08/31/1992 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Mr. MacDonald said that the public has not received the message that this is a major organizational change and that the council is trying to foster entrepre- neurial government. Responding to concern from Ms. Bascom about the City's computer system, Mr. Gleason said that he requires a cost-benefit analysis for each improvement in data processing, including each application. He said every application has been required to demonstrate that it has a cost-benefit ratio that is positive in terms of outcome. He offered to make the analysis available. Ms. Ehrman said part of the problem is public perception. She said the budgeting process should be reviewed to avoid having to spend a large amount of money at the end of the fiscal year. Mr. Boles questioned the $1.9 million allocated for space reconfiguration, saying it was an operations and maintenance cost, not capital. The issue was flagged for further discussion. E. Central Business Functions Mr. Gleason revealed his plan for realizing $105,000 annually in the area of central business functions as directed by the council. The proposal calls for merging the Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services (PARCS) department with the Library. The plan eliminates two staff positions (Librarian, PARCS Director) and adds one, yet to be assigned a title, which will manage a new, yet unnamed, department. Mr. Gleason said he believes this will be as successful a consolidation as the previous two. Current acting directors have e agreed to stay in their current positions until a new manager is hired. Linda Norris, Acting Assistant City Manager, is coordinating the recruitment of the new manager. Mr. Gleason emphasized that staff has yet to work out all the details. In the interim, staff is developing a profile of the new manager that will meet the needs of all the departments. Responding to council concern about the impact on the new library, Mr. Gleason said the library is not jeopardized by the broadening responsibility of the new manager. Mr. Gleason said a comprehensive analysis of efficiencies is forthcoming, but it would require a six-month process to get to specificity. He reminded the council that the City organization has reduced its structure from 14 to 6 departments with this new merger. Mr. Gleason said he would also like to do something different with the Assistant City Manager position. Some of the responsibilities can be assigned to others, but the support role is very hard to hand off. Mr. MacDonald expressed hope that services would be enhanced and concern for involved staff. Mr. Gleason said it is the synergy among staff that raises the possibilities. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council August 31, 1992 Page 7 5:30 p.m.