City of Santa Maria, California, City Manager

CITY MANAGER

110 E. Cook Street
Santa Maria, CA 93454-5190 Mission Statement
Goals and Objectives
Administration

The City Manager's Office provides overall direction and coordination of City operations to ensure that the City Council's adopted service goals are met or exceeded, and that costs do not exceed budget restrictions. This office continually evaluates the City's organizational structure as it relates to requirements for effective, efficient and economical public service. The City Clerk, Human Resources and Risk Management divisions are part of the office, which also includes contracted services for economic development and oversight of local public access television. The City Manager's Office works closely with the City Council by developing, advising and making recommendations to the Council on policies, programs and various business matters, and implementing the Council's decisions.

City Manager's Office Organizational Chart

photo-City Manager, Tim Ness TIM S. NESS
City Manager
City Phone: (805) 925.0951 x200
City Fax: (805) 349.0657

E-mail

EDUCATION & EMPLOYMENT:

A.A. Palomar Community College
B.S. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
M.A. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
City Manager, City of Santa Maria
Deputy City Manager, City of Santa Maria
Deputy County Administrator, County of San Luis Obispo
Principal Administrative Analyst, County of San Luis Obispo
Administrative Analyst, County of San Luis Obispo

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT:

Santa Maria Breakfast Rotary
Santa Maria Valley Chamber of Commerce
International City/County Management Association
League of California Cities
National Civic League

PERSONAL:

Marital status: Married
Children: Two
General interests: Basketball, biking, running, skiing, and music

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES:

The City Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the City. Acts as an advisor to the City Council on fiscal and City matters. The City Council sets policy, while the City Manager implements that policy. The Manager works as a facilitator, coordinator and catalyst, developing good working relationships and counting on and seeking out the support of the experts - City department heads, City staff and the community.

Mission Statement
To provide accurate and timely information and recommendations to the City Council in order to make informed decisions, implement policies and programs approved by Council, and manage the day-to-day operations of City services.

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2010-11 Goals/Objectives

Develop and administer a "structurally balanced" General Fund budget, and continue to maintain adequate reserves for future years' financing.
Continue economic development efforts, by working in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, to attract more mid-size light manufacturing, research and other clean businesses to Santa Maria, as well as help retain and expand existing local businesses in order to keep down the vacancy rate in local commercial and retail storefronts.
Implement in-house training for new supervisors and Human Resources liaisons relative to Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and City Administrative Memorandums (CAMs), as well as expand customer service training to all employees.
Successfully work with employee bargaining groups to garner concessions in an effort to reduce operational costs as one part of the multi-faceted budget balancing reduction plan.
Successfully conduct the November 4, 2010 General Municipal Election by providing increased voter outreach to all segments of the community.
Provide greater transparency by expanding the City's Website to include public hearing notices and a calendar for City meetings and events.
Introduce Web-based training options (video-streaming) for safety-related training to City employees.
Increase PEG programming opportunities by, for and about students, senior citizens and Spanish-speakers, to include assisting with the production of television programming in support of curbing youth violence and engaging the community in finding solutions.
Continue the on-going process of protecting the City's vital records and facilitate implementation of a City-wide Vital Records Program on a department-by-department basis.
Systematically update a number of existing City Administrative Memos (CAMs), as well as produce new CAMs to address citywide operational issues and programs.

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ADMINISTRATION

Administration provides general guidance to all divisions within the City Manager's Office, proposes solutions to operational problems as well as staff and budgetary issues, oversees labor relations, and is responsible for special projects throughout the City. Additionally, Administration coordinates information to the public through various mediums, including news releases, the City website, and Santa Maria Community Television.

The Assistant City Manager functions as operations officer for the City Manager, coordinating daily interdepartmental activities. The Assistant City Manager provides direct supervision to the Human Resources Division and the Records Division of the City Manager's Office and to Risk Management.

photo-Assistant City Manager, Rick Hayden RICHARD J. HAYDON
Assistant City Manager
City Phone: (805) 925.0951 x200
City Fax: (805) 349.0657
E-mail