URBAN INNOVATION AWARDS 1995

Urban Innovation in Illinois seeks to identify innovative practices in local governments, to document and discuss them with local government officials, and to recognize noteworthy activities with awards. Awards were previously given in 1987, 1989 and 1992.

This project is a joint effort of the Illinois Government Finance Officers Association and the Civic Federation of Chicago in cooperation with the following Chicago area Councils of Government: DuPage Mayors and Managers Conference, Northwest Municipal Conference, South Suburban Mayors and Managers, West Central Municipal Conference and Will County Governmental League.

AWARDS CATEGORIES

Awards will be given in five different categories that demonstrate innovation and possible use to other organizations. The categories are:

• Service Delivery: Innovative ways to deliver basic services that citizens utilize or benefit from such as solid waste collection, police and fire services, utilities, street maintenance, etc.. Communities have explored contracting, franchising, partnerships with other private entities and private organizations, public enterprises, vouchers, and special incentives.

• Economic Development: Innovative ways governments encourage or enhance economic development in their community. This includes incentives and encouragements to the private sector and planned land or money donations from the private sector to governments and community programs.

• Citizen Involvement: Innovative ways that involve citizens in the workings of government and its programming. Innovations may include providing technical assistance, information, and referral service to citizens and organizations. Volunteers are recruited for routine and special activities, nongovernmental leaders are encouraged to act in policy making and implementation, and various other means are employed to direct citizens to help their governments.

• Professional Management/Policy Initiatives: Innovative ways that new management techniques are adopted by government to improve efficiency, effectiveness and policy. Techniques such as Total Quality Management, re-engineering, customer service, strategic planning, improved budgeting, greater use of performance measures etc. are examples of this new wave of professional management techniques.

• Cost Savings or Revenue Enhancement: Innovative ways that governments have saved money or enhanced revenue to deal with the difficult task of balancing budgets. Specific cost savings techniques such as personnel lay-offs, attrition programs, shifting responsibilities to other units of government, pay adjustments, wage and hiring freezes and program eliminations. New revenue enhancement ideas such as new user fees, impact fees and other revenues.

Also new techniques in collection procedures or a ministration.

WHO MAY SUBMIT?

A. Municipal governments.
B. Intergovernmental agencies or councils of gov ernments.
C. Separate agencies or departments within the City of Chicago.

WHO RECEIVES THE AWARD?

Awards may be made to one municipal government, or shared by several municipalities that mutual develop and refine an activity. The Urban Innovations Board will work with local officials to bring news of the Awards to professional associations and the general public.

A major conference highlighting the winners will be held in the Fall of 1995.

RELATED ACTIVITIES

A major goal of this program is to help spread good ideas. Innovations will be summarized in reports presented at professional meetings of local officials.

JUDGING CRITERIA

The following criteria will be used in determinig award winners:

• Potential for applicability and continued use in other governments
• Innovativeness and originality nationally and in IIinois
• Improved service effectiveness or quality of life
• Creative implementation of innovation - such as winning support among potential opponents to the idea

Application forms can be obtained from: Urban Innovations 1995, The Civic Federation, 243 S. Wabash, Suite 850, Chicago, IL 60604. For further information contact Gregory Wass at (312) 341-9603.

The deadline to enter the awards competition October 1, 1995.

September 1995 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 17