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Home My WebLink About1B, Public Works Supervisory Structure ~ ~LLS Request for Council Action Prepared By: Ron Moorse, City Administrator Council Meeting Date: December 15, 2008 Public Works Supervisory Structure Budgeted Amount: $0 Actual Amount: Funding Source: Not Applicable $0 Supporting Documents: 1. See the attached memo from Ron Moorse dated December 15, 2008 2. Organization Chart 3. Public Works and Parks Supervisory Structure Survey ~ MEMORANDUM DATE: December 15, 2008 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Ron Moorse, City Administrator SUBJECT: Public Works Supervisory Structure Background In July of 2008, the then-current Public Works Superintendent retired. When a request was made to fill the position, there were questions and concerns from the Council regarding whether two supervisory levels were needed, and whether a Superintendent position was needed vs. a working foreman position. Council requested that a survey of similar cities be conducted regarding their supervisory structure. The survey has been completed, and is attached. The results of the survey show that the vast majority of cities have at least two levels of true supervision over their Public Works and Parks maintenance operations. A dual question/concern raised by the Council was the question about whether there is enough "supervisory" work to keep a superintendent busy, vs. helping out with maintenance tasks; and the concern that, if we have a superintendent vs. a working foreman, we lose the flexibility to have a supervisor who also has the ability to do maintenance work when needed. In addressing this concern, it is important to review whether the overall effectiveness of the Arden Hills maintenance operation is more dependent on the ability to plan and organize work, manage multiple crews, and schedule and coordinate daily and weekly projects; than on the ability to have a quasi-supervisory person who has the ability to perform maintenance tasks. In an operation that includes a broad range of maintenance functions (streets, parks, water, sewer, storm water, and equipment and building maintenance) and that has multiple crews working on multiple projects on a daily basis; my experience is that a supervisor can have a greater impact on enabling a smooth running, productive, maintenance operation through planning and organizing work than by performing maintenance tasks. In addition, while the Arden Hills maintenance operation has an excellent maintenance staff at its foundation, it does not have in-place a number of elements that support and enable staff efforts 12/11/2008 Page 2 and effectiveness, particularly the use of technology, such as a data base that enables mapping and retrieval of key information related to the City's infrastructure. While the Public Works Director would have the lead role in planning the use of technology, the Superintendent would playa significant role in implementing the use of technology. Recommendation It is recommended that the superintendent position be retained, and that an appointment to the superintendent position be made. ~ N:: <~ . .......... :!= en .'.: U::.....,:\: . . . . . = " g k~ ~ ~ G.J.... 0.. . ~ . . ...... :... :. : ' ....,~ -...::...:..........::.:.: ...,. ~.. ~ ~~ ~~ ~'.'.'" ~.....,.,...:7. \.... n ~ O~ N:: o ~ ~ILLS Public Works and Parks Supervisory Structure Survey Anoka Public Services Director Public Services Superintendent Building Maintenance Supervisor Maintenance Manager Public Works maintenance workers - (11) Park maintenance workers - (5) East Bethel Public Works Manager Public Works Supervisor Public Works maintenance workers - (4) Park maintenance workers - (3) Ham Lake Public Works Superintendent Public W orksSupervisor Parks Supervisor Public Works maintenance workers - (8) Park maintenance workers - (5) Hugo Public Works Director Lead worker Public Works maintenance workers - (7), plus seasonal Little Canada Public Works Superintendent Working Foreman /Lead Worker Public Works maintenance workers -(3), plus seasonal - (2) Parks and Recreation Dir. Park Maintenance Supervisor(working Foreman) Park maintenance workers - (1), plus seasonal - (6) Population: 17,899 Sq Miles: 7.2 PWMW: Union Population: 11,91 7 Sq Miles: 48 PWMW: Union Population: 15,136 Sq Miles: 36 PWMW: Not union Population: 12,000 Sq Miles: 36 PWMW: Not union Population: 9,996 Sq Miles: 4 PWMW: Not union ~ ~~HILLS Mendota Heights Public Works Director/City Engineer Public Works Superintendent Public Works maintenance workers - (10) Parks Maintenance Lead Parks Maintenance - (2) Mound Public Works Director Public Works Superintendent Parks Supervisor Public Works maintenance workers - (11) Parks maintenance workers - (3), plus seasonal - (6-9) Mounds View Public Works Director Public Works Supervisor Parks Supervisor Public Works maintenance workers - (8), plus seasonal Parks maintenance worker - (1), plus seasonal Custodian - (1) New Brighton PublicW orks Director PublicW orks Superintendent Public Works Supervisors - (2) Public Works maintenance workers - (14) North St. Paul Public Works Director Assistant Public Works director Public Works maintenance workers - (11) Population: 11,582 Sq Miles: 10 PWMW: Union Population: 9,838 Sq Miles: 16 PWMW: Union Population: 12,442 Sq Miles: 4 PWMW: Union Population: 22,113 Sq Miles: 7.5 PWMW: Union Population: 11,885 Sq Miles: 3 PWMW: Union ~ ~ILLS Robbinsdale Public Works Director/City Engineer Streets Supervisor Parks and Buildings Supervisor Utilities Supervisor Public Works maintenance workers - (12), plus seasonal - (8) Vadnais Heights City Engineer/Public Services Director Public Services Supervisor Assistant Public Services Supervisor Park Supervisor Public Works maintenance workers - (6), plus seasonal - (2) Parks maintenance workers - (3), plus seasonal - (6) Population: 13,873 Sq Miles: 2.9 PWMW: Union Population: 13,241 Sq Miles: 8.5 PWMW: Union