BUENA PARK : Council Reorganizes 3 City Departments

In an effort to make city government run more efficiently, the City Council recently approved major overhauls for three city departments.

The council gave the go-ahead to break up the Police Department, formerly one unit, into two divisions and also consolidate public works with engineering to form one large branch.

Speaking at a City Council meeting last week, Police Chief Richard Tefank said the changes will help the department run more smoothly.

“This will provide in my opinion a more efficient and responsive organization,” Tefank said.

The changes provide for two divisions: operations and support services. Each will be headed by a captain who will report to Tefank. Patrol and traffic services will fall under operations and educational programs, such as the school anti-drug program, will be included under support services.

Although several positions will be changed, the reorganization does not provide for any layoffs, officials said. It will cost the city $87,000 for the addition of one captain.

Because engineering and public works work together daily, the respective department heads requested that the agencies be consolidated. As with the Police Department, the changes will not result in any layoffs, said Don Jensen, director of engineering.

“There is no intention to reduce the staff as a result of the consolidation,” Jensen said. Under the consolidation, the two branches will jointly be known as the Public Works Department. Many of the duties will be shared, including traffic engineering and maintenance.

Both department heads will take on added responsibilities, with Jensen becoming deputy director of public works and Don Kemp, former public works director, assuming the title of assistant city manager. Neither staff change will result in a raise, City Manager Kevin O’Rourke said.

O’Rourke said this may not be the end of changes, with the city searching for new directors of finance and developmental services. When the new hires come on board, more changes may be made, he said.