Title
What Works Cities Certification Update
Description
This report provides an update to the Economic Development and Housing Subcommittee on the City's efforts on What Works Cities certification, a global standard in data-driven, well-managed local governments, led by Results for America.
THIS ITEM IS FOR INFORMATION ONLY.
Report
Summary
In 2017, the City of Phoenix began working with Results for America on the What Works Cities initiative, a global standard for data-driven, well-managed local governments. To date, the City has completed three assessments, achieving Silver-level certification in 2019, and rising to Gold-level certification in 2021. Gold-certified cities "are great at understanding data, tracking progress and using data to make decisions." The highest level of certification is Platinum, which only two cities have achieved.
In August 2022, What Works Cities announced updated criteria for achieving certification. Developed by a team of international experts, the new criteria bring an equity focus to evidence-base decision making and better reflect the evolving practices of data governance. Phoenix is currently working on its fourth assessment to align with the updated criteria.
More than 250 cities in North, Central and South America have completed a What Works Cities assessment, comprised of 43 best practice criteria across eight foundational practices, including Data Management, Rigorous Evaluations, Leadership and Capacity, Data-Driven Budgeting and Finance, Results-Driven Contracting, Open Data, Stakeholder Impact and Performance and Analytics.
As part of the certification process, the City was recognized for several innovative programs, including the Public Works Department's use of automatic vehicle location technology and data to maximize route efficiency and ensure high-quality service for solid waste customers; Budget and Research Department's launch of the FundPHX interactive tool that empowers residents to design their own city budget during the annual budget process, available in Spanish and English; the Finance Department's results-driven procurement enhancements; and the Water Services Department's data-driven approach to balancing water supply challenges and growth.
Launched in 2017 by Bloomberg Philanthropies, What Works Cities is a collaborative partnership between City staff, Results for America and its partners. In 2021, Phoenix was invited to participate in an eight-week Results for America cohort of 14 cities to focus on the Council-directed expansion of the City's Community Assistance Program. This led to an opportunity for ongoing support from Harvard Kennedy School Government Performance Lab. Phoenix recently participated in learning cohorts focused on procurement modernization, workforce development, data quality and management, among others.
Staff will provide future updates on ongoing work efforts and achievements under the What Works Cities initiative.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Interim Deputy City Manager John Chan and the Office of Innovation.