The City of Durango, Colorado, has been recognized with the Sterling Best Practices Award by the Florida Sterling Council for its exemplary leadership and customer service. The award, titled ‘Visionary Leadership Drives Customer Excellence,’ highlights the city’s dedication to improving community engagement and service quality.
Commitment to Excellence
The Florida Sterling Council, established in 1992, focuses on enhancing organizational performance through the Sterling/Baldridge National Criteria for Performance Excellence. The council’s assessments help local governments like Durango become high-performing entities, ultimately benefiting taxpayers by improving customer relations and operational efficiency.
Durango’s City Manager, Jose Madrigal, emphasized that the award is a testament to the culture and commitment of the city’s employees. ‘This recognition belongs to each and every one of our employees,’ Madrigal stated. ‘The examiners recognized the culture, systems, and commitment that exist throughout our organization.’
Employee Dedication
During a comprehensive site visit, a team of trained examiners from various industries evaluated the city’s practices and interviewed employees at all levels. They observed firsthand how Durango’s values and strategic priorities are implemented daily, commending the city’s progress in fostering a culture of excellence.
City councilors, including Gilda Yazzie and Kip Koso, praised the award as a reflection of the city’s leadership and teamwork. Koso highlighted the dedication of city employees, such as parks crew members working tirelessly to maintain public spaces, as examples of the hard work that enhances residents’ appreciation of Durango.
Durango’s Trail to Excellence program, which incorporates national best practices and continuous process evaluation, played a significant role in achieving this recognition. The program’s focus on outstanding service quality and meaningful community engagement aligns with the city’s strategic goals.
Residents are encouraged to engage with the city through the Engage Durango page, where they can provide feedback and stay informed about current projects. The city’s commitment to transparency and community involvement remains a priority as it continues to strive for excellence.
Original reporting: Durango Co city news — read the source article.
