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UAC reviews commission role and city utilities organization as director position remains vacant
Summary
The Utility Advisory Commission reviewed its statutory advisory role and the utilities department’s organization as staff outlined transitions following the utilities director’s retirement.
At the start of the meeting staff led a review of the Utility Advisory Commission’s purpose under city code and of the utilities department’s organization and senior staff roles. The review coincided with the retirement of the utilities director and staff explained the director position is not yet posted while the city works with an executive recruiter.
Kylene Osei (assistant city manager) and Alan (chief operating officer) told the commission that the department would be overseen by senior staff while recruitment proceeds and that an announcement on transition plans was expected soon. They highlighted that the utilities department is the city’s largest, with roughly 270 employees and a large capital portfolio. Alan outlined senior positions and responsibilities, including resource management, customer support, electric operations and capital project delivery.
Commissioners pressed staff for clarity about the line between "daily operations" (personnel assignments, hiring/firing, procurement and field operations) and the advisory role of the commission (policy guidance, rates, major projects, finance and plans). Chair Greg Sharp and Vice Chair Mater said the UAC should prioritize items that match the commission’s advisory remit and asked for clearer follow‑up after meetings when the UAC provides input to help track whether and how council or staff acted on the commission’s advice.
Several commissioners asked that the commission be better linked to council deliberations on utility matters. Staff said they will include a readout of council items relevant to utilities in the director’s report and that a liaison system (one commissioner assigned as liaison to council/finance committee on particular items) can be used when the UAC wants formal representation at a council or Finance Committee meeting.
Staff described recent retirements and vacancies and said vacancies were being filled through hiring and consultant support. Commissioners asked for clearer staffing lists and requested that the commission be informed when high‑visibility staff departures occur; staff said individual separation announcements are often a personal choice but agreed to provide organizational updates.
The discussion closed with commissioners asking staff to bring forward clearer agendas, narrative threads that track outstanding questions and follow‑up items between meetings, and more detailed presentations on major multi‑year programs (including Grid Mod and Fiber) so the commission can provide focused advisory input.
