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DeKalb Operations Committee approves Momentum Firm to implement countywide performance plan
Summary
The Operations Committee approved a one-year implementation contract with the Momentum Firm to convert a recent Malden & Jenkins assessment's 250+ findings into prioritized, measurable improvements, with quarterly reporting to the board; the contract was approved with a substitute allowing possible add-on hourly services.
The DeKalb County Operations Committee on Tuesday approved a contract with the Momentum Firm to implement the countywide operational and performance assessment conducted by Malden & Jenkins, moving the county from diagnostic findings toward prioritized implementation and measurable outcomes.
Lakisha Cisse, president and managing principal of the Momentum Firm, told commissioners the firm would provide a high-touch, roughly 12-month engagement focused on turning about 250 recommendations into an implementation roadmap. "We strongly believe that that is indeed the first critical step to realizing the many benefits countywide and, for the community that are on the horizon," Cisse said, describing an approach that emphasizes quick wins, major projects and a data-driven framework.
Why it matters: the county adopted the Malden & Jenkins assessment last week; the Momentum contract is intended to prevent the report from "sitting on a shelf" by establishing governance, performance milestones and a staffed implementation team to coordinate department-level work. Cisse described top cross-cutting findings the firm will tackle first: insufficient documentation and outdated policies, organizational structure challenges (role clarity, vacancies, turnover) and technology limitations, including underused software licenses and lack of systems integration.
The Momentum team will include an implementation lead, an implementation coordinator, implementation consultants assigned by functional need, and a data scientist to track progress. Cisse said the firm will use a hybrid model with on-site visits and off-site ‘‘deep work,’’ and will present quarterly updates to committees and an annual report tracking reductions in repeat audit findings.
Commissioner Robert Patrick said he found the presentation "very good, very impressive" and confirmed the performance period runs through 2026, effectively making the engagement a one-year implementation effort. County staff said the engagement was selected under a CEO exemption for this type of service rather than a standard competitive procurement process.
Commissioner Terry asked whether the watershed department's separate operational audit could be folded into the implementation work; staff said Malden & Jenkins would likely perform a separate watershed assessment but that Momentum would serve as the implementation partner, and that standardized policies developed under Momentum could inform additional departments not included in the original assessment. Terry also urged consideration of clean energy and clean transportation transition items as potential quick wins.
The committee approved the substitute contract and discussed allowing optional hourly add-ons for additional tasks if needed. The motion to approve the contract and the substitute passed by voice vote.
What happens next: Momentum will begin developing a prioritized implementation plan, propose performance milestones and work with departments to identify change champions and liaisons; the firm will return with quarterly committee updates and an annual progress report. The committee noted that some initiatives will require board-level policy or budget approvals when they involve new regulations, staffing changes or resource allocation.
