06-20-2011 CRC RPT 02 - Laserfiche WebLink

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From: "Robert Stockton" < rstocktongrickengineering.com > Date: June 9, 20115:15:40 PM PDT To: "Tom Evans \(E- mail\)" <tpemleg earthlink.net> Subject: Charter Review Hi Tom I've been thinking about the relationship of the Director of Riverside's Public Utilities to the hierarchy of the rest of the City's staff since early in my tenure on the Board of Public Utilities, and feel that The Director of Public Utilities operates an enterprise fund whose business operations need to be separated from the pressures of political implications that may not be in the best interest of the Water and Electric Utility or its customers. It's important that the Board of Public Utilities approve or disapprove of the appointment, suspension of removal of the Director of Public Utilities as an important check and balance to other competing influences. Because of the size of the Utility Department's budget as a part of overall city operations, the number of employees and the economic impact of the utility to the City of Riverside, the Director of Public Utilities needs to report directly and completely to the city manager consistent with the position of Assistant City Manager. This reporting relationship should not be delegated. The compensation of the Director of Public Utilities shall be reviewed and adjusted no less frequently than every five years and should be based upon comparisons with other like -sized utilities in California with similar operations. I would like to suggest the following change to the City's Charter: Change Section 1202 (g) from: Approve or disapprove the appointment of the Director of Public Utilities , who shall be a department head., to: Approve or disapprove the appointment, suspension or removal of the Director of Public Utilities , who shall be department head reporting directly to the city manager. What is the process to suggest this change? Thanks Bob Robert Stockton Principal rstockton(a7ri ckengi.neerin ,g. com RICK ENGINEERING COMPANY 1770 Iowa Ave - Ste. 100 - Riverside - CA - 92507 (951) 782 -0707 Direct (951) 826 -2780 Cell (951) 312 -4139 www.rickenmil WARNING: The information provided via electronic media is not guaranteed or warranted against any defects, including design, calculation, data translation or transmission errors or omissions.