City's reorganization plan expected to save $245,000

Whether you call it downsizing, streamlining, or saving $245,000, the Las Vegas City Council on Monday will likely ratify the reorganization of several city divisions, eliminating a managerial position and a department in the process.

City Manager Virginia Valentine said the departmental reorganization is a way to keep with the goals of greater efficiency and improved customer service, as outlined in the strategic plan approved by the council last month. Many of the reassignments have already taken place.

The main change will be eliminating the city's General Services department, which currently oversees the divisions of Building Services, the Downtown Transportation Center, Equal Opportunity Contracting Program, Graphic Arts, Purchasing and Contracts, Real Estate and Asset Management and Vehicle Services.

Ralph Shackleford, director of General Services, has already been replaced by finance director Mark Vincent on an interim basis. The council will be asked to ratify that appointment Monday.

Rick Anderson, the city's director of Human Resources, said Shackleford "has several options open to him."

Shackleford was unable to be reached for comment, but Valentine said he is weighing his options.

"This is a reduction in force. If the position doesn't exist, he can apply for another position within the city," Valentine said.

Other options available to Shackleford include resigning or challenging the city's plan in court.

Four other General Services positions, currently vacant, will not be filled. Valentine said other positions may also be cut in future reorganizations.

Under the first phase of the reorganization, the Purchasing and Contracts division will be absorbed by the Department of Finance and Business.

Building Services and Vehicle Services will move to the Department of Public Works.

Valentine said that move is efficient because those divisions consistently interact, have common interests and perform similar services. When vehicle and building services are combined with streets, sanitation, parks and open space divisions, the staff will be better able to coordinate work efforts, she said.

Graphic Arts and the Mail Room will become a function of the Department of Information Technologies. The ward liaison staff and the Office of Federal, State and Local Initiatives will be assigned to the assistant to the city manager, Willie Cook.

Previously, the city moved the streets, sanitation, parks and open spaces divisions to Public Works, saving about $200,000.

Valentine said additional change requests will be brought to the council in the future.

"We wanted to regroup some similar functions together," Valentine said. "It allows us to put all the financial things together and create a good synergy among the staff."

The consolidation will save $245,000 now, and will likely lead to more savings as the reorganization evolves.

Anderson said more money will be saved "through attrition and reassignment of duties" and if the council brings forth an early-retirement plan for city employees.

Vincent was assigned acting director of General Services because a city ordinance is required to eliminate a department. It takes several weeks to pass an ordinance, due to the public hearings and notices involved.

Therefore, Valentine said, it was important to keep watch of General Services' fiscal divisions until the ordinance passes.

Valentine said replacing Shackleford now instead of after the department was eliminated was a "chicken and egg" type decision.

"We want to do this efficiently," Valentine said. "If there's duplication, we're not going to refill positions we don't think we need anymore."

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