Countywide : New Chief, Format OKd for EMA Transit Agency

The county Environmental Management Agency won approval Wednesday for a reorganization of its transportation functions and the appointment of a veteran EMA official as transportation director.

EMA Director Ernie Schneider said the reorganization will consolidate traffic planning and engineering jobs now carried out by two separate sections within the agency and by Schneider’s office.

Schneider appointed William L. Zaun, who celebrated his 51st birthday Wednesday, as transportation director. Zaun, who graduated from USC with a civil engineering degree, has worked for the county since 1959 and most recently was the EMA’s director of regulation. Zaun was one of the finalists last year to succeed Murray I. Storm as EMA director, but lost out to Schneider.

Schneider said the reorganization would help speed up work on three proposed freeways, which will not be finished for at least 10 years, and will improve efficiency by centralizing all transportation planning in one department.

The reorganization will add nine new positions to the 67 now doing transportation work in the agency’s other sections, Schneider said. Zaun and a secretary will start work immediately, but the other seven jobs will not be filled until funds are available.