SUPPLEMENT TO AGENDA ITEM #12
TOWN OF FAIRFAX
SUPPLEMENTAL STAFF REPORT
February 1, 2023
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Heather Abrams, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Approve adjustment to the Climate Action Coordinator pay range ___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION
Approve adjustment to the Climate Action Coordinator pay range to a minimum of $7,785 and a maximum of $9,012 per month effective January 16, 2023.
BACKGROUND
The Town employs a Climate Action Coordinator and shares the costs of the coordinator’s salary and benefits with the Town of San Anselmo. Since the beginning of the coordinator’s employment In February 2022, Fairfax has been able implement significant Climate Action projects, as detailed in the climate action updates and project staff reports previously delivered to Council. Recruiting and retaining staff in this field is a challenge and particularly for Fairfax due to the cost of living and the breadth of employers competing for talent in the area.
DISCUSSION
In order to help retain staff, staff recommends amending the salary to within the range of other similar local jurisdictions. The Town of Fairfax salary range for the Climate Action Coordinator position is currently capped at $6,412 monthly. As indicated in the Table on the next page, the median of the maximum monthly salary this fiscal year for Climate Action Coordinator positions in several towns in Marin County and towns of similar in size in the Bay Area is $9,012. Fairfax management salary ranges typically have four steps and the monthly salary in the proposed steps would be, a) $7,785, b $8,174, c) $8,582, d) $9,012.
The Town of San Anselmo is supportive of this adjusted range and will continue to share the costs.
Note: this staff report was modified to reflect the correct amount for Step A of the pay range to match the Salary Schedule in Item #13.
2 Agency Class Title Max Annual
Salary
Max Monthly
Salary
Sausalito Sustainability Program Coordinator $90,060 $7,505 Belvedere N/C
Corte Madera Climate Action and Adaptation
Coordinator
$108,144 $9,012
Larkspur N/C
Mill Valley N/C*
Novato Sustainability Program Coordinator II $98,784 $8,232 Piedmont Sustainability Program Manager $118,080 $9,840 Ross N/C
San Anselmo N/C (shared with Fairfax)
San Rafael Sustainability Program Manager $112,380 $9,365 Fairfax Proposed Climate Action Coordinator $108,144 $9,012 Tiburon N/C*
Number of Matches 5 5
Median of Comparators $108,144 $9,012
Average (Mean) of Comparators $105,489 $8,791
*Staff recently learned that Mill Valley and Tiburon opened a shared Climate Action staff position under Mill Valley’s “Management Analyst I” classification with the pay range of $5,192 - $6,959.
This information was gained after Fairfax compiled its salary survey and posted the original staff report for the Fairfax Council Meeting in January, which was canceled due to storms and possible electrical outages. Staff does not recommend changing the proposed Fairfax Climate Action Coordinator range. Salaries tend to adjust every year and it is likely Fairfax could again face a threat to its staff retention efforts.
Each time salaries change, or positions are added, the Town must adopt a new resolution amending the salary schedule to reflect the changes, which is a separate item on this agenda.
FISCAL IMPACT
The proposed budget for FY22-23 includes funding to for the Climate Action Coordinator. A midyear budget adjustment can be made to align with the Council’s decision, if the Council agrees to move the salary range within the norm for the field. The FY 23-24 budget would also be planned accordingly.
ATTACHMENT
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