Anaheim : Chamber Says the City Has Too Many Managers

Anaheim has too many managers and spends an increasing amount of money on consultants and travel expenses for its Public Utilities Department, an Anaheim Chamber of Commerce blue ribbon committee concluded in reviewing the city’s 1985-87 budget.

The city’s staff is expected to respond to the chamber’s report at the city’s weekly council meeting today.

In their review of the budget, chamber members found a 20% increase of employees in management positions while the total number of employees has remained constant during the past five years. The committee recommended that the city reduce management positions.

Assistant City Manager Ron Bates said Monday that the 20% cited by the chamber included professional and technical classifications not normally considered managerial. If those positions were excluded from the management categories, the 20% figure would go down to 2.2%, Bates said.

In its review of the Public Utilities Department, the chamber recommended that consultants be used for “must do” projects. The proposed consultant costs for 1985-86 are $5.5 million--about $1.4 million more than last year.

In a written response prepared by the city staff and scheduled for presentation today, City Manager William O. Talley said a recommended 6% ceiling on 1985-86 increases “is unacceptable in view of the city’s public utility obligation to provide water and electric service to all new developments.”

Also in the Public Utilities Department, officials have increased their travel and meeting expenses budget by 22% since last year, the chamber report noted. The $144,788 projected for 1985-86 equals approximately $500 per department employee per year, the report states.

“We believe these travel and meeting expenses are appropriate for operating two utilities of the magnitude and complexity of Anaheim’s,” Talley said in his report.