Councilors press administration on proposed utilities-reporting changes and possible charter issues

During the workshop's concluding discussion, councilors challenged the administration's proposal to reorganize department reporting, specifically a recommendation to make the utilities director a direct report to the city manager rather than remain under the resilience & sustainability director.

One councilor cited the city charter and warned of a potential violation: "the City Council through the charter in section 4 solely has the ability to determine how departments are organized," the councilor said, and pressed the solicitor to review compliance with section 7.3. The city manager said the reorganization is a recommendation intended to improve direct oversight and coordination and that she respects the council's prerogative to accept or reject the change. The exchange became heated, with councilors demanding a review of current reporting relationships and administration offering to return for the utilities budget workshop the next day for a fuller discussion.

The chair closed the workshop and scheduled utilities for the next meeting, and councilors asked for documentation showing trust distributions, department reporting lines and any charter implications for the proposed reorganization.