Explanation
BACKGROUND: This ordinance amends Title 2 of the Columbus City Codes to authorize the creation of the Division of Operational Support within the Department of Public Utilities (DPU). Financially, this division will be supported by the transfer of funds from the Water, Sanitary Sewer, Storm Sewer and Electricity Operating Funds. The Division of Operational Support will support the managers of the other three divisions by providing timely and accurate information related to the core business functions of the utility for daily operational decisions and long-term strategic planning. It will also house and manage cross-departmental field personnel whose functions are integrated into the information systems managed by this Division. The recommendation for creation of this Division was derived from the recently received Public Utilities Technology Master Plan.
Earlier this year, the department in collaboration with the Department of Technology (DoT) contracted with EMA to develop a professional Technology Master Plan. The plan's genesis occurred when DPU and DoT identified that the divisions within the Department of Public Utilities were undertaking duplicate projects having overlapping data, users, technical criteria and purposes in support of core utility operations. In some instances, there was duplication of effort between DPU and DoT. The intent of the Plan was to create a comprehensive strategy to integrate DPU's business and technology operations and to identify the most effective approach to leverage existing systems as well as to invest in new ones, all for the purpose of maximizing DPU's business objectives.
As mentioned above, a major recommendation of this plan was the creation of a division, which consolidates various support functions, which currently are provided in all three of the department's operating divisions. The consolidation of these functions into one division will have the following benefits:
· Promote coordination of activity through standardization of function;
· Enhance operational decision-making through comprehensive and timely data analysis;
· Reduce costs through economies of scale;
· Promote better use of technical resources and data through their physical consolidation;
· Less confusion for the Utilities customer by consolidating certain public functions (e.g., maproom).
This division will be separate and distinct from the Department's Director's Office because it is operational in nature. While the primary functions of the Director's Office are to determine and direct policies and to ensure that the overarching, long term goals of that Administration are being implemented, this Division will act as any of the other divisions to serve a very specific day-to-day role in utility operations.
FISCAL IMPACT: Initially, there will be no fiscal affect of passage of this ordinance. Funds, intended for technology, personnel, and other related operational expenses, will be transferred from the three other operating divisions, to this division, for the purpose described herein. Ultimately, we expect that, operational decisions will lead to improved and more cost-effective services and reduced costs through economies of scale.
Title
To amend various sections of Chapter 221 of the Columbus City Codes to create a Division of Operational Support within the Department of Public Utilities.
Body
WHEREAS, earlier this year, the Department of Public Utilities contracted with EMA to develop a professional Technology Master Plan; and
WHEREAS, one of the recently completed plan's central recommendations is the creation of an operational support division within the Department of Public Utilities; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the department to implement this recommendation through the amendment of Chapter 221 of the Columbus City Codes and the transfer of funds and personnel to the afore-described new division; and
WHEREAS, Section 221.01 of the Columbus City Codes should be amended to include reference to the new division (and to delete reference to the defunct Division of Airports); and
WHEREAS, Section 221.09 should be added to the Columbus City Codes to recognize the existence of the new division; now therefore
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That Section 221.01 of the Columbus City Codes be amended to read as follows:
There is established a department of public utilities consisting of a director of public utilities, two (2) deputy directors of public utilities, the division of airports, the division of electricity, the division of sewerage and drainage, the division of water and the division of operational support. The department shall perform all lawful functions as may be directed by the mayor or ordinance of council. (Ord. 478-92.)
SECTION 2. That Chapter 221 of the Columbus City Codes be amended by adding a section, numbered 221.09, to read as follows:
221.09 Division of operational support
The division of operational support is established as a division of the department of public utilities. The administrative head of the division shall be the operational support administrator.
SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in force from and after the earliest period allowed by law.