City staff gave a show and tell presentation to council a few weeks ago.
The topic was the improvement made in one specific area of the parks and recreation department. They applied some of the six sigma principles that they have been learning about.
The problem staff tackled had to do with water sprinkler repair/replacement in the parks. Previous to the initiative it took 24 hours for a sprinkler to be repaired. Staff studied and planned and collaborated and the result was that it now only takes 2 hours to effect the repairs.
Their solution? They put more sprinkler parts in the trucks that the workers drive to the park location.
No mistake
Please don’t misunderstand me. I am pleased that our new city manager is acting like a manager. The end result of their effort is clearly a good one.
I shudder to think of the inefficiencies in daily operations in our city departments if this effort deserves special recognition. The workers involved probably figured it out on their first day of work.
And the fact that city council sat there and applauded without a single representative asking what other Forest Gump situations we have at the city tells us a lot about where we really are.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
Well, it’s obvious. Those Parks & Rec employees did not have the benefit of an outside engineering firm to guide them in their daily activities.
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Many Government departments have “Parts” and supplies under lock and key to keep them from being “sold at a swap meet at Fox Plaza.” Or parts for theirs or their friends yard/ system.
And required a form to be filled out REQUESTING such part and where it will be used.
With many men with each truck, each group, COULD be risky giving them “a box of replacement parts.”
Soooooooooooooo this is a BIG leap of faith.
And after too many parts are missing, and they blame each other, there is an investigation and several go to jail and
then they have to hire more people.
At one time, I used to be manager of a “Tool Room” where every tool and part HAD to be signed for, so I know, that if the tools and parts are not each engraved with code numbers and checked in and out, they WILL BE missing.
ANYTHING worth owning, is worth securing.
Many humans will steal when the opportunity comes up.
But, I HOPE their program with breakable parts in the trucks works out.
Big leap of faith. Trust.
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So, we can assume that simply putting more parts in the trucks was not the answer. It was most likely more complex, guaranteeing the security of the parts through a new system.
Gonzalez’ leadership solved a problem and should not be denigrated. I’m tired of the complaining. Even when something good happens — like fixing sprinklers and preventing water waste — the complaining continues.
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the complaining is due to the huge raise which was way above what the contract required. He hasn’t been here that long to deserve it. He is doing his job which is to save the taxpayer money and not be like Wilson. If his wife doesn’t like it here then that’s tough shit. If it means getting a third city manager in all these years then so be it. The third one would see the good Tommy has done and the bad in Wilson. Hopefully, learn what, and what not to do from both. Learn from there mistakes and accomplishments.
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I think you may have overstated your case. For one thing I doubt that the average home could make use of whatever parts the City Parks Department uses for its heavy duty sprinkler systems. So, the temptation to steal these parts for personal use should be lacking.
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Parts like that can be easily resold to contractors.
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Contractors who are doing work where, exactly?
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Commercial contractors anywhere in this area or elsewhere. It’s called the black market. If some contractors can buy parts cheap, they don’t care if the parts are stolen. If employees can steal and resell stuff, a number of them will. It’s no different than why employees embezzle parking fees.
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Maybe they can use some of that Six Sigma magic to repair the streets.
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Ya think?
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What this really shows is just how incompetent Wilson and her groupies(Shang,Melendez) were when they were in charge. This doesnt mean that Tommy is that good either. We have only had 2 City Managers, therefore, no one to compare them with till now. Tommy is using common sense. No Sigma principle.
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Let us volunteer the CM to work on the I-10 west project..
still NOTHING Happening !!
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No cure for stupid
Sent from my iPhone
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