Page 139 - VFWD -DOACotB - AMB 03 01 19

Josett Reina-Luken

Closing
Tuesday, February 26, 2019 3:00 PM
9. Is there anything else you would like to add?

10. If out of the area – Are you willing to relocate?
Vallejo Flood & Wastewater District
Director of Administration / Clerk of the Board
Phone Screen Questions

Overall Comments:
General Questions

1. Why are you interested in the DOA opportunity with Vallejo Flood & Wastewater? Why are you
actively or passively looking for a new position?

I've spent the last 20 years in the public works arena - as evidence by my resume and work with
Sacramento Public Works Department. It's really kind of where I started, selling enterprise resource
management systems. I've spent my whole career in half office, half corp yard. It does combine a little
bit of my background - it also has flood. I helped Sacramento build their flood district. It's probably one
of my best accomplishments over the past 20 years. In the sense of localized flooding and catastrophic
flooding. I was very interested that this combined flood and sewer. Am currently in Roseville - had to
resign from my position from Nevada County due to the commute, it was too difficult. I would have to
relocate locally for the DOA position.

Position Specific Questions
2. Please describe your highest level administrative support role to an Executive, Director, General
Manager and/or Board.

Working with the Public Works Director and the City of Sacramento. It requires a prop 218 process to
get a measure on the budget to fund the initiative for levee projection. It required working with all of
the Board Members, City of West Sacramento Council, and different agencies. You do have to be
careful with how you proceed, transparency. We did establish the JPA, which has now been sunsetted -
it is now permanent. It was able to create a funding source for a $500m levee improvement. You have
to go through the SEQUA and NEQUA process. I have dealt with a lot of state agencies to move that
process forward. I would probably say that is my highest level because it goes to the state as well as the
feds.

3. Please describe your supervisory experience and the most challenging human resources issue you
have addressed.

With the City of Sacramento I was the support manager for the Parks and Recreation department -
during that time I had a direct staff of ten reporting to me, and had HR responsibilities of overseeing
recruitments, selection of 700 permanent fulltime staff. All of those members were covered by local
1039. Even though temporary employees do not - they did still get some rights. I have had quite a bit of
training. I have my certificate from the academy. I have a background in administration as well as HR
programs. There is always a question of individual performance issues. Some of them have to do with
outright blatant unacceptable behavior. When that happens I will go through the Skelly process all the
way through arbitration. It is progressive discipline, like if an employee has a substance abuse problem
you go through the path of trying to get them help. I have been experienced in those areas all the way