Board-Director Linkage

Tacoma Public Utility Board

• Sets TPU’s vision, mission, and Guiding Principles.
• Monitors and measures TPU’s progress toward these principles.
• Ensures Board actions are aligned with the City Charter, City Code, Board policies, and laws.
• Appoints, evaluates, decides whether to confirm, or (if needed) discharges the Director of Utilities.
• Except for purposes of inquiry, requests information from TPU staff through the Director or senior leaders, unless for formal inquiries allowed under the City Charter.
• Approves attorneys from the City Attorney’s Office assigned to TPU.

Director of Utilities

• Leads TPU’s vision, mission, and strategy and day-to-day operations.
• Oversees TPU’s executive management team in implementing the Guiding Principles.
• Communicates regularly with the Board.
• Ensures TPU operates lawfully and ethically.
• Prepares and submits strategic plans for each operating division and ensures TPU’s expenditures are within the approved biennial budget.
• Appoints Superintendents (with Board confirmation).
• Provides onboarding and orientation for new Board members.

Director Evaluation

• The Board reviews the Director’s performance annually and votes every two years on whether to reconfirm the Director, subject to City Council approval.
• The Director’s evaluation compares TPU’s performance and the Director’s personal performance against goals set by the Board.
• Each year, as part of the strategic planning process, the Director proposes a work plan and key goals that align with the Guiding Principles.
• The Board decides how and when to monitor the policies that guide the director.
• The Board will receive regular progress updates.
• The Board and Director will establish a timeline for the annual review and for the two-year confirmation review and decision.

The Board gives the Director authority through written policies that define the results TPU should achieve.

Specifically:

• The Board approves TPU’s vision, mission, and strategic plan and establishes the Guiding Principles.
•  The Director makes operational decisions, sets policies, and manages TPU’s business in line with the Board’s delegated authority.
•  If the Director identifies a risk connected to a delegated activity, the Director shall inform the Board and may request that the Board take appropriate actions.
• The Board may change its delegations to the Director at any time, subject to the conditions of the employment contract. While a delegation is in place, the Board abides by the Director’s decisions in those areas.
• The Director shall work with the Clerk of the Board to develop and maintain an up-to-date list of delegations made by the Board.
• The Board will review these delegations as needed.