SALT LAKE CITY -- Mayor-elect Jackie Biskupski has begun taking power at City Hall, announcing a transition team and asking for the resignations of 34 city department heads and current mayoral staff.
In a letter sent to all Salt Lake City Hall employees, Biskupski announced that she has begun evaluating things as she prepares to take office on Jan. 4.
"As is common in mayoral transitions, I have requested that all appointed department heads, as well as the mayoral staff, submit a letter of resignation to me by January 4th, 2016. Each of these resignations will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis and, as soon as possible, I will determine whether to accept individual letters of resignation," Biskupski said in a statement.
Read the letter sent to Salt Lake City employees by Mayor-elect Jackie Biskupski:
The exceptions to the resignations, Biskupski said, is Salt Lake City's interim police chief Mike Brown and the Salt Lake City Fire Chief Brian Dale. Biskupski's letter said she did not want to disrupt public safety, and would evaluate the chiefs' performance and whether they would fit in her administration. In a statement, Dale said he looked forward to working with the new mayor.
"The Salt Lake City Fire Department appreciates the confidence that Mayor-elect Biskupski has placed in our organization," he wrote. "We look forward to working with Mayor-elect Biskupski with shared goals to make a positive impact on our Capital City through our continued service to residents, businesses and visitors, alike."
In some cases, city hall employees told FOX 13, Biskupski sent a form resignation letter. The list of employees affected include:
- Administrative Assistant to Office of the Mayor
- Administrative Assistant, Mayor’s Office Special Projects [currently vacant]
- Redevelopment Agency Executive Director
- Public Utilities Director
- Public Services Director
- Justice Courts Director
- Human Resources Director
- Finance Director
- Emergency Management Program Director
- Community and Economic Development Director
- City Attorney
- Information Management Director/Chief Information Officer
- Airport Executive Director
- Assistant to the Mayor
- Chief Operating Officer/Chief of Staff
- Communications & Content Manager
- Communications Director [currently vacant]
- Deputy Director of Communications
- Community Affairs/ADA Analyst [currently vacant]
- Community Liaison Districts 1-4
- Community Liaison Districts 4-7
- Community Relations Director
- Constituent Services Specialist
- Coordinator for Human Rights/Diversity
- Deputy Chief of Staff
- Executive Office Assistant
- Education Partnership Coordinator
- Office Manager, Mayor’s Office
- Project & Policy Manager [currently vacant]
- Refugee Community Liaison
- Senior Advisor Intergovernmental Relations
- Senior Advisor Arts & Culture
- Volunteer Services Coordinator
In a statement, Salt Lake City Council Chairman Luke Garrott called Biskupski's email "part of the normal transition process."
"We look forward to working with her and her team as the new year begins," he wrote.
The Salt Lake City Council declined to fund Biskupski's transition. However, the council was expected to consider policies and a possible ordinance regarding councilmember-elect and mayor-elect transitions at Tuesday night's meeting.
