Pomona Council OKs Plan to Streamline Government

Over the adamant objections of one member, the City Council this week approved a reorganization plan proposed by City Administrator A.J. Wilson to streamline city government.

The plan, approved by the council in a 4-1 vote, will eliminate the city’s management services department, as well as one position each in the building and personnel departments, for a projected savings in the General Fund of $100,000 a year.

The reorganization will create two deputy city administrator positions and add four employees to the city’s Redevelopment Agency. The expansion of the community development department is in response to a Los Angeles County grand jury report issued earlier this year, which found the department to be understaffed.

Salaries totaling about $100,000 for the four new employees would come from the Redevelopment Agency’s budget.

Community Development Director Sanford Sorenson will become the city’s deputy city administrator-development, a position that will allow him to represent the city administrator in negotiations with developers. He will also oversee a newly formed development department, which will combine the functions of the buildings and planning departments, as well as public works and water departments.

Dayle Keller, who was administrative assistant to the city administrator will become deputy city administrator-operations, overseeing the departments of finance, personnel, parks and recreation, communications and the library.

“Basically we’re reorganizing so we can respond more efficiently to the public and streamline the development procedure . . . and we’re saving money,” Mayor Donna Smith said.

The lone opponent of the reorganization was Councilman C.L. (Clay) Bryant, who accused Wilson of “empire building.”

“We need two deputy city administrators like we need a hole in the head,” Bryant said, adding that the city administrator was not pursuing the goals given him by council members when he was hired in February. “Those goals didn’t include padding the city staff.”