Flashy Annual Report Trumpets County's Successes

Flashy Annual Report Trumpets County's Successes
By Sarah Arnquist

FAIRFIELD - Solano County published a glossy, 25-page annual report that touts a year filled with accomplishments that will be released to the public at today's Board of Supervisors meeting.

The booklet - filled with graphics and colorful photos -resembles a company's annual report to its stockholders. The report talks exclusively about the positive things happening in Solano County and discusses the county's progress toward its six priorities that the Supervisors feel will make Solano County "the place for people to live, learn, work and play."

"As always, we recognize that what we have achieved and what we hope we can achieve in the future is only possible with our relationships with community partners and the ongoing support of the citizens," board chairwoman Barbara Kondylis writes on the opening page.

The County Administrator's Office will present the report to the public and Board of Supervisors at the 9 a.m. meeting today. The meeting will be held in the county government center.

The report will be distributed to county employees, Solano cities and other California counties, said Kathy Gibson, Solano County senior management analyst who helped compile the report.

"The report is part of the internal and external communications plan," Gibson said. "Every year we try and identify what the key accomplishments are."

Solano County has compiled an annual report for at least several years, and has tried to make it more visually appealing each year, Gibson said. This year's report revolves around accomplishments in the county's six priority areas: Families, health, community, land use, communications and future planning.

The county's report used to be "dreadfully boring," said county supervisor Duane Kromm. Kromm uses the report as a "discussion tool" at community meetings, and said people are more apt to a colorful, attractive document.

Solano County residents can get a copy of the annual report by calling the county administrator's office at 784-6100 or downloading the PDF file at www.solanocounty.com.

Reach Sarah Arnquist at 427-6953 or sarnquist@dailyrepublic.net.