City Council Agenda Report
TO: Mayor Clauzel and Members of the City Council
FROM: Ken Irwin, City Manager
BY: Marie Guillory Jones, Director of Human Resources
MEETING DATE: April 2, 2024
ITEM NO: 5.4
SUBJECT: Approve the Classification Specification and Salary Range for Code Enforcement Supervisor.
RECOMMENDATION
Motion to Approve the classification specification and salary range for Code Enforcement Supervisor.
BACKGROUND
The classification specification for Code Enforcement Supervisor was previously presented to the City of Patterson City Council for approval. Council requested additional information, to include more details regarding the administrative role, number of staff supervised, education, and compensation, which is now being presented.
Administrative Role: The Code Enforcement Unit reports directly to the City Manager and is a part of the Administration Department. Code Enforcement is responsible for the investigation, compliance, and enforcement of property maintenance, zoning, ordinances, and abatement regulations. This includes land use, municipal and building codes, abandoned vehicles, and graffiti abatement. This supervisory position requires educating the public about code requirements, collaborating with the Sheriff’s Department on the security and enforcement of violations regarding abandoned vehicle abatement, homeless encampments, unpermitted cannabis cultivation investigation, and multi-agency inspections; coordinating with the Fire Department on structure fire postings; and assisting the City’s Building Official related to building code violation inspections and responding to questions. As a supervisory classification, the position also requires the leading, directing, training, and direct supervision of subordinate staff. This position also plays a participatory role on the California Association of Code Enforcement Officers Board of Directors, Regional Code Enforcement Group of the Tri-Valley Area, and the Stanislaus Council of Governments Abandon Vehicle Abatement Committee.
Supervision: This Unit has grown over the past couple of years and is expected to experience additional growth as the City’s population expands. The Unit initially consisted of only a Senior Code Enforcement Officer; however, it has now grown to also include a Code Enforcement Officer I, a Graffiti Abatement Technician, and a clerical support person contracted through a staffing agency. As a result, it is no longer practicable for this unit to report directly to the City Manager without a direct supervisor capable of managing the day-to-day functions.
Education, Experience, and Licenses/Certifications: The proposed Code Enforcement Supervisor classification specification has minimum qualifications which include a High School Diploma, five years of municipal or county enforcement of state and local laws, ordinances, and regulations, performing the full range of enforcement duties, including two years of lead or supervisory experience. It also includes possession of a California Association of Code Enforcement Officer (CACEO) level III certification.
Education: When compared to agencies with matched positions in our comparable market (the cities of Atwater, Ceres, Manteca, and Turlock) and cities we typically gain and lose employees to (Modesto and Stockton), there are varying levels of required education. Both Manteca and Stockton are aligned with the City of Patterson, requiring a high school diploma, but notes that college level coursework is desired. Ceres requires two years of college-level coursework but allows for a substitution of specialized training. Both Turlock and Modesto require an associate’s degree. Atwater has the highest educational requirement of a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; however, that may be substituted with equivalent years of experience. It should be noted that while comparable to the City of Patterson, Atwater’s position is classified as a manager.
Experience: Requiring five years of experience, including two years of lead or supervisory experience, Patterson has among the highest requirements of the cities surveyed. Atwater and Manteca require at least five years of experience. The other four agencies only have a requirement of two to four years. Turlock only has a one-year requirement for lead or supervisory experience, while Ceres notes that supervisory responsibilities and enforcement of municipal codes is highly desirable.
Licenses/Certifications: Patterson’s license and certification requirements are either aligned with or higher than all agencies surveyed. Manteca does not require any licenses or certifications. Ceres and Turlock require the Post Penal Code (PC) 832 certification.
Atwater requires the CACEO certification at the intermediate level, whereas Modesto, Stockton, and Patterson require the CACEO at the advanced level III, or equivalent.
Compensation: The proposed salary range for the City of Patterson’s Code Enforcement Supervisor position is based on both market comparability and internal equity. The market median for the matched positions is a maximum monthly salary of $7,649 and the recommended salary for the Code Enforcement Supervisor falls slightly below that at $7,552. In addition, classifications in a series must be appropriately set internally to avoid compaction. This position is set at 13% above the Senior Code Enforcement Officer position and is aligned with the salary range of other supervisory classifications within our agency.
ANALYSIS
As the City of Patterson continues to grow and develop, so does the need to ensure regulatory compliance throughout the City. The Code Enforcement Unit requires a dedicated supervisor to provide day-to-day administration and supervision to Code Enforcement and Graffiti Abatement staff, including training, managing the work, performance, and schedules. With the projected residential and business development, this position will allow the Code Enforcement Unit to operate more efficiently, allow for proper planning, coordination, and execution of the work, provide increased service levels to Patterson’s residents, and alleviate the immediate management by the City Manager.