LA City's Mission Statement

If the City was a business, it would have a mission statement. Well, as it would be be, the City actually doesn't have one mission statement, but many; and none of them are exactly right on. If that sounds confusing, it's ok - it is confusing. As Businessplans.com says:

The mission statement should be a clear and succinct representation of the enterprise's purpose for existence. It should incorporate socially meaningful and measurable criteria addressing concepts such as the moral/ethical position of the enterprise, public image, the target market, products/services, the geographic domain and expectations of growth and profitability.

The intent of the Mission Statement should be the first consideration for any employee who is evaluating a strategic decision. The statement can range from a very simple to a very complex set of ideas.

So, the City is an enterprise. If it had an overarching mission statement, perhaps its employees, from the Mayor to the receptionist in one of the DWP offices, would have a clear directive on how to serve the "customers," the people.

So, what does the City has in terms of Mission Statements (yes, that's plural)?

The Department of General Services has one for the Department, and then each division has one, too. The Department of Building & Safety has one, as does ITA, DONE, the Library, Airport Police, the Convention Center, the Urban Forestry Division of Street Services, Animal Services, the Commission on the Status of Women, Department of Aging, LAPD, LAFD, and even the LA Zoo. (All departments have their missions listed in the budget under their respective department heading. Noticeably, the Mayor's office does not have a mission.)

The Bureau of Sanitation seems to get it best, though. Their mission is clear and concise, and all employees will be able to tell you when asked: “Our mission is to protect public health and the environment.” Simple enough yet quite powerful.

So, where is the overarching City Mission? Where is that concise statement that guides every employee and department? Here's really the best we could find for LA City (and we looked!)...

From "Your Government at a Glance" (2004):

Your City government touches your life at more points more frequently than any other governmental agency, be it federal, state, or county. City government furnishes water, supplies electricity, provides ambulance, police, sanitation, and fire services, maintains streets, maintains parks and provides other essential services to citizens. In a very real sense, the City government is a huge corporation with nearly four million stockholders -- the second largest city in the United States. This City, in which you are a stockholder, is engaged in business exceeding several billion dollars a year.

This is nice, but no one employee can remember this. It's not really a mission statement.

Then, going back to 2001 from an ITA report, we find this:

In lieu of a City-wide mission statement, this list of City functions describes areas in which the City operates and identifies the major products and services it provides to its customers. This list, which came from the City’s Budget Manual, was adopted as a mission statement for the purposes of this Information Technology Strategic Plan.
1. Community Safety:
Provide for the safety and protection of persons, animals and property against willful or accidental harm, illegal action, fraud or destruction.
2. Home and Community Environment:
Provide for the orderly development and maintenance of our physical environment consistent with the safety, convenience and general well being of the citizenry.
3. Transportation:
Provide for the expeditious movement of people, goods, and vehicles in and out of the City and the parking of vehicles on the public streets and at City-owned off-street parking facilities.
4. Cultural, Educational and Recreational Services:
Provide the public with opportunities to participate in cultural, educational and recreational activities.
5. Human Resources, Economic Assistance and Development:
Encourage trade, tourism and economic development by assisting business expansion or location within the city, financially support events that promote the image of the City and provide employment opportunities for the disadvantaged areas of local government.
6. General Administration and Support:
Provide executive leadership, legislation, policy, management and support services for the operation of City government and its related programs.

As you can see, they clearly acknowledge there is no citywide mission statement. The report goes on, though..

The City of Los Angeles’ Vision Statement shown below, which came from Mayor Richard Riordan’s speech “Capital City of the Future,” was adopted as the City Vision Statement for purposes of this IT Strategic Plan.
The City of Los Angeles will be the Capital City of the Future and will be:
1. a city with the world’s leading 21st century economy,
2. a city that leads in creativity, ingenuity and quality jobs,
3. a city that is the leading trade hub of the world,
4. a city thriving with minority and woman-owned businesses,
5. a city with a flourishing downtown (convention center, sports and entertainment complex, concert hall, cathedral),
6. a city thriving with a manufacturing base making goods for the world to enjoy,
7. a city that prides itself on its diversity, independence and originality,
8. a city where every neighborhood is safe, where streets are clean and graffiti has no place,
9. a city with a government that prides itself on customer services, action and results,
10. a city that works with business and communities to help them realize their dreams, and
11. a city with an outstanding school system where children receive the tools to compete for jobs of the 21st century.

What is clear is that the City does not have a strong Mission Statement like 3M ("To solve unsolved problems innovatively") or Disney ("To make people happy"). The City doesn't have a guiding statement that establishes everything they do. Some say a City like Los Angeles is too big to have one, but if these international, multifaceted companies have them, why not a City?

Perhaps it's time to call on the City leaders to create a vision for the City - a mission statement that guides all actions of every employee in serving the residents, businesses, visitors, and neighbors of Los Angeles.

So, we think a Mission Statement takes some input. Here's our first, feeble attempt which obviously is not perfect. (There are experts out there who are paid lots to craft these statements, so this is just something to get the ball rolling.):

"Provide people with the basic services to allow them to live a culturally rich life"

Again, we're not thrilled by this one, but it's something. What would be a better mission statement for the City of LA?



(The LA City Nerd Mission Statement: "Share the City of Los Angeles with the world")