Around the Arch Blog

Reno’s Regional Emergency Dispatch Center is a dynamic place to work. The center is CALEA certified. On top of having this accreditation, the dispatchers handle all 911 calls and dispatch for nearly every public safety division in the Truckee Meadows. The dispatch is about to go through more changes to meet the demands of smart phones and other technology, so they can be even more effective at saving lives.
[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MH3EvSzbUg]

The City’s new Finance Director Mary Ann Parrot brought her budget team to the podium to be recognized for this honor. The budget team includes Jill Olsen, Gayela Emory, Kim Kilgore and Robert Miller. The Government Finance Officers Association awarded the City of Reno Finance Department with the Distinguished Budget Award for fiscal year 2009-2010.
This award recognizes the high caliber of the City of Reno’s budget documents. These documents provide a clear understanding of the City’s finances allowing citizens and others to be fully informed.

The Reno City Council congratulated everyone who City staff chose for the Employee of the Quarter Awards. Employee Recognition Committee members Cara Stewart and Karen Rudy presented the awards in three categories.
1. 4Rs Across Departments Award – Anna Navarro (Finance), Matt Jensen (City Attorney’s Office) and Officer Greg Meister (Police Dept.) won for their work on business license compliance.
2. 4Rs Community – Erich Strunge and Rick Parrino (Public Works) won for going out of their way to help an elderly man and his disabled wife with snow removal.
3. 4Rs Outstanding Results – Mike Murray (Public Works) won for heading the Evelyn Mount Food Drive at the Public Works Department last Christmas. Lt. Mike Whan (Police Dept.) won for creating the Detective Liaison Programto improve communication between the detective and patrol division. Officer
Phil Tuttle (Police Dept.) won for consistently exceeding expectations on his assignments.

City Council Member Dave Aiazzi surprized Reno Fire Division Chief for Operations Joe DuRousseau with a special freeway sign of his own to recognize his amazing landing on the freeway a couple of weeks ago. County Commissioner Bob Larkin, a pilot and instructor with Joe, showed up to congratulate him as well. Joe found an opening in traffic and slipped his single-engine plane into the gap after engine trouble forced him to land Interstate 80 near Reno.
The Cessna 172 suffered tail and rudder damage, but pilot Joseph DuRousseau Jr. and three passengers on their way home from a humanitarian mission in Mexico were unhurt.

The City of Reno Therapeutic Recreation Specialist April Wolfe is spending the week in Vancouver as a guest of the World Paralympic Games Committee. The group chose April and five other adults to chaparone young athletes, so they can learn what it takes to be a future paralympian. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDSchy_KjmQ]

The Reno City Council approved the appointment of Michael Hernandez as the new Reno Fire Chief. His fire service career spans 28 years with the Corpus Christi Fire Department where he serves as deputy chief. Hernandez takes over as chief on March 15th. Tim Alameda has been Interim Chief while the City conducted a job search for the position.

Reno Mayor Bob Cashell read a proclamation at the Reno City Council meeting declaring February 24, 2010 James JJ Johns Day in Reno. Deputy Chief Jim Johns is retiring after 32 years with the Reno Police Department.

Thirty union represented positions identified as part of the City of Reno’s reduction in force have passed the Civil Service review process and affected staff members were notified today. On Tuesday (1/12/10), 12 non-union employees were notified that they were among those who were being laid off. Forty-two staff members in total were given notice this week to help reduce the $6 million budget shortfall projected for this year.

In addition, 22 open positions have been frozen and two other staff members have notified the City they will retire, bringing the total force reduction to 66 positions across all funds. The reduction in force was authorized at the Council special session held January 8, 2010.

These cuts come on top of wage and benefit concessions made by staff coming into this fiscal year, due to worse than expected revenue losses. The City reduced its budget by $5.0 million in Fiscal Year 2007-2008, $25.4 million in Fiscal Year 2008-2009 and another $14.0 million for Fiscal Year 2009-2010, with the assistance of employee bargaining units.

With the additional $6 million reduction taking place now, the City has cut more than $50 million from the General Fund over the past three years. Over the same time, almost 300 positions have been either held vacant or eliminated, equaling approximately 17% of the City’s workforce.

Since the savings for these positions will be realized between February and June this fiscal year, the impact on next year is three times as much, possibly saving more than $9 million in Fiscal Year 2010-2011, which begins July 1, 2010.

Civil Service rules provide a ten day appeal process for employees given notice, so the elimination of the following positions will be effective as of February 1, 2010:

Community Development
Inspection Services Supervisor (1)
Public Works Construction Inspector (2)
Combination Inspector (1)

Finance Department
Accountant (1)
Accounting Assistant (2)

Communications & Technology
Information Systems Technician I (1)
Communication Technician (1)
Office Assistant II (1)

Public Works
Custodial Coordinator (1)
Public Works Construction Inspector (1)
Survey Instrument Technician (1)
Administrative Secretary (1)

Fire Department
Fire Prevention Officer (2)
Firefighter (12)
Office Assistant II (2)

Cuts in the Police Department have come through holding an additional 18 unfilled positions open. These positions had been purposefully left unfilled in anticipation of further cuts being necessary this year.

The City Council will continue to look at Fire station staffing scenarios at future Council meetings. At the January 27th Council meeting, new projections for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 will be discussed that reflect new revenue forecasts and the savings projected from this reduction in force.

It is now easier to connect to the City of Reno website. The City has changed its web address to “reno.gov.”   Why?   Simply put, shorter is better.

“Reno.gov” is easier read, type and remember!  Plus, the change is part of an overall cost savings measure that saves up to $40,000 a year.

Simply type “reno.gov” into your web browser and you will be connected to the City’s website where you can perform a number of transactions online saving gas or stamps and time! Read the rest of this entry »