Plans to recruit a new community services director

City manager Jeff Parker wrote in a Dec. 23 memo he started recruitment for a new community services director after he consulted with city council members.

An original proposal to combine engineering with community services departments "would potentially diminish the effectiveness of both departments," Parker wrote in the memo. 

Mid to late February is the projected timetable for the new community services director while interim director Pat Malloy will work for the city through January.

The reason for the director is in part from engineering activity that includes the possibility of Caltrans relinquishing Foothill Boulevard, street resurfacements from Arrow Highway to Foothill, the Citrus Bikeway and an Indian Hill Boulevard major storm drain project, Parker wrote.

Sanitation fund savings and a downgrading or elimination of the Economic Development Officer position will be used to fund the director position, according to the memo.

Meanwhile the human services department will take over building and parks maintenance, cemetery operations and transit services oversight in January.

Councilman Corey Calaycay's information and weekly update for Dec. 27 through 31 featured Parker's memo, which was sent to city council members and the community services commission.