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.)

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 their streets were rescheduled further into the future.
 
Additionally, the Engineering Department will benefit from having a well-defined staffing succession plan in place, allowing Staff to know they have the ability to grow their knowledge and advance within the department. 

Public Works Operations Benefits
The benefit of having a PW director type of department structure, is that it gives a clearer line of responsibility to people, both inside and outside of the organization.   The current system of separate engineering and PW departments has worked well, but with the current rate of development in the city now and into the future, having one person acting as the final decision maker will likely be more efficient.

Parks Division (Long Term Planning, Etc.) Benefits
Mr. Riverblood's expertise and passion have long been evident in our park system when it comes to working with the residents in the community and developers.  Mark has consistently, throughout his career, taken the lead role when it comes to planning/designing our park spaces and following that vision through construction. Mark is also very familiar with the day-to-day operations and processes used in PW and will be a great asset to Mr. Westby in that capacity as well.

The updated pay scales are attached: 

The funding required for these actions will come from the savings incurred from the Public Works Supertendent vacancy.  The estimated savings in 2022 is $68,954 and in 2023 $55,980.

Staff recommends the following:
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

Motion to approve the following promotions, 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