Media Corner

For Immediate Release
April 19, 2005

Central, West Basin Boards Approve Co-GM Contracts

Carson, CA - The Central and West Basin Municipal Water Districts Monday finalized and approved contracts for Co-General Managers Art Aguilar and Richard Nagel, completing a move designed to both improve the Districts' efficiency and save money.

Acting as Joint Administrative and Joint Financing Authorities, the Boards' action is expected to save approximately $146,000 annually while improving staff efficiency and response to residents and customers.

Officially appointed to their new posts in December 2004, Aguilar and Nagel were tasked to restructure operations for the two water districts, which are run by a single staff.

As part of that restructuring, the posts of Public Affairs Manager, Water Quality Manager and Executive Assistant to the General Manager were eliminated and the Co-General Manager positions created. Following restructuring of those departments and contract negotiations with the Co-General Managers, the net savings to the Districts was $146,000. Under the old structure, the three positions cost the Districts $424,000 annually, while under the new terms the combined Co-GM cost is $278,000. Some additional benefits also were negotiated for the pair.

"This move shows our commitment to managing the public's interest in a fiscally responsible manner while still maintaining a high level of service," said Central Basin President Robert Apodaca.

"By having Co-General Managers we are able to be involved in more issues on both the community and professional level and have better response to Board and staff issues," said West Basin President Carol Kwan.

The reorganization had previously been approved by the two District Boards, while the new contracts were developed by an ad hoc committee of the Boards involving Directors Apodaca and Olga Gonzalez for Central Basin and Directors Kwan and Jose Fernandez for West Basin.