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BACKGROUND <br />When long time Public Works Department Director Christine Andersen left the organization for an <br />opportunity in Colorado, City Manager Jim Johnson requested an evaluation of the service provided by <br />Public Works and the advantages and disadvantages of changing the current mix of services provided by <br />the department. A staff team was formed to include the Public Works Management Team, Assistant <br />City Manager Jim Carlson, Human Resources Director Lauren Chouinard and a representative each from <br />Administrative Services Division, Library Recreation and Cultural Services, and Planning and <br />Development Department. <br />The City Manager asked the team to consider the following objectives: <br />1. Examine and address issues around the size of the department and its budget relative to other <br />departments. <br />2. Check and adjust the department's organizational structure to ensure it is in alignment with <br />City Council goals and policies. <br />3. Create dialog around working relationships within the department and with other departments <br />in the City. <br />4. Maintain or improve service to the department's customers. In addition, check and adjust the <br />department's organizational structure so that it reflects what are commonly thought of as public <br />works services. <br />5. Define the portfolio of the department so that it's clear what the primary responsibilities are as <br />we recruit a new department director. <br />The team took an in -depth look at a number of service areas including Airport, Public Buildings and <br />Facilities, Parks (both maintenance and planning), as well as areas such as departmental Human <br />Resources services. They considered the current level of service delivery to both internal and external <br />customers and partners, reviewed the evolution of these services within Public Works, and mapped the <br />existing key relationships among services, divisions, and funds. Staff also reviewed how public works <br />departments are arranged and organized in 10 cities in the west coast region. <br />As a result of this evaluation, the City Manager announced his decision on 8/28/00 regarding the overall <br />evaluation and more specifically his desire to create a new Parks and Open Space Division within the <br />Public Works department. He stated his vision for the new division and directed staff to evaluate <br />including Parks Turf and Grounds; Parks Amenities and Volunteers; Landscape, Median, and Floral; <br />Parks Planning; Urban Forestry; and appropriate components of the current stormwater and park design <br />and construction programs. <br />October 19, 2000 <br />