25 - Appointment of Todd Mittge as city engineerItem No. 25
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager
Rob Vine, Assistant City Manager
SUBJECT: City Engineer
Appointment of Todd Mittge
City Charter Section 23
DATE: November 14, 2022
BACKGROUND:
The City Engineer position has been vacant since October 2020. It therefore became the task of
the City Manager and Assistant City Manager to seek out and select an appropriate candidate to
fill this position. A copy of the Job Description is found below. We will note that while the job
description mentions the Airport, given the changes that have occurred in the organizational
structure since this job description was first published two years ago, we are re -considering the
direct oversight of the Airport.
The City Manager and Assistant City Manager worked with Sandy Collard, Human Resource and
Civil Service Director, to serve as an Interview Team. Doug Harris, Utilities Director, and Michael
Smith, Public Works Director, both also helped with this process prior to the addition of the
Assistant City Manager position earlier this year. Over the past two years, several individuals
were interviewed, however the City has needed to keep this position open until the right candidate
could be found.
STATUS OF ISSUE:
We are pleased to present to you Todd Mittge, P.E., as our selection for City Engineer. Mr. Mittge
is currently employed with the City of Germantown, Tennessee. He has also worked for the State
of Washington Department of Transportation, the Muckleshoot Indian Tribe, and others. He has
displayed a great depth of knowledge and understanding that matches the job description in a wide
array of engineering fields. He is a licensed engineer in the States of Washington and Tennessee,
he will be pursuing his license in the State of Texas upon your approval of his appointment. We
are very impressed with this individual, both in his experience as well as his character. He
possesses the right combination of potential, experience, attitude, energy, professionalism and
civility that we want to see as the leader of the Engineering Department. He holds an impressive
array of education, experience and training credentials that have helped prepare him to take on the
challenges of leading the Engineering Department as its new Department Head.
Pursuant to the Paris City Charter, Section 23, "Neither the council nor any of its members shall
direct the City Manager or any of his subordinates in the appointment or removal of any city
employee; provided, however, that the appointment o(department heads shall be subject to the
aroval o,'the council." Therefore, the job offer to Todd Mittge is contingent upon the approval
of the City Council as well as some final background checks we are finishing up.
A copy of his resume is available upon request.
If his appointment is approved by the City Council, Mr. Mittge plans to start January 9, 2023,
BUDGET:
Todd Mittge will be given a starting salary of Grade 370, Step 7, which is $115,833.00. This is a
salaried position.
OPTIONS:
A resolution has been presented to you tonight to appoint the City Manager's selection of Todd
Mittge as the City Engineer.
1. Approve the resolution as presented.
2. Request edits to the resolution as presented.
3. Request additional information regarding Todd Mittge or the process.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve the Resolution to appoint Todd Mittge as the City Engineer.
JOB DESCRIPTION
CITY ENGINEER
General Statement of Duties
High level administrative position responsible for the direction and operation of all aspects of
City Engineering including Capital Improvement Projects, GIS Mapping, Municipal Airport, Public
Facilities, Flood Plain Administration, Subdivision Ordinances, and ADA Compliance. Works
under the direction of the City Manager; however, position requires extensive skills in leadership,
management, communications, planning and organizing.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
1. Directs, plans, supervises, oversees, implements and organizes the financial
management, operations, work flow and maintenance of the Engineering Department,
including the Airport.
2. Works with the Director of Planning and Community Development, Public Works Director,
Utility Director and other City Staff in the planning, designing, cost estimating, and
construction management of related capital improvement projects.
3. Responsible for the administration of the City's Subdivision Ordinance, working with the
Director of Planning and Community Development and Public Works Director to
implement.
4. Assists the Director of Community Development and Public Works Director with the
implementation of the City's Zoning Ordinance and maintaining the Zoning Map.
5. Directs and oversees the implementation of GIS data programming and mapping.
6. Manages various grant opportunities, through state and federal programs, including
TxCDBG, overseeing application, award, project development, project completion, and
reporting.
7. Maintains public properties and facilities, working with City Staff when applicable.
8. Works with the Fixed Based Operator (FBO) on the management and oversight of the
Airport.
9. Serves as the City Traffic Engineer, ADA Compliance Officer and Flood Plain Administrator.
10. Collaborates with architects, engineers, professional services, contractors and other
construction specialist.
11. Holds consultants, engineers, architects, professional services, contractors and other
related firms accountable to ensure that all projects are in compliance with Local, State
and Federal Laws and Agreements.
12. Develops and implements goals, priorities, policies and procedures relating to
Engineering.
13. Oversees the proper procurement of all purchases pursuant to applicable City and State
laws.
14. Develops realistic and fiscally sound budget requests based on program need and
monitors budget expenditures to ensure they remain within budget allocation.
15. Directs ongoing research into new municipal engineering concepts, technologies and
trends and recommends implementation of programs and equipment to help department
achieve its objectives more efficiently.
