CLEARLAKE–The Clearlake City Council recently discussed the possible reorganization of the Public Works Department. The concept involves splitting the department into two divisions. One division would be responsible for street preventive maintenance and the other would be responsible for street, park and building maintenance.
“As you know, Jim Hale, the city”s Public Works superintendent, is retiring this month,” said City Administrator Dale Neiman during the Thursday, Dec. 13, meeting of the council. “Whenever there is a change in the management of a division or department it is a good time to evaluate making organizational changes.”
Neiman received authorization to proceed with developing a final recommendation for reorganizing the department. Conceptual ideas presented by Neiman included preparing draft job descriptions and salary levels for each position; developing maintenance schedules for each position; developing a program to utilize people on community service and inmates; developing costs estimates for staffing and equipment; and developing the final responsibilities of each division.
Neiman suggested that the Street Preventive Maintenance Division be filled by staffed with higher-skilled workers and that a training program to further improve their skills be developed. The Street, Park and Building Maintenance Division would be staffed with less-skilled maintenance workers.
The Street Preventive Maintenance Division would be responsible for pavement overlay preparation, pavement overlay of less than one inch, crack sealing, pavement resealing, pavement rehabilitation, pothole repair, shoulder repair, maintenance and widening; grading unpaved streets, guardrail and barrier installation and repair; curb, gutter and sidewalk repair and installation; tree trimming and removal; park and building lighting maintenance; traffic signal maintenance and operation; street and sidewalk safety inspections; and safety training.
The Street, Park and Building Maintenance Division would be responsible for landscaping maintenance, park restroom cleaning, park, street and building litter/trash removal; park sidewalk cleaning, ditch maintenance and clearing; pavement reflective marker maintenance and installation; fence installation and maintenance; street sign installation and maintenance; drainage catch basin and culvert cleaning; street marker and building painting; creek cleaning for flood control; gutter cleaning, erosion control, park and building safety inspections; and street and park weed removal.
Members of the council requested that inspection of the skatepark and city docks be added to the maintenance schedules.
Neiman further recommended that the Public Works superintendent position be re-classified as a Street Maintenance Supervision who would perform duties in the manner of a working foreman. The council will consider establishing a job description and salary level for the position at its Jan. 10 regular meeting.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
