DATE: November 21, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Chen Suen, Fire Chief
By: Mark Krikorian, Fire Marshal
SUBJECT: REVISION TO THE PART-TIME HOURLY WAGE SCHEDULES TO
ADJUST THE FIRE PREVENTION AIDE WAGE RANGE
CEQA: Not A Project
Recommendation: Approve
SUMMARY
It is recommended that the City Council authorize a revision to the City’s part-time hourly wage schedules to increase the Fire Prevention Aide’s wage range, due to a change in scope for the position. The Fire Prevention Aide’s wage range would move from PT16 to PT22 in the “Non-CalPERS Retirement” part-time hourly wage schedule (see attached Exhibits “A” and “B”). Although the Fire Prevention Aide is a part-time, non-benefitted position, incumbents in this position could potentially hold a part-time position with other public agencies. Should incumbents gain membership with the California Public Employees’ Retirement System (“CalPERS”) through the course of employment elsewhere, the City would be required by CalPERS to enroll a Fire Prevention Aide incumbent into the CalPERS system. Since CalPERS requires changes to salary schedules to be adopted publicly, both the non-CalPERS and the CalPERS part-time hourly wage schedules are being presented for revision.
DISCUSSION
In 2009, the Fire Department created the position of Fire Prevention Aide to assist with inspections of low-hazard occupancies and administrative duties. Since that time, the job duties of the Fire Prevention Aide have become increasingly specialized with respect to fire prevention knowledge and application. Therefore, an increase in wage range for the position of Fire Prevention Aide is being proposed and recommended.
When the position of Fire Prevention Aide was initially created in 2009, its scope of responsibilities consisted mainly of inspection of low-hazard occupancies such as apartments and small business offices. The position is managed by the Fire Marshal and supervised by the Senior Fire Prevention Specialist (see attached Fire Department’s Organizational Chart). From 2009 - 2019, the new construction and annual inspection
Revision to the Part-Time Hourly Wage Schedule
for the Fire Prevention Aide Position
November 21, 2023
workload of the Fire Prevention Division increased by 9% and 10%, respectively. To meet the demands of the new workload, the Fire Prevention Aide position was tasked with learning new job skills to include new construction and special event inspections. Most of the training for these new duties was attained in-house through staff and virtual seminars.
With the increase in skills and complexity of the assigned workload, the Fire Prevention Aide position has become a vital and cost-effective means of maintaining the safety of life and property throughout the City. An increase to the position’s hourly wage range will help bring compensation into alignment with the increase in skills and workload as well as support employee retention.
To ascertain an appropriate increase in compensation, Human Resources conducted a salary survey of similar part-time fire prevention positions for the Cities of Alhambra and South Pasadena. In addition, a classification analysis and comparison of other part-time City positions was also performed. Based on the results of this survey and the additional data gathered, it is recommended to move the Fire Prevention Aide’s wage range from PT16 to PT22.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
The proposed action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), as it can be seen with certainty that it will have no impact on the environment. Thus, this matter is exempt under CEQA.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Fire Prevention Aide’s wage range would move from PT16 to PT22 in the “Non- CalPERS Retirement” part-time hourly wage schedule, with the hourly salary schedule ranging from the base step of $19.85/hour through the highest step at $21.90/hour. There is currently one filled Fire Prevention Aide position and one that remains vacant. No more than two filled positions are anticipated in the foreseeable future. In the adopted Fiscal Year 2023-24 Budget, the Fire Prevention’s Operating budget allocated $25,000 for temporary positions, which is sufficient to cover the proposed increase in salary range.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council determine that this action does not constitute a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”); and approve the revision to the part-time hourly wage schedules to adjust the Fire Prevention Aide wage range.
