Carson City could cut a department director's position and combine two departments to save money because of a slowdown in building.
The city would move the development services department's planning, building, engineering, business license and code enforcement divisions under the public works department. Development Services Director Walt Sullivan also would retire under the plan.
The board of supervisors could approve the plan today.
The city made development services a separate department from public works about three years ago to handle growth in building.
But building work and the fees it generates have slowed "dramatically" over the past few years, City Manager Larry Werner said.
Development services raised about $1 million in license fees in 2007. That dropped by about $800,000 in 2008.
The city has cut staff in the planning, building and engineering divisions by about half over the past two years by not filling vacant positions. The city usually has about 13 employees in each division.
The city will save about $156,000 a year by cutting the development services director position.
Werner said Sullivan saw the savings his retirement could bring and volunteered to retire early.
"He's going to be missed, I'll tell you that," Werner said.
Sullivan started work at the city 31 years ago as an associate planner. He said he was planning to take time off for back surgery anyway, and thought it would be a good time to retire.
The planning division has improved significantly over the years, he said. The division didn't even give reports to the planning commission on proposed projects when he started, he said.
Public Works Director Andy Burnham would supervise the former development services divisions under the plan.
Burnham said the change should be "pretty seamless" because that's how the public works department was set up a few years ago.
One of the few changes will be moving several employees from the development services office at Northgate Lane to the public works building on Butti Way, Burnham said.
- Contact reporter Dave Frank at dfrank@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.