HomeMy WebLinkAboutReg 2021-02-01 Item 3 - Appointment - Confirm Appointment of Hari Ponnekanti to Public Works Director PositionCOUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS
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ITEM NO.
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Meeting Date
Prepared by
Mayor's revieav
Council revieav
2/1/21
AY
2908
ITEM INFORMATION
STAFF SPONSOR:
ORIGINAL AGENDA DATE: 2/1/21
AGENDA ITEM TITLE Confirm the appointment of Hari Ponnekanti to the position of Public Works Director
CATEGORY ❑ Discussion
Mtg Date
0 Motion
Mtg Date 2/1/21
❑ Resolution
Mtg Date
❑ Ordinance
Mtg Date
❑ Bid Award
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❑ Pub& Hearing
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❑ Other
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SPONSOR ❑ Council ❑ Mayor ❑ Admin Svcs ❑ DCD ❑ Finance ❑ Fire ❑ P&R ❑ Police ❑ PTV
SPONSOR'S Council is being asked to confirm the appointment of Hari Ponnekanti
SUMMARY
REVIEWED BY ❑ Trans&Infrastructure Svcs ❑ Community Svcs/Safety ❑ Finance & Governance ❑ Planning & Community Dev.
❑ LTAC ❑ Arts Comm. ❑ Parks Comm. ❑ Planning Comm.
DATE: COMMITTEE CHAIR:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
SPONSOR/ADMIN. Mayors Office
COMMI 11 EE
COST IMPACT / FUND SOURCE
EXPENDITURE REQUIRED AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED
$ $ $
Fund Source:
Comments:
MTG. DATE
RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION
MTG. DATE
ATTACHMENTS
2/1/21
Informational Memorandum dated 1/27/2021
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City of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: City Council
FROM: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: January 27, 2021
SUBJECT: Confirmation of Public Works Director
I am pleased to announce my desire to appoint Hari Ponnekanti as the Public Works Director for
Tukwila for your confirmation.
Mr. Ponnekanti has more than twenty years of exceptional experience working as a professional
engineer in the public and private sectors including Pierce County, Seattle Public Utilities and for the
past several years within the City of Tukwila. For the past six months he has provided excellent
leadership in the Tukwila Public Works Department as the Interim Public Works Director. He has
managed the department through the current COVID-19 financial difficulties, implemented
staff recommendations for department improvements, has moved forward the City's priorities on capital
projects, and has shown a solid willingness and ability to collaborate and partner with a range of
stakeholders. I am excited to have Mr. Ponnekanti as a key member of our City team to work with the
City Council and community on advancing our shared goals.
As we searched for the right fit for our next Public Work Director, we asked our employees what they
were looking for in their next director. Mr. Ponnekanti meet these items we heard from staff:
• "The Director must be an excellent communicator who can liaise at all levels of the
organization."
• "The new Director should have good interpersonal skills. A person who is approachable, calm,
and relatable."
• "The new Director should be an inspiring leader and hands-on manager who can bring teams
together. "
• "The new Director should demonstrate genuine appreciation to staff for a job well done."
• "The new Director should have a problem -solving orientation and who can resolve issues. "
• "The Director should have experience in the type and variety of systems and work PW does with
a deep understanding of what is required in different Public Works roles. "
• "The Director needs to be someone willing to hold people accountable".
As the cross -department team completed their interviews, many employees stated how
Mr. Ponnekanti met these qualities they were looking for in their next Director. They mentioned how
he has worked across the whole organization in providing good customer service. They mentioned
how he has a breadth of background and experience in the public and private sector, and a deep
understanding of key public work issues. They discussed how he has worked to improve
communication by holding all staff meetings and that he has listened to employees concerns. They
appreciated how he lived our City values of Caring, Professional and Responsive and was committed to
advancing our Equity Policies.
I am excited that Mr. Ponnekanti has agreed to continue his leadership with the City of Tukwila and I
look forward to his long-term commitment to our community.
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