DATE:
September 19, 2023
TO:
Mayor and Council Members
Chair and Board Members, Hesperia Housing Authority
Chair and Board Members, Hesperia Water District
FROM:
Rachel Molina, City Manager
BY:
Casey Brooksher, Assistant City Manager
Rita Perez, Deputy Human Resources/Risk Management Director SUBJECT:
Reorganization and Revised Combined Compensation Schedules
RECOMMENDED ACTION
It is recommended that the City Council and Board of Directors of the Hesperia Housing Authority (HHA) and Hesperia Water District (HWD) adopt Resolution No. 2023-61, HWD 2023-19 approving the City Manager’s reorganization and if adopted, subsequently adopt Joint Resolution No. 2023-62, HHA 2023-11 and HWD 2023-20 approving the required Revised Combined Compensation Schedules for FY 2023-24.
BACKGROUND
The City of Hesperia is in a unique position of expected continued growth with large scale development projects, which are part of the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), such as Silverwood Masterplan Community, I-15 corridor industrial projects, and the Hesperia Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The City is experiencing the need to increase personnel ahead of the quarterly budget process to ensure that there is sufficient staff to oversee the duration of the various phases of the projects through completion.
Additionally, for all personnel changes, the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS) requires that the City Council, Commissions, and Board of Directors (City Council) approve and adopt a Combined Compensation Schedule whenever there are changes to salaries. This requirement is needed for CalPERS to recognize the position and ensure that the employee receive service credit. The most recently approved and adopted Combined Compensation Schedule occurred on July 18, 2023, with the adoption of Joint Resolution No. 2022-15, HHA 2023-02 and HWD 2023-03, which highlighted position changes included in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023-24 Budget.
ISSUES/ANALYSIS
To ensure the needs of the City are met, the following highlights the changes to each functional area:
Development Services – Several of the City’s critical large-scale development projects including the Silverwood Masterplan Community, I-15 corridor industrial projects, Ranchero Road improvements, and the Wastewater Treatment Plant, requires staff to attend to and maintain these projects. These projects are simultaneously coming to fruition and current staffing levels are not able to sustain the workload nor have the technical ability to perform the needed type of work. This necessitates an additional Deputy City Engineer, Associate Engineer, and Principal Planner.
Code Compliance – The Code Compliance Division, consisting of Animal Services and Code Enforcement, addresses a myriad of complex responsibilities including overseeing the enforcement of the City’s municipal code, seven days a week of daily operations, and public interactions regarding safety. To provide for this oversight, the previously approved job classification of Code Compliance Manager is recommended to be reinstated.
Public Works – Historically, the Public Works Division consisted of a Public Works Manager/Public Works Superintendent, who oversaw the Water Operations Manager and the Streets Operation Manager. This leadership hierarchy allowed for attainable workload balance between management responsibilities and involvement in priority projects and management of daily operations of the streets and water programs. It is recommended to retain the Director of Public Works, while adding a Water Operations Manager. Staff anticipates additional adjustments will be presented to the City Council later in the fiscal year.
Additionally, while it is anticipated that the recruitment for the Director of Public Works be a lengthy process, on a temporary basis, the City is able to appoint a CalPERS retiree to the position. In compliance with CalPERS Retirement Law Section 21224, the City Manager can designate a Retired Annuitant position. In this case, the position would be titled Director of Public Works Part-Time Retired Annuitant with a temporary duration of six-months while the City recruits for a permanent replacement.
The following positions have been previously adopted positions by Council/Board in prior fiscal years; however, these positions were not included in the most recently approved Combined Compensation Schedules in accordance with CalPERS requirements.
Building Official
Principal Planner
Senior Animal Care Technician
The following table highlights the position changes:
NEWLY CREATED POSITIONS
CLASSIFICATION/RANGE
Associate Engineer
Professional/Supervisory/Range 43
Water Operations Manager
Management/Range 44
Director of Public Works – Part-Time Retired Annuitant
Non-Represented Hourly/Range 52
FISCAL IMPACT
It is anticipated that these changes of positions can be accommodated with budgeted savings. Should there be a need for additional funds, a budget amendment will be presented to the City Council during a quarterly budget review.
ALTERNATIVE(S)
Provide alternative direction to staff.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Resolution No. 2023-61,
Resolution HWD 2023-19
Joint Resolution No. 2023-62, HWD 2023-20, and HHA 2023-11 Combined Compensation Schedule Revised and Effective August 21, 2023 and September 25, 2023
Page PAGE 3 of NUMPAGES 3
Staff Report to the City Council and Board of Directors of the Hesperia Housing Authority and Hesperia Water District Reorganization and Revised Combined Compensation Schedules September 19, 2023
City of Hesperia
STAFF REPORT