News Roundup – Council may OK more staff/BGI turns out batch of grads/

Published 10:00 am Saturday, June 10, 2006

Council may OK more staff

The City Council is easing its resolve against hiring more city staff for next year.

“I’ve softened my stance,” said Councilman Jim Llewellyn Wednesday during the council’s first meeting on the 2007 city budget. “If we’re changing workloads in ’07 that we didn’t do in ’06, the (city) administration needs more resources to carry out the council’s wishes.”

Llewellyn’s comments came during discussions of last year’s budget policies, including an item that directed the council to establish a 2007 budget with the same number of full-time employees approved by the council in 2005.

But that policy seems increasingly unrealistic to some councilors, particularly those who were not on the council during last year’s budget deliberations.

“I don’t agree with rigorously restricting staff to 2005 levels,” said Councilman Kjell Stoknes, who was elected last November along with Councilman Chris Snow.

“It seems reasonable to re-examine this policy,” Snow said. “We have some big initiatives coming forward with Winslow Tomorrow and we’re going to need staff to turn them into reality.”

Some city administrators already feel overburdened and understaffed. Finance Director Elray Konkel, citing these and other concerns, sought work elsewhere until the council pledged earlier this month to consider his and other city staff workload issues.

“There’s a divide between staffing levels and expectations,” Konkel said.

The staffing policy now under reconsideration would pull city staffing levels down to 142 full-time equivalents from this year’s 150, despite a growing docket of work projects in 2007, Konkel said.

Responding to the administration’s staffing concerns, the council in January approved the addition of six temporary staff to help carry the burden of increasing city projects.

Some of these year-long positions have yet to be filled, including two key engineering positions, while their related projects may be deferred another year.

Frustrated that the $540,000 earmarked for temporary staff has not produced expected results, Councilman Nezam Tooloee said he favors staying firm on 2005’s staff levels.

“I still support it,” he said. “It’s as sound a policy today as it was when it was adopted in the budget last year. A couple council members need to understand better why we adopted it.”

Tooloee believes improved management, rather than additional staff, will help put city projects in faster motion.

“My question is how come the work is not being completed,” he said. “Perhaps we’re not doing things as efficiently as we could with the staff we already have.”

– Tristan Baurick

BGI turns out batch of grads

The Bainbridge Graduate Institute will award its third batch of MBAs during a ceremony Sunday.

This year’s 21 grads are poised to make a big mark on a world increasingly attracted by sustainable business models that include social and environmental responsibility.

“I think this class will gain more attention in the workplace than any previous class.” said BGI President Gifford Pinchot, who founded the sustainable business MBA four years ago. “The word ‘sustainability’ is now a part of society’s vernacular. It’s the talk not only in coffeehouses, but in boardrooms. Businesses – small and large – are recognizing sustainability as a competitive advantage. And our students are in a unique position to create and snatch up the opportunities.”

Some students are already fielding job offers. Melissa Dingmon of Olympia was hired as a buyer for pet supply chain Mud Bay Granary, one of the fastest-growing businesses in the Northwest.

“It’ll be great to work on a wide variety of projects that expand on my commitment to making a profit and yet value people and value our environment,” Dingmon said.

BGI has seen 50 percent enrollment increases in each of the last three years and has attracted students from as far away as New York City and Toronto.

The school plans to expand, with growth in the MBA program as well as new, one-year certificate programs in “ecopreneuring” and sustainable business. The new programs will be offered weeknights in downtown Seattle, according to BGI staff.

“I think there’s a big unmet need for these programs,” said Aly Tibbetts, BGI’s director of admissions. “Not everyone has the time to commit to getting an MBA. There’s also a huge number of people in this area who have interesting ‘green’ business ideas, but lack the experience and skills to make them a reality. The ecopreneuring certificate is perfect for them.”

BGI’s Class of 2006 graduation ceremony will feature a speech by John Halliday, tribal liaison to the City of Seattle.

Halliday established a public relations training focused on business leadership, marketing and sales training with the traditional Native American and environmental business values.

Commencement services for this year’s graduating class will take place at the Playhouse starting at 2 p.m. on Sunday.

Volunteer for Rotary Auction

Islanders interested in volunteering at this year’s Rotary Auction and Rummage Sale are invited to attend an orientation meeting and dinner at 6 p.m. June 12 at Woodward Middle School.

The auction and preview will be 4 to 7 p.m. June 30, followed by the Rummage Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 1.

For information see www.bainbridgeislandrotary.org or call 842-9111.