project and draft a work plan. An Action Plan drafted in March was reviewed, completed tasks were checked off, and the status of remaining tasks was updated. The pilot waste segregation project identified in the March Action Plan was further defined and scheduled for beginning stages of implementation. A neighborhood, or barangay, called Pari-an was enlisted to serve as the study area for the pilot. A partnership with a corporate, non-governmental organization (Xxxxx Foundation) was established, and Xxxxx representatives accepted specific roles for the NGO to support neighborhood based source separation and recycling efforts. An introduction to potential public outreach and education tools was presented. As a result of the third exchange visit, we were able to adjust the pilot programs to address an area – segregation of organic material from the waste stream to be composted – that needs more attention than recycling. A good framework for the curbside collection and trial compost operation projects has been outlined, with a number of details filled in concerning assignments and schedules. A new “corporate” project has been added to the work plan, whereby the Xxxxx Foundation will provide assistance in educating the public about segregation and composting activities. The NGO may also be able to help establish ec...
Major Accomplishments. A delegation from Springfield visited both Pitesti and Kragujevac from May-15-27, 2001. The May 2001 trip focused on two of the three priority areas for the two cities. The Springfield delegation led by Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, City Manager along with Xx Xxxxxxx, Senior Projects Manager and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Economic Development Assistant worked with the two cities to evaluate various public services currently being provided as well as management training, local budget presentation discussions, and strategic planning. Together, Xxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx worked with each senior department official to discuss professional management strategies, professional local budgeting techniques and strategic planning for the future. Xx Xxxxxxx worked with technical staff members in the two cities to explore service delivery techniques including solid waste pickup, landfill management, water treatment, and wastewater treatment. In both cities, Xxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx presented two workshops to members of Pitesti and Kragujevac staff members on professional management. The sessions were centered on Xxxxxx Xxxxx'x Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. Overall, the sessions were well received and discussions on the topic continued over the course of the visit. Outcomes of the visit: The City of Springfield delegates have a better understanding of the issues and concerns the City of Kragujevac faces. This was the first visit to the Yugoslavian city since the partnership was created in 2000. The management and budget sessions held in Pitesti were well received. The technical issues, including problems at the landfill will continue to be addressed in future discussions and visits between the three partner cities.
