1997 AGN FEB 04 I26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY OF COLTON �� r AGENDA REPORT For City Council Meeting of February 4, 1997 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR & CITY COUNCIL FROM: Malik Dantala Freeman, City Manager SUBJECT: Approval of Reorganization of Electric and Water/Wastewater Departments, Job Descriptions for Utility Director and Assistant Water and Wastewater Utility Director, and Resolution Setting Basic Compensation Rates DATE: January 23. 1997 BACKGROUND: The position of Director of Water & Wastewater has been vacant for well over a year. Attempts to fill the position upon reorganization of these divisions from the Public Works Department failed to produce adequate candidates for the position following a lengthy recruitment and interview process. Recently a second attempt has been made to secure an eligible candidate. However, these efforts have also proven to be less than satisfactory. DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: The Water and Wastewater Utilities have been without cohesive management/leadership for over a year. During that time, an interim director provided sufficient guidance to coordinate the handling of the cease and desist order and began the revamping of the wastewater treatment plant. Although, this project was essential, other aspects of managing the Water and Wastewater Utilities fell by the way side. The City's attempts to recruit a Director of Water and Wastewater have not produced a candidate which emerges with the qualifications necessary to direct these operations. Therefore, it is being recommended that the Water and Wastewater operations be combined with the Electric Utility so that coordination, direction and control may be achieved in an efficient manner. In order to accomplish this, the existing job description for the Electric Utility Director would be revised to include the operations for Water and Wastewater. In addition, an Assistant Director would be hired for each of the divisions; this has already been accomplished for the Electric Utility. The applications submitted for the Director of Water and Wastewater include candidates that are qualified at the Assistant Director level. Under this plan, applicants would be interviewed on the basis of appointing at the Assistant Director level rather than the Director level. Combining the Utilities would promote a number of different objectives. First, coordination between the various utilities would be kept at one level. Second, common philosophies dealing with financial matters, rates, budgets, capital improvements, and personnel could be utilized. Third, staffing efficiencies could be realized by using existing personnel in common areas within the three operations. Fourth, the restructuring of the utilities would be similar to other operations in municipal organizations. For example, Los Angeles, Riverside, Anaheim, Azusa, and many other cities combine the utility operations in one department. Finally, overall Item No. 26