16. Develops and maintains an efficient complaint tracking system for the department,
investigating issues, and responds to citizen concerns.
17. Oversees the preparation of cost and quantity estimates for engineering projects.
18. Supervises and monitors staff performance, ensuring that they are in compliance with
City policies, procedures, ordinances and resolutions.
19. Analyzes future personnel staffing needs and develops short and long-term plans to meet
those needs.
20. Selects, promotes, motivates, evaluates, trains and disciplines department personnel
consistent with applicable laws and the City's Personnel Policies and Procedures.
21. Works with and attends City Council and other Board and Committee Meetings as
needed.
22. Advises City Manager and department heads on Engineering issues and solutions to
address issues.
23. Coordinates additional and other assigned activities with other departments and outside
agencies and provides highly responsible and administrative support to the City Manager.
24. Serves as staff liaison for a number of boards and commissions including but not limited
to: Airport Advisory Board and Traffic Commission.
25. Maintains a regular and predictable work schedule.
26. Performs other duties as assigned.
Qualifications
• Education and/or Experience — Graduation from a four-year college with major course
work in Civil Engineering or a related field and at least six (6) years of municipal
engineering experience or related construction or facilities operations, including
considerable management and administrative experience.
• Computer Skills — Microsoft Internet Explorer and other internet-based search engines;
Microsoft Excel spreadsheet software; Microsoft Outlook; Microsoft Word processing
software; Microsoft Powerpoint; and Laserfiche document storage and retrieval
software.
Certificates, Licenses, Registrations
• Registered Professional Engineer
• Valid Class "C" Texas driver's license
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
• Knowledge of engineering principles;
• Knowledge of subdivision ordinances;
• Knowledge of platting, surveying, planning and zoning principles;
• Knowledge of contract procurement, administration and oversight;
• Knowledge of construction maintenance methods, materials and equipment;
• Knowledge of flood plain administration;
• Knowledge of ADA codes and compliance;
• Knowledge of engineering design software;
• Knowledge of grant writing and administration;
• Knowledge of code compliance, permitting and inspection;
• Knowledge of storm water, potable water, water storage, and wastewater distribution
systems;
• Knowledge of street construction;
• Knowledge of Federal Aviation Administration standards for airport operation;
• Ability to read and review plats, surveys, blueprints, design drawings and other
construction plans.
• Knowledge in construction management, contractor management, and project time
management;
• Ability to plan for municipal needs;
• Ability to lead, direct, delegate and distribute personnel;
• Knowledge of employment practices, including recruitment, selection, and evaluation of
staff;
• Ability to direct, coordinate and review the work of personnel;
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with City officials,
employees, citizens, vendors and contractors;
• Exceptional oral and written communication skills and ability to effectively communicate
on a daily basis with administrative, elected and appointed officials and the public with
courtesy, professionalism, civility and tact;
• Knowledge and ability to prepare and interpret complicated reports and standards;
• Knowledge of intergovernmental relations and ability to understand and work with State
and Federal Regulations, Departments, and Personnel.
Physical Demands
• Physical ability to lift 20 pounds;
• Must be able to sit for long periods of time;
• Sensory demands typically require speaking, hearing, touching and seeing;
• Finger dexterity is needed to access, enter and retrieve data using a computer keyboard
or other office equipment;
• Requires occasional bending, stooping, kneeling, reaching and pushing or pulling drawers
to retrieve files;
• Must have visual acuity to endure eye strain of working on a computer for extended
periods of time;
• Mobility required to inspect work of staff;
• Physical mobility needed for moving around a worksite for the purpose of monitoring
quality of work.
Work Environment
• Employee works in an office setting but must occasionally go out into the field to respond
to complaints or inspect work of staff and contractors;
• Must interact with upset citizens;
• Office climate is moderate; however in the field work temperatures can range from
extreme hot to extreme cold.
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
APPROVING TODD MITTAGE AS CITY ENGINEER AS RECOMMENDED BY THE CITY
MANAGER IN CONFORMANCE WITH SECTION 23 OF THE CITY CHARTER;
MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; AND
PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Chapter 23 of the City Charter provides that the appointment of department
heads by the City Manager is subject to the approval of the City Council; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager has recommended Todd Mittage for appointment to the
office of City Engineer; and,
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to approve the City Manager's appointment of Todd
Mittage as the City Engineer for the City of Paris;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS,
TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in all things
approved.
Section 2. That Todd Mittage shall be and is hereby approved as the City Engineer of the City
of Paris on the recommendation of the City Manager, and in conformance with Section 23 of the City
Charter, he shall be and is hereby authorized and directed to perform any and all responsibilities and
obligations incident to the office of City Engineer.
Section 3. That this resolution shall be effective from and after its date of passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED on this 14th day of November, 2022, by the City Council of the City
of Paris, in regular session, following notice and publication as required by law.
Paula J. Portugal, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney