Agenda Item No. 7
CITY COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council DATE: January 8, 2024 FROM: Matthew Bronson, City Manager
PREPARED BY: Karla Mattocks, Human Resources Officer
SUBJECT: Authorize an “Over-hire” for the Police Department and Resolution to adjust the Compensation and Classification Plan for the position of Police Chief.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Manager to approve an “over-hire” for the Police Department and adopt the Resolution to adjust the Compensation and Classification Plan for the position of Police Chief.
BACKGROUND
Police Department Staffing and Need for an “Over-hire”
The Police Department often has positions that are filled by employees who are not able to work due to injury leave, family leave, or to accommodate training requirements. This means that, sometimes, even when fully staffed for their budgeted staffing allocation, the department has trouble staffing its shifts. Currently, multiple police officers are either on injury leave, are planning family leave or are scheduled to be in training throughout the year. To ensure proper staffing and avoid overtime costs, the department is requesting that the Council authorize the City Manager to approve an “over-hire” of one police officer in excess of their allocated positions.
This will not add a position to the department’s budget and, therefore, there will be no additional cost to the General Fund. The cost of the additional police officer will be covered by the department’s existing salary savings from prior vacancies. Once a budgeted position opens, the “over-hire” will occupy that allocation. Staff recommends the Council authorize the City Manager to approve this process if and when there is a need and the department verifies that they have sufficient salary savings to cover the cost of the “over-hire” through the next budget cycle.
Police Chief Compensation
A thorough examination of the current market conditions reveal that neighboring cities have recently implemented significant cost of living adjustments and specific targeted equity adjustments which have placed the City of Grover Beach Police Chief well below the median salary level of comparable cities in San Luis Obispo County. To continue to remain competitive and attract and retain top talent, it is important that we align our compensation with industry standards. Moreover, the salary increases previously implemented for the role of Police Commander have led to salary compression in comparison to the Police Chief position.
When the salary differential between a police commander and a police chief is marginal, there will be limited financial motivation for a commander to undertake the added responsibilities and challenges associated with the role of police chief. This situation could significantly impede succession planning and future recruitment efforts.
Staff Report: Police Staffing Request and Chief Compensation Plan Adjustment Page 2 January 8, 2024
Staff recommends the Council adopt a Resolution to approve an equity adjustment to the compensation of the job classification of Police Chief. Given significant deviations from comparable cities, ongoing difficulties in recruiting for public safety positions, and an impending recruitment in the position due to an upcoming retirement, staff has determined that an equity adjustment of 6.34% is necessary to bring this position to the median level. This will allow the City of Grover Beach to remain competitive in recruiting and retaining well-qualified employees. The recommended increase is based on median salary as follows:
County Cities GB Actual Diff County
Median Salary $ 212,592.00 $ 199,908.00 6.34%
The City of Grover Beach’s salary schedule will be adjusted effective January 9, 2024, to bring the position to the market median. Current and proposed salary schedule as follows:
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of the over-hire of an additional police officer will be covered by the department’s existing salary savings from prior vacancies.
The fiscal impact for the increase in compensation and benefits for the Police Chief is approximately $8,200 for the remainder of FY 2023-24 and approximately $17,000 for FY 2024-
25. The cost increase for the current fiscal year will be absorbed into the Police Department’s operating budget. Future costs will be incorporated into the department’s operating budget.
ALTERNATIVES
The Council has the following alternatives to consider:
1. Authorize the City Manager to approve an “over-hire” for the Police Department and adopt the Resolution to adjust the Compensation and Classification Plan for the position of Police Chief; or
2. Provide alternate direction to staff.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION
The agenda was posted in accordance with the Brown Act.
Current Salary Schedule
Section 1 - Executive Management MIN MAX
Police Chief * 13,053 13,706 14,391 15,110 15,866 16,659 Proposed Salary Schedule
Section 1 - Executive Management MIN MAX
Police Chief * 13,881 14,575 15,304 16,069 16,872 17,716 Staff Report: Police Staffing Request and Chief Compensation Plan Adjustment Page 3 January 8, 2024
Attachments
1. Resolution No. 24-__ Adjusting the Compensation and Classification Plan for the position of Police Chief.
Exhibit A – Salary Schedule Police Chief
Attachment 1
RESOLUTION NO. 24-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH,
CALIFORNIA, TO ADOPT THE RESOLUTION TO ADJUST THE
COMPENSATION AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE CHIEF.
WHEREAS, the representatives of the City propose to adopt the Resolution to adjust the Compensation and Classification Plan for the position of Police Chief (Exhibit A).
NOW, THERFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF GROVER BEACH, CALIFORNIA, DOES DELARE, DETERMINE, AND ORDER AS FOLLOWS:
That the City Council of the City of Grover Beach does hereby adopt this Resolution ratifying the above-referenced actions .
On motion by Council Member _____, seconded by Council Member ____, and on the following roll-call vote, to wit:
AYES: Council Members –
NOES: Council Members –
ABSENT: Council Members –
ABSTAIN: Council Members –
RECUSED: Council Members –
the foregoing Resolution was PASSED, APPROVED, and ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Grover Beach, California this 8th day of January, 2024.
KAREN BRIGHT, MAYOR
Attest:
WENDI B. SIMS, CITY CLERK
**DRAFT**
Exhibit A
City of Grover Beach
STAFFING DETAIL & SALARY SCHEDULE
Police Chief
Compensation Plan - Monthly Salary
Ranges
Proposed Salary Schedule – Effective January 9, 2024
Section 1 - Executive
Management MIN MAX
Police Chief * 13,881 14,575 15,304 16,069 16,872 17,716