Revision to the Part-Time Hourly Wage Schedule
for the Fire Prevention Aide Position
November 21, 2023
Attachments: Exhibits “A” and “B” - Proposed Part-Time Hourly Wage Schedules (CalPERS & non-CalPERS)
Fire Department’s Organizational Chart
Range
Number Title Step A Step B Step C Step D Step E
PT12
Activity Leader I
Library Aide
Laborer
Police Cadet
$15.50 $15.89 $16.28 $16.69 $17.11
PT13 Administrative Intern $15.89 $16.28 $16.69 $17.11 $17.54 PT14 Activity Leader II $16.29 $16.69 $17.11 $17.54 $17.98 PT15 $16.70 $17.11 $17.54 $17.98 $18.43
PT16 Fire Prevention Aide $17.12 $17.54 $17.98 $18.43 $18.89 PT17 $17.55 $17.98 $18.43 $18.89 $19.36
PT18 Camp Manager
Library Clerk $17.99 $18.43 $18.89 $19.36 $19.84
PT19 $18.44 $18.89 $19.36 $19.84 $20.34
PT20 Tram Driver $18.90 $19.36 $19.84 $20.34 $20.85
PT21 $19.37 $19.84 $20.34 $20.85 $21.37
PT22 Fire Prevention Aide $19.85 $20.34 $20.85 $21.37 $21.90 Communications & Marketing Specialist I $26.63 $27.30 $27.98 $28.69 $29.40 Communications & Marketing Specialist II $30.88 $31.66 $32.45 $33.26 $34.09 $21.43 per hr
$23.64 per hr
Reserve Police Officer (Level I): Step A of Police Officer salary $40.00 per hr (as of 7/1/22) Police Investigation Technician: Step I of Police Officer salary $48.74 per hr (as of 7/1/22) Volunteers paid a stipend include:
Reserve Police Officer (Level III) $300.00 annually
EXHIBIT "A"
City of Arcadia Part-Time Hourly Wage Schedule
Non-CalPERS Retirement
Effective January 1, 2023
Volunteer Services Coordinator:
Reserve Police Officer (Level II):
Range Number Title Step A Step B Step C Step D Step E
PTP12
Activity Leader I
Library Aide
Laborer
Police Cadet
$16.59 $17.00 $17.42 $17.86 $18.31
PTP13 Administrative Intern $17.00 $17.42 $17.86 $18.31 $18.77 PTP14 Activity Leader II
Ambulance Operator $17.43 $17.86 $18.31 $18.77 $19.24
PTP15 $17.87 $18.31 $18.77 $19.24 $19.72
PTP16 Fire Prevention Aide $18.32 $18.77 $19.24 $19.72 $20.21 PTP17 $18.78 $19.24 $19.72 $20.21 $20.72
PTP18 Camp Manager
Library Clerk $19.25 $19.72 $20.21 $20.72 $21.23
PTP19 $19.73 $20.21 $20.72 $21.23 $21.76
PTP20 Tram Driver $20.22 $20.72 $21.23 $21.76 $22.31
PTP21 $20.73 $21.23 $21.76 $22.31 $22.87
PTP22 Fire Prevention Aide $21.24 $21.76 $22.31 $22.87 $23.43 Communications & Marketing Specialist I $28.49 $29.22 $29.94 $30.70 $31.45 Communications & Marketing Specialist II $33.04 $33.87 $34.72 $35.59 $36.48 Volunteer Services Coordinator:$22.93 per hr
Reserve Police Officer (Level II):$26.24 per hr
Reserve Police Officer (Level I): Step A of Police Officer salary, plus 11%$44.40 per hr (as of 7/1/22) Law Enforcement Recruit: Step A of Police Officer salary, plus 7%$42.80 per hr (as of 7/1/22) Law Enforcement Recruit/ Pre-Service: Step A of Police Officer salary, plus 7%$42.80 per hr (as of 7/1/22) EXHIBIT "B"
City of Arcadia Part-Time Hourly Wage Schedule
CalPERS Retirement
Effective January 1, 2023
FIRE DEPARTMENT
FIRE CHIEF
FIRE BATTALION CHIEF FIRE BATTALION CHIEF FIRE BATTALION CHIEF FIRE STATION 105 (HQ)
FIRE CAPTAIN (6)
DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF
OFFICE
COORDINATOR
SENIOR MANAGEMENT
ANALYST
FIRE ENGINEER (6)
FIRE PARAMEDIC (6)
FIREFIGHTER (6)
RESERVE FIREFIGHTERS
(VOLUNTEERS) (7)
FIRE MARSHAL
SENIOR
FIRE PREVENTION
SPECIALIST
FIRE PREVENTION
AIDE (P)(2)
FIRE STATION 106
FIRE CAPTAIN (3)
FIRE STATION 107
FIRE CAPTAIN (3)
FIRE ENGINEER (3)
FIRE PARAMEDIC (6)
FIRE ENGINEER (3)
FIRE PARAMEDIC (3)
ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT
VOLUNTEERS
INTERN (1)
FIREFIGHTER (3)