Carson Board of Supervisors: Officials to debate adding a deputy city manager position

The Carson City Board of Supervisors will consider hiring a deputy city manager during Thursday's meeting.

The annual salary of $125,000 plus benefits would ultimately save the city up to $20,000 per year in consultant fees for work now done by former city manager Linda Ritter, who collects and analyzes performance data for every aspect of city government.

Four years ago, the city embarked on a program to define, measure and analyze all the activities of the city's departments. The goal has been to look at the services that the city provides to the community by resources used and goals achieved, according to an agenda report.

The program includes four phases, with the first phase encompassing the establishment of goals by the board. Phase 2 was to define all functions and activities provided by the city and to align those to one or more of the adopted goals.

Phase 3 is to determine the resources needed by the activity at the current service level, and the final phase involves surveying the community on a regular basis to determine if the activity being provided is a priority demanding the resources needed.

Ritter, who helped implement the program, has handled it as a consultant or special projects manager.

"To complete the program, it is essential that a position is created that can work with Mrs. Ritter to see all phases completed and to reduce the need for a consultant," City Manager Larry Werner said in his report. "For the program to thrive in its completed state, it needs to be managed from within the city manager's office."

Werner said the position also could provide him with other high-level assistance.

Should the board decide that performance measures are not a priority and direct staff accordingly, there could be savings to the general fund of about $175,000 per year from salaries, benefits and consultant fees, he said.

Supervisors also are scheduled to discuss or take action to:

• Present a Runner-Friendly Community plaque to Sean Lehmann.

• Present a plaque from University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, 4-H youth, their families and leaders to Carson City Parks and Recreation Department for their support throughout the years.

• Accept the Carson City Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2011.

• Authorize the city manager or finance director to arrange to refinance certain outstanding bonds.

• Accept an inter-local agreement with Douglas County for Carson City Health and Human Services to provide community health nursing services in Douglas County.

• Approve a memorandum of understanding between the Board of Regents of the Nevada System of Higher Education on behalf of the University of Nevada, the Nevada Small Business Development Center and Carson City to establish services at the city's Business Resource Innovation Center.

• Consider 11 planning and zoning items.

• Adopt on second reading an ordinance realigning ward boundaries.

• Consider in closed session negotiations and informal discussions between the city manager and the city's labor unions regarding potential for contract concessions to assist the city in balancing the 2011-12 annual budget.

• Appoint two members to the Carson City Audit Committee.

• Appoint two members to the Regional Transportation Committee.

The Carson City Board of Supervisors meets at 8:30 a.m. Thursday in the Sierra Room of the Carson City Community Center, 851 E. William St. Go to www.carson.org to downloadan agenda and a completeinformation packet.

Other meetings this week:

• The Carson Area Metropolitan Planning Organization meets at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in the Sierra Room of the community center. For more information, call 775-887-2355.

• The Carson City Regional Transportation Commission meets immediately following adjournment of CAMPO in the Sierra Room of the community center. For more information, call 775-8872355.