Item #06
Date: January 16, 2024
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Jim Schaad, City Manager
Subject: Recommendation to Approve the Addition of a Public Works Manager Position Recommendation:
Pass a Motion to 1) approve the attached Public Works Manager position description and salary schedule, and 2) authorize the Finance Director to add the full-time position and make associated supplemental appropriations to the FY2023/24 budget.
Rationale for Recommendation:
Staff proposes the addition of a Public Works Manager to provide line-level leadership and supervision to Public Works staff, as well as implement an unprecedented number of streets, sewers, parks and facilities related projects. The addition of an experienced Public Works Manager with knowledge of maintenance and construction trades will provide additional management for day-to-day activities, support project implementation and a serve as a resource to train, coach and counsel employees. The addition of this position will also relieve the Public Works Director of some of the day-to-day management tasks, allowing him to focus more on developing strategic direction for the department, pursuing additional grant funding, managing the department’s large portfolio of projects, and ensuring regulatory compliance with multiple State and Federal agencies.
Background:
The City has significant success in identifying and securing funding for public works related projects. This has created a backlog of projects to be implemented in excess of $16 million dollars. Though not allinclusive list, below is a list of some of the major projects:
• Ellis Lake Green Space improvements ($2.9 million Caltrans Clean California Local Grant, due 6/30/2026)
• Ellis Lake water quality improvements ($300,000 Yuba Water Agency grant for ongoing water quality management)
• 22nd street repaving and traffic calming ($3.5 million SACOG Maintenance and Modernization grant, due 2025)
• East Marysville pavement rehabilitation ($3.25 million HUD CDBG grant, expected award March 2024)
• Historic Downtown Marysville Safety and Walkability Enhancements project ($250,000 SACOG Community Design Grant, due 12/31/2024)
Item #06
• 14th Street Traffic Calming Multi-Modal Pilot Project ($168,000 SACOG Mode Shift grant, due 12/31/2024)
• Fire Station Auxiliary Building (approx. $400,000 in Measure C and D10/Hallwood Measure K funding)
• Energy Efficiency related upgrades to multiple City facilities ($1.5 million in General Fund) • Rehabilitation of Annex Building at 10th and E Streets $300,000 proposition 64 grant funding, with targeted completion in May of 2024.
• Sewer rehabilitation/relocation project Aldridge and Bottler Drives (up to $1.75 million sewer enterprise funded project)
• Storm drain pump engine replacements at 17th Street and Ellis Lake stations ($234,600 in FRAQMD Community Air Protection (CAP) grant funding, due 03/31/2024. • Miscellaneous parks playground improvements and repairs (approximately $65,000 in General funds with spring 2024 target date)
Discussion & Analysis:
As noted below, the City is facing a significant number of capital improvement projects in addition to its existing ongoing maintenance activities. The City has an unprecedented number of projects ($16 million) to complete. The addition of a Public Works Manager will facilitate implementation of these projects within the timelines required/desired. The position will also provide additional leadership and technical expertise to further manage the department’s day-to-day activities. An experienced manager will allow the department to better train, coach, and counsel staff to further develop their skills and provide some level of succession planning.
The annual cost of this position as outlined in the fiscal analysis represents a modest investment in staffing relative to the backlog of projects to be implemented. Costs would be spread over multiple funding sources, minimizing the impact on the General Fund. The failure of/loss of funding for just one of these projects would exceed the cost of the position. Additionally, the position would allow the Public Works Director to pursue additional grant funding and ensure regulatory compliance to avoid any fines, both which have a positive input on the General Fund. Lastly, in pursuing future grants, the City will, where possible, look to allocating costs for this position as well as others to further reduce the impact on the City’s General Fund.
If approved by Council, staff intends to recruit and hire a qualified individual as soon as possible, with a target hire of no later than February 28th, 2024.
Alignment with City Council Goal(s):
Creating and filling this position will support Goal #3: Improve Infrastructure; Goal #5: Support Parks & Recreation and Goal #6: Strengthen Institutional Capacity.
Fiscal Analysis:
The addition of the position will have an impact of $14,398 to the FY2023/24 General Fund budget. Total annual cost of the position (salary and benefits) for the 2024/25 fiscal year is estimated to be $136,713, with an impact to the General Fund of $34,554 (25%). The balance of required funding will be from the Wastewater Operating Fund (40%, $54,485) and Streets-HUTA Fund (35%, $47,674).
Attachments:
1) Job Description
2) Salary Schedule