Mayor-elect Jackie Biskupski released the following statement regarding her transition process:
“For the last few weeks I have been working to ensure the transition between Mayor Ralph Becker’s administration and mine is transparent, fair, and respectful for both city employees and the public. Earlier today I sent all Salt Lake City employees a transition document (see below), laying out my initial timetable for this process. I have also formed a transition team consisting of individuals with diverse backgrounds in government, human resources, small business, law, and consulting (for full backgrounds, please visit www.jackieformayor.com/
“As the incoming mayor, it is my responsibility to review all appointed positions and the current structure of city agencies, to ensure the wishes of voters are reflected throughout city government. I have identified 34 appointed positions, consisting of department heads and mayoral staff, who will be part of my first round of review. I have already met with many of these individuals and, in the next several days, I will have met with every department head. Members of my transition team will also meet with department heads and mayoral staff.
“As is common in mayoral transitions, I have requested that all appointed department heads, as well as the mayoral staff, submit a letter of resignation to me by January 4th, 2016. Each of these resignations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, as soon as possible, I will determine whether to accept individual letters of resignation. Between now and then, the Mayor-Elect will begin the recruiting process for many appointed positions. More information about the recruiting process will be provided imminently.I have asked that all individuals submitting letters of resignation remain in their current positions until the effective date of any resignation I accept.
“Due to the importance of public safety, I have decided not to request at this time the resignations of Interim Police Chief Brown and Fire Chief Dale. I would like the opportunity to work with both of them to evaluate their performance and to determine whether they will support my vision for public safety.
“I would like to thank Mayor Becker and his staff for their cooperation in this effort, and I look forward to completing the transition and to assuming my role as Mayor of Salt Lake City on January 4th.”
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Mayor-Elect Transition Process
Sent to all Salt Lake City employees on 11/30/2015
Mayor-Elect Biskupski and her team are hard at work preparing for the transition on January 4th from Mayor Becker’s administration. The Mayor-Elect has assembled her transition team (“Transition Team”) consisting of fifteen individuals with diverse backgrounds, including government, human resources, business, law, and consulting. The members of the Transition Team include Robert Bergman, Simone Butler, Julio Garcia, Sandra Hollins, Rebecca Chavez-Houck, Karen Kwan, Patrick Leary, David Litvack, Carita Lucey, Tiffany Provost, Sue Rice, Jonathan Ruga, Bill Rutherford, Dave Spatafore, and Marcia White.
The transition process will include:
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A high level review of the most critical departments and divisions of the City;
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A review of all department heads and mayoral staff; and
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Development of Mayor-Elect Biskupski’s plan for her first 100 days in office.
The Mayor-Elect and her Transition Team have designed the transition process to be fair, to be respectful of the needs of City employees and the public, and to be implemented in a manner that will minimize disruption and create as positive a work environment as possible.
The Mayor-Elect has already met with several department heads and expects to complete those initial department head meetings within the next several days. Those meetings will be promptly followed by meetings between the department heads and members of the Transition Team. As is a common approach in mayoral transitions, department heads and mayoral staff will be asked to submit resignation letters effective January 4th, 2016 (the positions to which this applies are listed on Exhibit A attached hereto). As soon as possible, Mayor-Elect Biskupski will determine whether to accept any letters of resignation, which decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis after the various meetings between and among the Mayor-Elect, her Transition Team, department heads, and mayoral staff. Between now and then, the Mayor-Elect will begin the recruiting process for many appointed positions. More information about the recruiting process will be provided imminently.
There are two exceptions to the foregoing. Given the importance to public safety of the police and fire departments, Mayor-Elect Biskupski will not ask for letters of resignation at this time from Interim Police Chief Brown or Fire Chief Dale. Rather, she would like the opportunity to work with both of them to evaluate their performance and to determine whether they will support her vision for public safety.
Appointed positions not constituting department heads or mayoral staff will be evaluated early next year. Information regarding that process will be provided as it is developed.
The Mayor-Elect’s First 100 Days Plan will be announced shortly after her Inauguration and is expected to include initiatives with respect to homelessness, affordable housing, air quality, economic development, education, transportation, community outreach, and streamlining City policies and procedures.
