City Manager Announces New Efficiencies And Staff Transitions

Feb 1, 2021 - City Manager Jessi Bon announced today several staff transitions that will address a number of goals identified as part of the City’s recent organizational restructure including a consistent focus on service delivery and stewarding the City’s infrastructure, succession planning, and a smoother experience for the public.

“I’m proud of how adaptive, nimble, and creative our employees have been during this period of tremendous transition,” said City Manager Bon. “I am confident that these staff will continue to maintain and expand on the excellent service this community has come to expect from the City.” (See photo - click for staff names)

Public Works Oversight: Patrick Yamashita has served as City Engineer for 22 years and will now also assume the title of Public Works Deputy Director, as part of a recent internal reorganization. All engineering staff – both those that support private development and those that lead City infrastructure projects – are now housed in the Public Works Department to enhance interaction, project delivery, succession planning, and cross-training opportunities. Patrick will oversee 15 staff in the Engineering & Capital Division, working to increase the City’s focus on overdue infrastructure projects, such as water main replacements, sewage pump station upgrades, road resurfacing, pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and park projects.

Customer Service: Angie Moreau has been promoted to lead the City’s new Customer Service Center, which was originally launched to help with an overwhelming volume of pandemic-related requests. The effort has been so successful that the Customer Service Center will become a permanent fixture, centralizing customer service functions Citywide and improving the experience for customers seeking assistance. The team is already able to answer more than half of the inquiries come in, saving staff time and avoiding routing customers through the phone tree. Angie joined the City in 2019 and brings extensive customer service and retail management experience to the new position and is excited to help residents get the information they need.

Sustainability: In December, the City Council approved the 2021-2022 Biennial Budget which included separating out two previously conjoined positions – sustainability and communications. This spring, Sustainability and Communications Manager Ross Freeman will shift his attention to 100% sustainability work once the City fills the communications role. For the past eight years, Ross has divided his time between the joint roles. The need to split the position was highlighted by a significant number of long-term emergency events and multiple high-engagement topics, expanding communications and outreach work to fill almost all of his time. Ross began working for the City in 2013, after an extensive career in sustainability and conservation, and looks forward to focusing more intently on the City’s sustainability and energy efficiency initiatives. The Sustainability Analyst position will reside within the Public Works Department.

Economic Development: Sarah Bluvas will build on her track record of assisting and empowering local businesses as the City’s Economic Development Coordinator. At the outset of the pandemic last February, City Manager Bon quickly recognized the disproportionate burden Island businesses bore under the regional health restrictions, and appointed Sarah to serve in a temporary role as a liaison and resource to local businesses. As the Economic Development Coordinator, Sarah will report to the Community Planning and Development Department and will also work closely with the City Manager and other departments on a range of affiliated projects. Sarah was hired by the City in 2018 to support the Arts Council and help drive expanded arts and culture programming and brings a wide range of related experience in strategic planning, economic development, and public engagement to her new position.

Youth & Family Services: Tambi Cork first began at the City in 2010, starting out in a coordinator role for the VOICE program and working in the schools. As the pandemic surged in early 2020, she turned her attention to the many mental health and social wellbeing needs that it created, ensuring that the Island’s most vulnerable community members were not forgotten. Tambi will now assume the role of Administrator of the City’s Youth and Family Services (YFS) Department. In this role she will manage the entire department as well as continuing to administer the federal grants for the Healthy Youth Initiative prevention efforts, work closely with the MIYFS Foundation in their fundraising efforts, and foster relations with community groups. While YFS is a separate department within the City, Ali Spietz, the Chief of Administration oversees the YFS Department and fills the role of Director.

Recreation Programming: Ryan Daly began working with the City in 2010 as a Recreation Coordinator, advancing to Recreation Manager and interim Parks & Recreation Director. During the pandemic, all programming offered by the City’s Parks and Recreation Department was canceled and the Community Center closed due to public health regulations. Thousands of residents turned instead to outdoor recreation, which was temporarily managed by the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC). Since the pandemic, Ryan has been serving as the EOC Operations Section Chief. As the region inches closer towards COVID recovery, and a gradual reopening of public facilities, Ryan will serve as the Operations and Transition Team Manager, where he will oversee the rebuilding of the Recreation Division and current Thrift Shop operations. In addition, he will continue to serve as the Staff Liaison to the Parks and Recreation Commission and support EOC functions.