SPARKS — The City Council approved a unique but untested hiring plan for the Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility (TMWRF) on Monday after several managerial positions have been vacated due to salary cuts in the last year.

The plan seeks to fill the roles of plant manager, operations manager and maintenance manager from within the organizations on an interim, trial basis.

Neil Krutz, the city's community development director, said he had someone in mind to appoint as acting plant manager while he solicits interest in the other two positions and possibly rotates candidates for a 60- or 90-day trial period.

The positions will be permanently filled within one year, Krutz said, adding that the new hiring policy was designed “to tap the vast amount of experience we do have out there.”

The policy also is meant to be efficient and provide a low-cost solution to recent turnover issues.

The cost of implementing the policy is minimal, Krutz said, and would be supported by money saved as a result of the vacancies.

“I am committed to living within the budget we have,” Krutz said.

In planning and zoning action items, the council voted to continue a public hearing and discussion on a tentative map request for a residential subdivision located in the Pioneer Meadows Planned Development, south of Rolling Meadows Drive and west of Wingfield Hills Drive.

Debate will resume at the Feb. 28 meeting about proposed improvements to a drainage pond at the site and whether developers will agree to put up a cash letter of credit that the city could use to make the improvements if developers fail to do so within two years.