CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 6/18/2024
DEPARTMENT: City Manager
SUBJECT:
CLASSIFICATION PLAN AND SALARY SCHEDULE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024- 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Adopt a Resolution entitled: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING A REVISED
CLASSIFICATION PLAN AND COMPENSATION SCHEDULE.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The Lake Forest Classification Plan and Compensation Schedule (“Classification Plan”) identifies salary ranges for City job classifications and lists the number of budgeted full-time positions. Revisions to the Classification Plan are designed to meet the current needs of the City while also providing flexibility to address evolving work demands in the future.
The updated Classification Plan for Fiscal Year 2024-25 includes:
•Three (3) new positions
•Two (2) positions authorized at a higher level
•Removal of one (1) position
If adopted, the City’s Classification Plan would include a total of 85 full-time classifications, with a total of 71 authorized full-time positions for Fiscal Year 2024-25 (Attachment 1). Implementing the updated Classification Plan is estimated to result in a cost of $238,039.
Staff is recommending the City Council adopt the Resolution revising the City’s Classification Plan and Salary Schedule (Attachment 2). The 2023-2025 Operating Budget includes sufficient funding to cover the costs of the recommended actions.
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BACKGROUND:
Every two years, the City utilizes an independent consultant to conduct a comprehensive Classification and Compensation study. The comprehensive study was most recently completed in 2023. In off-cycle years, the City evaluates the organization and makes necessary adjustments based on emerging issues or opportunities.
Revisions to the Classification Plan are designed to meet the current needs of the City, while providing flexibility to assess evolving work demands in the future.
Staff routinely analyzes the Classification Plan when vacancies occur and with the adoption of the City’s budget.
If adopted, the City’s Fiscal Year 2024-25 Classification Plan will include 85 full- time classifications (i.e., job titles), the same as the previous fiscal year.
Additionally, the budgeted positions list authorizes 71 full-time positions for Fiscal Year 2024-25 an increase from 69 full-time positions authorized in the previous fiscal year.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed Classification Plan accommodates current workloads and organization requirements while also providing flexibility to address future evolving work demands. Based on this assessment staff are proposing the following recommendations to the City Council.
Recommendation #1 Addition of three (3) new positions.
The Classification Plan includes the addition of one (1) Communications and Marketing Analyst, one (1) Recreation Supervisor, and one (1) Landscape Administrator. The addition of these three positions brings the City’s total authorized full-time positions to 71 for the Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Since opening the Performing Arts and Community Centers in 2020, the facility rental revenue has increased from $184,211 in Fiscal Year 2021-22 to $331,594 in FY 2022-23. Recreation & Programming Revenue nearly tripled from $769,958 in FY 2020-21 to $2,142,556 in FY 2022-23. These dramatic revenue increases reflect the growth in both facility rental activity at the Civic Center campus and the increased utilization of Sports Park offerings.
The Communications & Marketing Analyst position would enhance the City’s ability to manage the increasing rental activities at the Civic Center campus. This role would provide the oversight of rental operations for both the Performing Arts Center and the Community Center, ensuring that renters consistently receive a 3 1
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high-quality experience. The role would also market community services programs and recommend marketing and public relations strategies for the Community Center and Performing Arts Center. The position may also produce videos and other marketing materials to increase rental revenues.
The addition of a Recreation Supervisor position at the Lake Forest Sports Park would ensure more consistent oversight of the recreation instructor contracts that the City administers for community programming. This position would be responsible for managing 35-45 recreation instructor contracts, which have an estimated total value of $350,000.
In the 2023 Community Satisfaction Survey, 84% of residents rated the importance of maintaining public landscapes as "important" or "extremely important," reflecting a 4.3% increase from the previous survey. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Public Works Department included three Landscape Inspectors (now retitled Landscape Administrators). The proposed Classification Plan aims to reinstate this previous staffing level.
The 2023-2025 Operating Budget allocated funds to hire a Landscape Administrator in FY 2023-24 and a Facilities Maintenance Specialist in FY 2024-
25. However, in November 2023, the Council approved an adjustment to this plan, approving the Facilities Maintenance Specialist in FY 2023-24 and the Landscape Administrator in FY 2024-25.
The three positions were included in the budget for Fiscal Year 2024-25 of the 2023-2025 Operating Budget. The fiscal impact of adding the three positions is estimated to be $368,748, but the actual fiscal impact will be determined when the vacancies are filled.
Recommendation #2: Authorization of 2 positions at the Higher-Level Staff is recommending authorizing two positions at higher level positions to allow the City Manager the opportunity to promote employees. The table below summarizes the proposed promotions.
Proposed Promotion
Accounting Technician to Senior Accounting Technician
(Finance Department)
Audio-Visual Technician to Senior Audio-Visual Technician (Information Technology Division)
The promotion of the Accounting Technician to Senior Accounting Technician within the Finance Department is due to the addition of more accounting duties.
This reclassified position will oversee the daily operations of a small unit handling clerical accounting and related documents. The reclassification will take effect in 3 1
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September 2024, marking the second anniversary of the incumbent in the current position.
As part of the recommended promotion the Audio-Visual Technician to Senior Audio-Visual Technician within the Information Technology Division addresses the increasing and evolving technology demands at the Civic Center. The reclassified position will involve testing, troubleshooting, updating, and operating the expanded technology in the Civic Center, as well as working together with Audio-Visual integrators to install, repair, and upgrade systems.
The fiscal impact of these promotions is $9,695 for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
Recommendation # 3: Removal of one (1) position.
As a result of assessment of the staffing and operational needs in the Management Services Department, it has been determined that the Management Analyst position is not a critical position to accomplish the goals of the department. The removal of the Management Analyst position will result in a savings of $140,400.
Part Time
The Classification Plan for part-time positions will remain unchanged. Staff anticipate returning to the City Council in the Fall with an updated plan for part- time positions to accommodate any potential changes in the minimum wage.
In conclusion, staff recommend the City Council approve the attached Resolution, adopting a revised Classification Plan and Compensation Schedule for Fiscal Year 2024-25.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The implementation of the recommended changes to the Classification Plan results in a total cost of $238,039 for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The 2023-2025 Operating Budget includes sufficient funding to cover the cost of the recommended action.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Revised Classification Plan and Compensation Schedule FY 2024-25
2. Resolution Adopting a Revised Classification Plan
Initiated By: Shelly Cisneros, Human Resources Manager
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Submitted By: Keith Neves, Assistant City Manager
Approved By: Debra Rose, City Manager