In every local government organization, staff members write staff reports to present important information and inform decisions of the legislative body. These staff reports can cover any number of topics, from purchasing playground equipment to development projects. Mastering the Art: A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing a Quality Staff Report for Local Government is a resource guide for local government professionals. This book will simplify the process of learning how to write a staff report and should be a reference manual that all government professionals keep on-hand throughout their careers.
About the Author: Tamara Letourneau is the Assistant City Manager of the City of Costa Mesa. She has over 29 years of extensive local government experience in six communities, including serving as a City Manager in Yorba Linda and Sierra Madre, California. She also served the cities of Claremont, Arcadia, and Monrovia, California in a variety of positions with increasing responsibilities. She has a range of experience in organizational development, team building, and strategic planning. Her functional expertise includes operating and capital budgeting, human resources/risk management, labor relations, and intergovernmental relations. Most recently, she was a Senior Manager with the Management Partners consulting firm prior to joining the City of Costa Mesa in early 2014. Tamara is an adjunct professor at California State Polytechnic University Pomona and the University of La Verne, and has been a speaker at numerous workshops and conferences about local government issues. She is also the Co-Chair of the California Consortium of the International City/County Management Association (Cal-ICMA) Ethics Committee. Tamara is a founding member and current board member of Women Leading Government and the League of Women in Government. In 1999, Tamara received the J. Michael Dutton Award from the Municipal Management Assistants of Southern California for her contribution to local government. She is the author of the article "The First 100 Days - A Checklist for the First 100 Days as a New City Manager," which appeared in the May 2006 issue of Public Management magazine. She is also a contributor to the book Democracy at the Doorstep, Too! by Mike Conduff and Melissa Byrne Vossmer. Tamara graduated from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona with a bachelor's degree in business administration and a minor in public administration. She also holds a master's degree in public administration from California State University Long Beach.