Municipal managers told the assembly on Sept. 12 that a modest reorganization in the 120-day memo would separate public works from community development, removing an extra layer of middle management and creating two primary columns in the budget.

Why it matters: Administration staff said the change intends to reduce redundant management layers, improve efficiency and create space for a leader focused on real estate, planning and development services to drive the mayor's housing agenda. "This effectively breaks the two and two acknowledging that we don't need that many layers of middle management," a municipal manager said during the session.

What the change does: Staff explained that previously the Planning, Development and Public Works (PDPW) position sat above both real-estate/planning and the public-works director, who in turn sat above maintenance and traffic units. The proposed reorg elevates public works to its own top-line budget column while keeping planning and development together so a focused leader can coordinate housing, facilities and street assets.

Questions and responses: Assembly members asked about the logic of multiple leadership layers and the practical effect on departments. Staff said the reorganization is smaller than the prior year's larger reorgs and is aimed at aligning structure with the mayor's priority to support housing and development goals. Municipal Manager Wynn Pearson was invited to provide more detail during subsequent briefings.

Ending: Staff said the change will appear in departmental pages of the full 120-day memo and that more operational detail can be provided in later budget sessions if assembly members request it.