Agenda - Council - 06/14/2022 - Laserfiche WebLink

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CC Regular Session 5. 10. Meeting Date: 06/14/2022 By: Colleen Lasher,Administrative Services Information Title Authorization to Restructure Engineering and Public Works Operations and the Associated Promotions (Council consensus was to add Interim to both the Public Works Director position title and the Assistant Public Works Director position title.) Purpose/Background: The purpose of this case is to seek City Council authorization to restructure the Engineering Department and Public Works Operations. This restructure was prompted as a result of long-term employee, Superintendent Grant Riemer's resignation and is an opportunity to propose efficiencies and succession planning within the department. This matter was discussed with the City Council at the May 24, 2022 work session. As a result of those discussions, staff recommends the following: Eliminate the Public Works Superintendent position, returning to the model that was in place prior to Mr. Riemer becoming the Superintendent. Staff proposes adding back the Public Works Director position and creating an Parks and Assistant Public Works Director position(eliminating the title of Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent held by Mark Riverblood) along with other changes in the Engineering Department. The following changes are recommended, effective July 11, 2022. 1. Promote City Engineer Bruce Westby to Public Works Director-retain City Engineer status 2. Promote Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Mark Riverblood to Parks and Assistant Public Works Director 3. Promote Civil Engineer II Joe Feriancek to Assistant City Engineer 4. Promote Engineering Administrative Assistant Marsha Weidner to Engineering Department Assistant Note, in 2023 a replacement Engineering Technician II will be requested as part of the 2023 budget, as well as consideration of additional support staff to work out of the new Public Works building to support administrative processes as Mr. Westby sees is needed. In the event that staffing is needed in addition to the aforementioned, staff will bring the matter to the City Council's attention. Engineering Department Benefits The Engineering Department will benefit from better understanding the City's maintenance operations relative to streets, sidewalks,trails and utilities. This increased understanding will allow the Engineering Department to update City design standards to better allow for maintenance of the City's infrastructure based on existing equipment and staff, and to incorporate more maintenance-friendly and cost-effective designs and materials. The Engineering Department will also benefit by being better able to prioritize Pavement Management Program (PMP)projects within the Capital Improvement Program(CIP) due to having a better understanding of pavement conditions throughout the City. Engineering Staff update PMP projects within the CIP each fall,which includes reprioritizing project schedules. This is done primarily by reviewing updated PASER values obtained from the Public Works Superintendent each fall. While this has generally worked well,there have been several occasions when Engineering Staff rescheduled PMP projects based on updated PASER values only to have neighborhood residents review the updated CIP after it is adopted and then contact Staff to voice their frustrations that repairs to