Laserfiche WebLink
CASE# 5 <br /> <br />CONSIDER RECOMMENDATION TO ESTABLISH <br />POSITION OF FIRE CHIEF/PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR <br /> Ryan Sehroeder, City Administrator <br />Linda Waite Smith, Administrative Services Manager <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />A number of issues concerning staffing in the Fire Department and Public Works <br />Department have arisen in a number of different forums during the past six months: <br /> <br />The City Engineer has too many engineering/community development <br />responsibilities to adequately fulfill his additional function of Public Works <br />Director; <br /> <br />Without a Public Works Director, the City isn't realizing the potential benefits of <br />sharing resources, including personnel and equipment, between the Public Works <br />divisions; <br /> <br />Both the Parks and Streets divisions of Public Works have requested additional <br />maintenance workers to deal with increasing work loads; <br /> <br />The Fire Department hasn't been able to respond to a need for inspecting daycare <br />facilities, businesses and preplans. <br /> <br />Each of the departments has requested additional staff to deal with these issues. <br />Understanding that the City couldn't possibly afford to add all the requested positions, <br />the administrative staff has been looking organization-wide for a way to respond to the <br />concerns. <br /> <br />Alternative <br />The alternative that administrative staff is offering for Council consideration is that the <br />position of Fire Chief, which is currently a part-time position, be expanded to full-time <br />status and that the position be assigned to direct the activities of both the Fire Department <br />and the Public Works Department for the next three years. The allocation of time for the <br />two assignments would be: <br /> <br />First year (1998): 30% Fire, <br />Second year: (1999) 40% Fire, <br />Third year: (2000) 50% Fire, <br /> <br />70% Public Works; <br />60% Public Works; <br />50% Public Works. <br /> <br />In the last quarter of the year 2000, the arrangement would need to be reviewed. If it has <br />proven effective, the City Council can decide at that time whether to create a full-time <br />Public Works Director position. At that point the second Fire station will be functioning <br /> <br /> <br />