Agenda - Council - 04/14/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

PC CASE # APPROVE A REORGANIZATION OF THE ENGINEERING DIVISION By: Givonna Reed Kone, Human Resources Manager Background The Public Works Director recently conducted a review of the Engineering Division's priorities, needs and options for effectively utilizing existing resources. As a result, a proposal to restructure the division will be presented to the City Council at its April 14 City Council meeting. The City's professional engineering staff includes the following positions: Public Works Director, City Engineer, Assistant City Engineer and Civil Engineer II. Staff proposes that the City Council promote the Assistant City Engineer to City Engineer and reclassify the City Engineer to Assistant City Engineer. The proposed reorganization will enable the Engineering Division to properly align employee skills with the City's needs. It also further supports the shift we made almost two years ago to bring more project design and management in- house, thereby reducing consultant costs. The reorganization will also shift the oversight of the engineering function to the City Engineer which will allow the Public Works Director to focus on Ramsey Town Center and broader transportation goals, as identified during the 2009 City Council strategic planning session. If the proposal is approved, as City Engineer, Tim Himmer would be under the general direction of the Public Works Director with responsibility for reviewing and overseeing functions of new and redevelopment projects; overseeing work on consultant designed and in -house designed public works projects such as Andrie Street NW and 157 Avenue NW; and ensuring that public improvements and private developments (residential and commercial) conform to engineering standards and ordinance requirements. The City Engineer would also provide daily work direction to the Assistant City Engineer, Civil Engineer II and the Engineering Technicians. Under the proposed reorganization, the Assistant City Engineer, Steve Jankowski, would be responsible for performing a variety of engineering - related office and field work including: preparing reports, street and utility designs, construction plans and specifications; overseeing the project bidding processes; preparing assessment rolls; and construction coordinating and surveying. Mr. Jankowski will also continue holding neighborhood meetings with affected property owners that are adjacent to proposed capital improvements.