El Paso City manager announces organizational restructuring

City Manager Tommy Gonzalez has restructured the City.

“I have been studying the organization and getting to know the staff. We have a strong workforce that is dedicated to the community,” Gonzalez said in a statement. “The changes I have made align staff and resources to better serve the public as we work toward meeting the objectives in the strategic plan that will produce results for our elected officials and the community.”

Gonzalez says the reorganization will save the City close to half-a-million dollars, streamline internal and external processes, and implement all the goals and strategies outlined in the City’s Strategic Plan.

Gonzalez added that the changes will improve internal and external communication among different departments, and between departments and elected officials.

City officials say the restructuring will develop a strong succession plan and foster internal talents, noting that all except one position has been filled with current, seasoned employees.

Several positions have been eliminated due to the restructuring, including: Deputy City Manager for Transportation and Public Works, Deputy City Manager for Quality of Life, General Services Director, the City Manager’s Chief of Staff, the Assistant Comptroller, an IT senior management position, an Office of Management and Budget senior management position and three administrative positions in the City Manager’s Office.

Effective immediately, the City Manager’s leadership team will be as follows:

Chief Performance Officer: Nancy Bartlett

Chief Financial Officer: Mark Sutter, Ph. D.

Deputy City Manager for Health and Safety: David Almonte

Public Information and Marketing Corporate Manager: Juliet Lozano

Assistants to the City Manager: Kurt Fenstermacher and Laura Cruz-Acosta

Economic Development Managing Director: Cary Westin

Quality of Life Managing Director: Bryan Crowe

The following outlines the layout for the reorganization and introduces secondary level appointments and reassignments that will further cultivate the depth of our existing talents within the City to provide greater prospects for succession.

Chief Performance Officer

Information Technology, Office of Management and Budget, Human Resources and Strategic Planning will be led by Nancy Bartlett. Ms. Bartlett, you will recall, is joining our leadership team as the City of El Paso’s first Chief Performance Officer. Within her portfolio I have reassigned Cheryl Feldman as the Strategic Planning Coordinator, named Robert Cortinas as the Director of Management and Budget. We have also eliminated two senior management positions within IT and the Office of Management and Budget.

Chief Financial Officer

Purchasing, City Comptrollers, Tax, Engineering and Construction Management, Department of Transportation, Facilities and Fleet Management (formerly known as General Services), and Utilities Franchise Oversight will be led by Dr. Mark Sutter. Additionally, I have appointed Denise Grizzle as the City Comptroller and eliminated the vacant position of Assistant Comptroller. I have also appointed former Deputy Director of Engineering Fred Lopez as the Assistant to the Chief Financial Officer.

Deputy City Manager for Health and Safety

Police, Fire, Municipal Clerk, Environmental Services, Health, 911 and 311 Communications, and Community Development will be led by David Almonte.

Public Information and Marketing Corporate Manager

In addition to her duties as Communications and Public Affairs Manager, Juliet Lozano, took on those duties previously managed by the City Manager’s Chief of Staff and is serving as Council liaison. She is also leading the restructuring of communication staff to strengthen internal and external communication to preserve credibility and certify we are all imparting the same message.

Assistants to the City Manager

Former Deputy Director of Environmental Services Kurt Fenstermacher and former Marketing and Public Information Officer Laura Cruz-Acosta will work across all departments to ensure overall quality control and alignment with the vision, mission, values and our strategic plan. The two positions also help oversee Sun Metro and International Bridges; and serve as liaisons to the Chief Resilience Officer, Public Service Board, Regional Mobility Authority and Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Economic Development Managing Director

Economic Development, Airport, Planning and Inspections (formerly known as City Development) will be led by current Economic Development Director Cary Westin.

Quality of Life Managing Director

Convention and Performing Arts Center, Museum and Cultural Affairs, Zoo, Parks and Recreations and Libraries will be led by current Director of Destination El Paso Bryan Crowe. Crowe’s assignment will be formalized with an amendment to the SMG contract on Dec. 9. Park Land Management will be will be reassigned from General Services to Parks and Recreation to ensure proper park maintenance.