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When staff performs stump grinding or tree planting, it means employees that are paid for their skills <br /> are performing more labor intensive, less skilled work. It also means an aerial truck is parked and not <br /> in productive use. Our employees are provided with a high level of training and with quality aerial <br /> equipment, which is expensive to the organization. We need to utilize both of those resources to the <br /> optimum. <br /> I want you to be aware that we are encouraging tree crew lead workers to get International Society of <br /> Arboriculture (ISA) certification. As you know, tree issues are very sensitive in this community and <br /> we believe the ISA certification for lead workers will improve our credibility. Some members of the <br /> community have voiced concern that our key staff do not have IAS Certification, while arborists in the <br /> private sector with certifications are available to perform work for us. <br /> Another issue is the availability of tree crew staff for emergencies. As they are often unavailable, we <br /> are establishing contractual relationships with private vendors. We are encouraging staff to take steps <br /> to be more available, such as not using answering machines to screen calls. <br /> I am sure you are aware of the increasing pressure to evaluate City service delivery costs and to use <br /> competitive pricing /contracting /privatization to reduce service delivery costs. Although we have had <br /> an ongoing evaluation of service delivery costs for years, we feel it prudent given the passage of Ballot <br /> Measure 5 and 47/50 to make ongoing evaluation a higher priority. We are contracting out for certain <br /> services when it is cost effective. To my knowledge, contracting out services has not caused any loss <br /> of AFSCME jobs. Instead, contracting has allowed us to keep up with the demands of maintaining <br /> more assets with minimal additional resources. I believe competition will only make us better. <br /> My priority for evaluating service delivery costs and effectiveness are in program areas where there <br /> appears to be process and performance issues. My first goal is to implement changes to correct process <br /> and performance issues to make our service delivery as efficient and effective as possible. I am a firm <br /> believer that if we cannot deliver the services as effective and efficient as the private sector, we should <br /> not be performing that particular service. I am also of the belief that programs with well managed <br /> processes and employees with strong work ethics can compete effectively with the private sector. <br /> If we are to effectively compete with the private sector, City management and AFSCME must be <br /> partners. We must promote strong work values and ethics and eliminate policies and processes that <br /> inhibit our ability to be competitive. I have been communicating this message to employees within the <br /> division for some time. <br /> My plans are not to eliminate the tree crew or any other crew. My plan is to implement changes that <br /> will make all our service delivery systems competitive with the private sector. If we can not make a <br /> particular service competitive, then we would further explore the use of vendors and eliminate the in- <br /> house service. <br /> I hope this helps you understand my philosophy on the subject. As we implement changes, you may <br /> hear additional concerns. Anything you can do to help get us in a position to be more competitive with <br /> the private sector would be appreciated. <br /> cc: Chris Andersen, Johnny Medlin, Scott Plamondon, Helen Towle, Pattie Bean <br />