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Recently, we had had alley service where we were picking up three cart systems in the alley. What we
were noticing is that we were destroying components of the alley asphalt because it wasn't built for the
waste and water of the truck. Back in the day we only had one container so we were driving through it
less. We realized there was an opportunity to gradually move us out of the alleys and into the streets -
over the course of a couple of years we have been able to transition everyone out of the alleys. We don't
get complaints about that anymore. Now we have a maintenance program on top of that to make sure
we maintain the bushes and the trees so that the alleys are being maintained, other than illegal dumping
are in much better shape than the used to be.

The State of California has passed laws requiring increased recycling of Organic Waste, with the
goal of reducing disposal of organic waste by 50 percent compared to 2014 levels, by 2020.
Please provide your experience with recycling and solid waste in addressing this issue.

I am going to be a realist here and tell you that we put the cart way in front of the horse on this one and
put in an infrastructure that doesn’t exist. WE have been working with a consultant that takes food waste
and green waste and turns it into power. I have been talking with them about making the Central Valley
their next place to do the same. We currently don't have the infrastructure to meet the laws. If we are
going to get there we will have to make something that doesn't exist. We have composting that seems to
work quite well - but the land application process isn't sticking. We need to start to look things a little
higher up. We have been talking here regionally with this outside vendor. I recognize this is not just a
City of Fresno problem, and spoke with other cities so that we can commit to finding a place to dispose
that is meeting the needs of the State. The rest of the State is playing catch up as well. Something's
gotta give and I think technology will be what fixes everything.

What is your experience managing diverse groups of employees, mentoring and growing them, and
what employment issues and challenges have you faced in communicating with different personality
types?

I have worked in the Bay Area and I have worked here. So I have pretty much dealt with every group
you can deal with. I think people are people ­ as long as you make everyone know that you do value
them you can pretty much get what you need to out of them. You also have to realize that it's not your
function to give them purpose, but if you can show them that what they do matters, it allows them to
find purpose. I have never had a struggle with anyone that I wasn't able to talk through. If we listen
long enough, we can find a solution to things. I find myself being someone who can coordinate some of
those problems.

What do you consider to be your greatest professional strength? What is something you
would like to improve?

Greatest strength - recognize people with talent. I like to see them grow beyond where they're
at. That always makes it hard on me - because then I have to fill their spot. I also find a strength
in loyalty - which can be a weakness because I can be too loyal and be overlooked. I've been
with the City for 19 years - and I'm kind of part of the scenery - people constantly look to me for
solutions - but there's not a whole lot of growth in that - and so that loyalty that I freely give
sometimes hamstrings me - it's a positive but can also be a negative

Anything else you would like to add? If out of area? Are you willing to relocate to the Bay Area
( )

An hour from Merced - I know this because my aunt and uncle live in Merced. It's just a shot up the 99.
Would commute - my wife has a position here that I don't think she can leave.

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