Finding the best person for the job
Replacing one of Yorba Linda’s top officials--who was arguably the city’s best-known and most popular manager--is a daunting task, but City Council members are hoping to find the “ideal candidate” to serve as the new Parks and Recreation Director.
Resumes of individuals seeking to fill the shoes of former director Steve Rudometkin are due in City Manager Tamara Letourneau’s office by the end of the day tomorrow.
Rudometkin, a Yorba Linda resident who advanced to a key executive position in a 30-year career with the city before assuming a similar post in Pomona, was one of the last remaining top management officials hired by former 27-year City Manager Art Simonian.
Letourneau has selected most of the employees now occupying director-level positions.
A four-page color brochure was one of the tools used to entice well-qualified candidates to apply for the position, which administers a $5.3 million budget and a department with 22 full-time and 61 part-time employees.
Of course, salary is an important factor when trying to recruit somebody who already enjoys a successful career in another city--Yorba Linda’s current pay for the parks and recreation job is $127,596, but Letourneau can adjust salary based on qualifications.
Fringe benefits include $833 per month for health insurance, an auto allowance of up to $325 per month and paid dental, vision, life and disability insurance, with voluntary plans for a flexible spending account and deferred compensation available.
Yorba Linda offers managers 12 holidays, 15 days vacation (increasing to 20 after five years), 12 days sick leave and five days administrative leave per year.
The recruitment brochure noted the city “believes its management compensation package reflects the ‘world class’ nature of both the organization and the community.”
And a description of the community’s “nature” was written to tempt prospective applicants: “Yorba Linda’s appeal…is due, in large part, to its system of street landscaping, trails and parks” and “100 miles of equestrian, hiking and walking trails.”
The brochure also advises, “The love of horses and the city’s commitment to equestrian activities helps set Yorba Linda apart from other communities. In addition to the well-maintained horse trails, the city has also built three state-of-the-art equestrian arenas.”
Interestingly, the recruiting material labels the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace “the jewel in Yorba Linda’s crown” but doesn’t mention the outstanding schools, which draw many to live and work here.
Since the city’s 135 acres of parks and sports fields, eight activity buildings and youth, adult and senior recreational activities play a vital role in community life, residents expect officials to select a director worthy of Rudometkin’s exceptional legacy.
A FINAL NOTE
A reorganization of the city’s Building Division--including staffing changes and duty reassignments--has been made part of City Manager Tamara Letourneau’s evaluation criteria, according to a document released after a closed-door City Council session.
Letourneau’s 23-point “work plan” for this year calls for holding quarterly focus group meetings with the division’s customers to identify areas needing improvement and completing a computer upgrade of the city’s building permit process.
Also included will be a review of building code requirements and a comparison with the standards and requirements imposed by other cities “to make sure that (Yorba Linda is) consistent and not being overly burdensome to applicants.”
Resumes of individuals seeking to fill the shoes of former director Steve Rudometkin are due in City Manager Tamara Letourneau’s office by the end of the day tomorrow.
Rudometkin, a Yorba Linda resident who advanced to a key executive position in a 30-year career with the city before assuming a similar post in Pomona, was one of the last remaining top management officials hired by former 27-year City Manager Art Simonian.
Letourneau has selected most of the employees now occupying director-level positions.
A four-page color brochure was one of the tools used to entice well-qualified candidates to apply for the position, which administers a $5.3 million budget and a department with 22 full-time and 61 part-time employees.
Of course, salary is an important factor when trying to recruit somebody who already enjoys a successful career in another city--Yorba Linda’s current pay for the parks and recreation job is $127,596, but Letourneau can adjust salary based on qualifications.
Fringe benefits include $833 per month for health insurance, an auto allowance of up to $325 per month and paid dental, vision, life and disability insurance, with voluntary plans for a flexible spending account and deferred compensation available.
Yorba Linda offers managers 12 holidays, 15 days vacation (increasing to 20 after five years), 12 days sick leave and five days administrative leave per year.
The recruitment brochure noted the city “believes its management compensation package reflects the ‘world class’ nature of both the organization and the community.”
And a description of the community’s “nature” was written to tempt prospective applicants: “Yorba Linda’s appeal…is due, in large part, to its system of street landscaping, trails and parks” and “100 miles of equestrian, hiking and walking trails.”
The brochure also advises, “The love of horses and the city’s commitment to equestrian activities helps set Yorba Linda apart from other communities. In addition to the well-maintained horse trails, the city has also built three state-of-the-art equestrian arenas.”
Interestingly, the recruiting material labels the Richard Nixon Library & Birthplace “the jewel in Yorba Linda’s crown” but doesn’t mention the outstanding schools, which draw many to live and work here.
Since the city’s 135 acres of parks and sports fields, eight activity buildings and youth, adult and senior recreational activities play a vital role in community life, residents expect officials to select a director worthy of Rudometkin’s exceptional legacy.
A FINAL NOTE
A reorganization of the city’s Building Division--including staffing changes and duty reassignments--has been made part of City Manager Tamara Letourneau’s evaluation criteria, according to a document released after a closed-door City Council session.
Letourneau’s 23-point “work plan” for this year calls for holding quarterly focus group meetings with the division’s customers to identify areas needing improvement and completing a computer upgrade of the city’s building permit process.
Also included will be a review of building code requirements and a comparison with the standards and requirements imposed by other cities “to make sure that (Yorba Linda is) consistent and not being overly burdensome to applicants.”
posted by Jim Drummond at 12:00 PM
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