20 - Quarterly Report - CMSD's Rewards Idea ProgramProtecting our community's health and the environment by providing solid waste and sewer collection services.
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Costa Mesa Sanitary District
….an Independent Special District
Memorandum
T o: Operations Committee
From: Scott Carroll , General Manager
Date: June 18 , 2013
Subject: Quarterly Report - Rewards Ideas Program
Summa ry
Last year, the Board of Directors approved Admini strative Regulations No. 20.40 to
help encourage employees on how to generate ideas for organizational improvements
and providing a system for answering and recognizing adopted ideas. Employees are
eligi ble to receive a monetary reward up to $1,000 for ideas that generate significant
savings to the organization .
As requested by the Board of Directors, this is the programs quarterly report regarding
the number of ideas generated from the program along wit h the total monetary reward
amount.
S ta ff Recommendation
That the Operations Committee receives and files this report.
Analysis
Since the program implementation in 2012, staff has submitted four ideas that
accomplished one or a combination of the followi ng:
• Save material, supplies, money, space, time, or labor;
• Improve service, safety conditions, or morale;
• Improve methods, procedures, or equipment, resulting in increased output
and/or efficiency; or,
• Eliminate unnecessary procedures, records and forms .
The following is a brief description of the ideas along with the name of the staff person
that submitted the idea and his/her monetary reward.
Operations Committee
June 18 , 2013
Page 2 of 2
1. On August 1 , 2012, Steve Cano, Maintenance Supervisor and Joel Ortiz,
Maintenance Worker III submitted a sugg estion to clean half the sewer system
annually. This idea has decreased travel time and increased efficiency by
concentrating work in selected areas rather than having to drive to certain areas
just to clean selected sewer lines. The annual savings to th e District is
estimated at $79,540. Mr. Cano and Mr. Ortiz both received $500 each for their
idea.
2. On February 8, 2013, Noelani Middenway, District Deputy Clerk, submitted a
suggestion to reduce the cost for printing a master agenda packet as well as
inc reasing internal accountability and improving the efficiencies for preparing
agenda p ackets. Total annual savings to the District is estimated at $13,638 .
Ms. Middenway was awarded $500 for her idea.
3. On March 7, 2013, Jaesen Alfassa, Maintenance Assista nt, submitted a
suggestion to enhance public safety and reduce property damage claims from
dilapidated manhole covers. Mr. Alfassa’s suggestion created awareness to
improve safety conditions in the community and assist maintenance staff in
repairing prior ity manhole covers before an accident occurs. Mr. Alfassa was
awarded $100 for his idea.
4. On May 6, 2013, Steve Cano, Maintenance Supervisor, Joel Ortiz Maintenance
Worker III and Alex Arreola, Maintenance Worker I submitted a suggestion to
relocate certa in hand tools and equipment that are stored on the side of the
sewer combination truck. Storing this equipment on the side of the truck
requires staff to impede in on -coming traffic to access said equipment making it
a dangerous situation. Staff’s sugges tion is to relocate certain hand tools and
equipment in other areas of the truck that does not require staff’s safety to be in
jeopardy due to heavy traffic. This suggestion is being presented to the Board
of Directors on June 27 th in which the recommenda tion is to award Mr. Cano,
Mr. Ortiz and Mr. Arreola $75.00 each for their idea.
Strategic Plan Element & Goal
This item complies wi t h the objective and strategy of Strategic Element 5.0,
Administrative Management , which states the following:
5.0 Admin istrative Management
Objective: To create, maintain and implement policies and procedures to ensure
sound management of the District.
Strategy: We will conduct periodic reviews, refine and implement policies and
procedures, and assure the General Manage r has the direction and tools necessary
for successful District operations.
Operations Committee
June 18 , 2013
Page 3 of 2
Legal Review
Not applicable
Financial Review
Since this program was implemented, the District has saved an estimated $93,178
and has awarded a total amount of $1,825 to employe es for their ideas.
Public Notice Process
Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the entire agenda packet for
the June 18 , 201 3 Operations Committee meeting at District Headquarters and on
District’s website.
Alternative Actions
1. Dir ect staff to report back with more information.