1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: July 25, 2023
TO: Justin Hess, City Manager
FROM: Betsy McClinton, Management Services Director
BY: April Rios, Human Resources Manager
SUBJECT: Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Establishment of the Title, Specification, Salary, and Conflict of Interest Code Designation for the Classification of Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services and Adoption of a Resolution Approving the Citywide Salary Schedule
RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK
APPROVING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE TITLE, SPECIFICATION, SALARY,
AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST CODE DESIGNATION FOR THE CLASSIFICATION
OF ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER - UTILITY ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES (Attachment 1).
2. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK APPROVING THE CITYWIDE SALARY SCHEDULE (Attachment 2).
BACKGROUND
The Burbank Water and Power (BWP) Department is comprised of eight divisions:
Administration; Sustainability, Marketing , and Strategy ; Customer Service ; Electric Services; Finance; Power Supply; Operational Technology; and Water Systems. Within the Administration Division, the Administrative Officer -BWP plays a crucial role in the City/departmental policies and ensures policies and procedures are applied consistently, confidentially, and accurately across the entire Department to limit exposure and ensure safety is always at the forefront.
For several years, t he Administrative Officer-BWP ha d two direct reports, a Senior Administrative Analyst and an Environmental and Safety Manager. However, over time the responsibilities of the Administrative Officer-BWP have grown and the administrative support staff is now under the oversight of the Administrative Officer-BWP. This position used to manage a section of four full-time employees, but now manages a section of 18 full-time employees. The Administrative Officer-BWP is a senior leader in the Department supporting and fostering a healthy work culture and facilitating a more efficient operation
2 for all 352 BWP employees. As a result of the changes to this position, BWP is proposing the establishment of a new senior leadership position entitled Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services which would upgrade the existing Administrative Officer - BWP position. The creation of this new classification accurately reflect s the existing duties and managerial responsibilities associated with this position. In addition, BWP feels that the creation of the new establishment is essential to recruit and retain a well-qualified senior manager to the utility.
Additionally, per California Public Employee’s Retirement System (CalPERS) regulations, the Departme nt requests the City Council adopt a resolution approving the updated Citywide Salary Schedule wh ich includes the proposed salar y of the Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services classification.
DISCUSSION
The Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services will continue to be the main point of contact for all personnel items for the entire Department. These duties range from managing advanced human resources matters, labor relations concerns, complex administrative and managerial responsibilities, budgeting, and cost control for the Administration Division budget . In addition, this position is also responsible for planning, developing, implementing, and promoting a strong organizational culture in the areas of performance management, recruitment and retention, and classification and compensation. This position leads all training and development, talent acquisition, career development initiatives and activities, and public sector policies and procedures . T his position also oversees the Environmental and Safety (ES) section which is a key section within the utility. This section identifies specific needs across the Department to ensure safety standards are in place at all times, coordinates safety related trainings, meets with contractors, vendors, and outside agenci es, coordinates special projects , writes specialized reports, and ensures safety is at the forefront of the operations of the utility.
The level of responsibility associated with managing the administrative support staff and the ES section requires str ong interpersonal skills, exceptional customer-service standards, specialized knowledge in human resources and labor relations, ability to resolve escalated customer inquiries, identify departmental improvements to initiate proper action plans, and work effectively to contribute to the goals of the Department.
The Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services classification will be an essential position to the utility and key strategic partner to all other divisions within the Department.
The proposed monthly salary range for the classification of Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services was established by reviewing i nternal relationships within BWP to maintain consistency. Additionally, a salary survey was conducted , and while there are similar positions , there are no comparable positions. Therefore, staff is proposing the monthly salary range be set at $11,356.56 - $14,933.88 to maintain internal equity.
The classification of the Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services will be an unrepresented management (“Z” group) position, exempt from Civil Service, exempt from Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) under the administrative employee 3 exemption, and included in the City’s Conflict of Interest Co de. The General Manager - BWP concurs with this recommendation.
In accordance with Government Code Section 20636 and Title 2 of the California Code of Regulations Section 570.5, CalPERS requires public agencies to post a publicly available salary schedule that is approved by the City Council at a public meeting for CalPERS to determine earnable income. Therefore, staff is requesting the Council adopt an updated salary schedule that includes the proposed salary for this classification.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This activity has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such, is not a “project” subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs § 15378.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Department plans on upgrading the existing Administrative Officer -BWP position to an Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services position. The additional cost for this upgrade is estimated to be $ 32,060.52 annually. To cover this cost, the Department will be using salary savings for Fiscal Year (FY) 23 -24 and the additional funds will be included in the FY 24-25 budget. Therefore, this request is cost neutral and there is no fiscal impact to the Utility Fund or General Fund.
CONCLUSION
The establishment of the title, specification, salary, and Conflict of Interest C ode designation for the classification of Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services will address the operational needs of B WP. This proposal will also positively influence the recruitment and retention needs and succession planning of BWP.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Resolution for the classification of Assistant General Manager - Utility Administrative Services
Attachment 2 – Resolution approving the City’s Salary Schedule