Business Item 4d
STAFF REPORT
Business Agenda Item
DATE: September 18, 2023
TO: Honorable Mayor and Council Members
FROM: Merritt Perry, City Manager
SUBJECT: Approve Proposed Community Development Staff Classification and Fulltime Pay-scale Changes STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the proposed staff classification and Full-time Pay Rate Schedule changes for the Community Development Department.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The long-time Deputy Director of Community Development retired on April 18, 2023. Since her retirement, and for some time before, our Community Development Senior Administrative Assistant has taken on a variety of the tasks that would normally be completed by planner in addition to normal administrative tasks, including interpreting laws, codes and regulations and ordinance, interpreting planning and zoning programs, responding to issues and concerns of the public, preparing staff reports for the planning commission, investigating and documenting nuisance complaints and facilitating public hearings, coordinating special projects, reviewing and responding to development proposals and managing the development and implementation of the City’s online building permit and planning application software. There have also been additional tasks that our senior administrative assistant has taken on in the absence of a full time community development director, such as coordinating with the planning consultant, and pursuing long-term planning goals. In general, the senior administrative assistant is operating at a functional level to a planner would be doing. Currently the City does not have a classification for planner, however other jurisdictions have detailed job descriptions that capture the characteristics, duties, skills and other requirements that would be required for that position. Therefore, staff has created a job description for a Planner I/II position, as it accurately captures the duties, and skills currently being undertaken by our Senior Administrative Assistant. A copy is attached as Attachment A.
In recognition of the above, staff is recommending adding a new classification of Planner II in which the current Senior Administrative Assistant would move to. Staff is recommending that the pay classifications for the new Planner II position be placed in F39 which is a difference of approximately $4,457 annually at the top end of the pay scale as compared to the current Senior Administrative Assistant classification (approximately $2/hour).
There will be additional educational requirements such as professional planning certifications that will be required to be obtained by the employee within the first year. Additionally, staff will consider whether or not this positions should be considered to be an exempt salary position in the future after planning certifications are obtained.
Business Item 4d
The City is currently using a consulting planner until the Community Development Director can be filled. The City has advertised the position twice and had no viable candidates respond. Staff anticipates continuing to use the consulting planning firm until the Community Development Director Position is filled. Due to space constraints, staff do not anticipate advertising and filling the position until more space is available when the police department relocates to its new facility early next year.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The anticipated cost changes for the proposed change including all salary and benefit costs is $5,000. These additional costs will be allocated consistent with the existing salary distribution in the City budget with approximately 90% coming from Fund 120, Development Review and the remainder from the General Fund.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1. Receive staff presentation and review Council questions with staff
2. Open Public Comment
3. Close Public Comment
4. Motion to approve the proposed staff classification and Full-time Pay Rate Schedule changes for the Community Development Department. Roll Call vote.
ATTACHMENTS:
Proposed Planner I/II Job Description
Proposed Pay Rate Schedule