1 STAFF REPORT
DATE: May 20, 2025
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 Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP; 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 CHIEF ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER – BWP (Attachment 1).
2. Adopt A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BURBANK APPROVING THE CITYWIDE SALARY SCHEDULE (Attachment 2).
BACKGROUND
The Management Services Department (MSD) manages the City’s Classification and Pay Plan, which includes all classifications utilized by the City. MSD periodically requests amendments to the City’s Classification and Pay Plan to assist the departments in ensuring that titles and job specifications for the City’s classifications remain relevant and include the necessary essential functions and employment standards to meet the needs of the departments and the City. Maintaining updated job specifications and having competitive salaries also assists with recruitment and retention efforts.
The Burbank Water and Power Department (BWP) is proposing to establish the classification of Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP. The proposed establishment is exempt from Civil Service; therefore, MSD is requesting City Council (Council) approval
2 of the title, specification, salary, and Conflict of Interest Code Designation for the classification of Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP.
Additionally, per California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS) regulations, MSD requests Council adopt a resolution approving the updated Citywide Salary Schedule which includes the proposed salary for this classification.
DISCUSSION
BWP is proposing to establish a new classification titled Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP. The Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP will report directly to the BWP General Manager and act on their behalf as necessary. In comparison to surrounding municipalities, it is common to have a second in command in the absence of a General Manager. Currently, in the absence of the BWP General Manager, the Assistant General Managers rotate the responsibility of the utility oversight. Establishing a designated second in command w ill provide a clear and consistent leadership structure, enhancing operational stability. This structure will also align with comparable utilities such as Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), Glendale Water and Power (GWP), and Pasadena Water and Power (PWP).
The Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP will be responsible for the management of an existing division (ex. Power Supply, Water, Electric Services, Finance etc.) and will supervise additional divisions (which are at the discretion of the General Manager), such as Customer Service and Strategy/Communications/Marketing, and will also oversee the Sustainability section. The Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP will be responsible for the management and implementation of key cross -collaborative utility projects. In addition, this new role will take part in the development and implementation of fiscal plans across the department and also strategic planning for the utility.
BWP serves water to an estimated 27,000 customers, electricity to an estimated 55,000 customers, and high-speed internet and fiber optics to 200 customers. BWP has 3 60+ employees and is responsible for an array of state, local and federal mandates related to renewable energy, water supply, power supply, electric distribution, and infrastructure modernization to name a few. BWP is one of the few utilities in the region that provides 24/7 services, this was pivotal during the windstorm, where outages were minor, and issues were resolved quickly. BWP is also in the top 5% of reliability for electric utilities.
This is a significant and needed change for Burbank’s utility as it will aid the department in effectively managing its key projects a nd operations while also supporting employee retention and succession planning . This will ultimately contribute to continuing and maintaining a high level of service to BWP customers.
The proposed salary range was determined based on the salaries of comparable classifications identified among the City’s utility survey cities as well as maintaining 3 internal equity. Specifically, the top monthly salary for the C hief Assistant General Manager – BWP amounts to 90% of the top monthly salary for the General Manager – BWP. Therefore, staff proposes the monthly salary range be set at $ 20,872.19 to $27,446.94 (biweekly salary range of $9,633.32 to $12,667.82).
The proposed establishment of the C hief Assistant General Manager – BWP will be an unrepresented management (Z group) position, exempt from Civil Service, exempt from the FLSA under the administrative employee exemption, and included in the City’s Conflict of Interest Code. The BWP General Manager concurs with this recommendation.
Citywide Salary Schedule
In accordance with Government Code § 20636 and California Code of Regulations § 570.5, the CalPERS requires public agencies to post a publicly available salary schedule that is approved by Council at a public meeting for CalPERS to determine earnable income. Therefore, staff is requesting Council adopt an updated salary schedule that includes the proposed Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
These activities have 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 proposed position of Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP was included in the proposed Fiscal Year (FY) budget for 202 5-26. Therefore, should Council approve this position in the FY 2025-26 budget, this request would be cost neutral and there would be no fiscal impact to the Utility Fund.
CONCLUSION
The proposed establishment of the title, specification, salary and Conflict of Interest Code Designation for the classification of Chief Assistant General Manager – BWP meets the current and ongoing needs of the City.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment 1 – Resolution for the Classification of Chief Assistant General Manager-BWP Attachment 2 – Resolution Approving the Citywide Salary Schedule