Turlock proposes reorganizing city departments. How could it affect public services?
The Turlock City Council on Tuesday may approve plans to reorganize city departments in an effort to run public services more efficiently, per a staff report.
Proposed changes include appointing a deputy city manager for the first time and eliminating two departments while creating two new ones.
Sarah Eddy would assume the deputy position under City Manager Reagan Wilson’s proposal, he said Monday, and leave her current post as interim administrative services director. If the council approves, the city will eliminate both the Administrative Services and the Parks, Recreations and Public Facilities departments. Turlock also would create separate public works and human resources departments to replace them.
Wilson said he needs a deputy to help him manage the city manager’s office and act on his behalf when he is absent. Eddy served as the interim city manager from late May 2021 until Wilson’s hiring in February, with a short break for medical leave. Eddy has worked for Turlock since 1988, mainly in human resources, she told The Bee in May, and previously worked for the assistant city manager.
The reorganization proposal comes after Turlock hired five retirees last year to temporarily fill interim department head positions while recruiting candidates. But Wilson said the proposal is not related to any difficulties filling director vacancies. A municipal services director is the only current vacancy, Wilson said, and he has given an offer to a candidate.
Turlock between July and September had hired an interim finance director, city clerk, police chief, municipal services director and fire chief. Since then, the city has contracted Modesto for fire services and filled the other three department head vacancies.
Wilson added he has been working to reorganize city departments since he began leading Turlock two months ago. If the council approves his plan, it will become effective April 16 and reorganizing will take about four to six weeks, Wilson wrote in the staff report.
Turlock public works proposed
A new public works department would include divisions for engineering, transit, maintenance and recreation, per the staff report. With the council’s approval, Wilson would begin recruiting a public works director.
“The reasoning is to take like bunches that are spread around different departments and put them all under a single department with single leadership,” Wilson said Monday.
Parks, Recreations and Public Facilities Director Allison Van Guilder accepted a job outside Turlock government, Wilson said. Tuesday’s agenda includes a proclamation honoring her.
Under the reorganization plan, a new human resources department will replace the Administrative Services Department. Jessie Dhami would become the human resources director and oversee payroll and human resources divisions.
The public may comment on the reorganization proposal at the council meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday.
