05-29-1979 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF TH~ CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA, CALIFORNIA May 29, 1979 The meeting was called to order by Mayor James E. Ward in Room 831, City Hall, 20 Civic Center Plaza, at 5:35 p.m. Members of Council present were Gordon Bricken, Robert W. Luxembourger, A1 Serrato, Harry K. Yamamoto, and Mayor Ward. Councilmen Daniel E. Griset and J. Ogden Markel were absent. City Manager/Acting Clerk of the Council B. J. Thompson, City Attorney Keith L. Gow, Deputy Clerk of the Council Martha Lee, other members of staff, members of the City Services Task Force Com- mittee, citizens, and a representative of the press were also present. MANAGI~4ENT REORGANIZATION PLAN Background information concerning past SET FOR STUDY SESSION - JUNE 5 organization of the City, the 1975 management plan, and the purpose of the proposed Management Reorganization Plan were presented by the City Manager. He listed anticipated improvements in direct services to the Council, administrative and operations improvements as the purpose of the Plan, and stated that the goal is to increase effectiveness and efficiency and do so without spending more dollars. Mayor Ward invited discussion by the Council. Councilman Bricken said that the Council had agreed to the 1975 (Arthur D. Little, Inc.) plan, but not without reservations; that there was concern at that time about administrative layering and increased costs; that the plan almost immediately began to collapse when administrative positions became vacant and were not filled; that there is little resemblance between present organization and the 1975 plan. Councilman Yamamoto responded that positions were not filled because the plan was not working. He expressed indignation that he and Councilman Markel were not asked to participate in development of the present proposal. The City Manager replied that there was no intent to leave anyone out; that an effort had been made to receive input from the previous Council as to what they were dis- satisfied with in the organization, and in what ways the City Manager's Office had failed to perform to their expectations. Discussion of specific aspects of the proposed plan followed, and the City Manager responded to Council questions. Councilman Yamamoto expressed objections to Administrative Assistant as Council/ Manager liaison, and to the combining of Redevelopment with Housing and Conmmmity Development. He suggested that there be two assistants or deputy managers, and that policy plarming be initiated at the departmental level. He added that Council must stay within the restrictions of the Budget. Councilman Serrato noted that there seems to be a philosophical shift to more centralized structure (as compared with the 1975 A. D. Little report); that there are advantages and disadvantages to both systems of organization; that the present plan may overload the Assistant City Manager; that it invests in that position considerable influence and authority without exact definition of duties; that he would like more information as to who would be doing what; that stronger manage- ment might be needed in some areas than in others. The Mayor concurred that the A. D. Little structure has some good philosophy. He pointed out that the City Manager is directly responsible to the Council as pro- vided in the Charter; that in his view the Assistant City Manager position is similar to that of Vice President; that he could see a lot of good coming out of this proposal, and a lot of similarity with the 1975 plan. Councilman Bricken also indicated similarities between the proposal and the A. D. Little plan. CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 177 May 29, 1979