City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: James Pease, Public Works Director
Date: 10/30/2025
Subject: Temporary Public Works Foreman Position
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
This resolution approves a Temporary Public Works Foreman position and allows Part Time Maintenance Workers additional hours when a Foreman is off work for an extended period of time.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Ripon Public Works Department is responsible for the following:
• Operate and maintain the water supply and conveyance system • Operate and maintain the sewer conveyance and treatment system • Collect and dispose of solid waste
• Landscape maintenance and repairs at all parks
• Street and road pothole repairs, crack patching, and sign repairs • Maintaining street lights owned by the City
• Vehicle and equipment maintenance
• City owned building repairs, maintenance, and janitorial services These responsibilities are completed with a staff of 4 foremen, 25 full-time maintenance workers and 6 part-time maintenance workers.
DISCUSSION:
Currently, when a Public Works Foreman is off work for an extended leave, such as disability or Family Medical Leave Act, the other foremen cover the responsibilities of the foreman that is off work. This has become a problem where it simply is not possible for the other foremen to continue to provide the needed level of oversight of the various responsibilities they are responsible to oversee.
In order to provide the oversight during a time a foreman is off work during an extended leave, staff is recommending the City Council approve a “Temporary Public Works Foreman” position.
This position would be filled by the Public Works Director by an employee currently in the classification of “Public Works Maintenance Worker” during the time a foreman is on an extended leave. The “Temporary Public Works Foreman” classification would receive the same salary and benefits as the “Public Works Foreman” position.
Additionally, staff is recommending the City Council authorize the Public Works Director to increase the hours of the “Part Time Maintenance” employees equivalent to the hours worked of one full-time Public Works Maintenance position. This would allow the Public Works Department to continue to complete the various responsibilities without impacting services to the community.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Temporary Public Works Foreman position and increased hours for part time Public Works Maintenance employees to cover the time while a foreman is on extended leave will cost $4,600 per month, which will be allocated to the various departments where the work is being completed.
Attachments:
1. Temp Public Works Foreman
RESOLUTION NO. 25-35
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RIPON APPROVING A TEMPORARY PUBLIC WORKS
FOREMAN POSITION AND AUTHORIZING PART TIME
MAINTENANCE WORKERS ADDITIONAL HOURS WHEN
FOREMAN IS ON AN EXTENDED LEAVE OF ABSENCE
WHEREAS, the Public Works Department currently employs 4 foremen, 25 full-time maintenance workers and 6 part-time maintenance workers; and WHEREAS, this number of employees is necessary in order to meet the needs of the Department; and
WHEREAS, when a foreman is off work for an extended period of time, the Department is faced with staff coverage challenges to adequately maintain a standard level of service and provide the necessary oversight; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Ripon is desirous of approving a “Temporary Public Works Foreman” position that would be filled by the Public Works Director by an employee currently in the classification of “Public Works Maintenance Worker” during the time a foreman is on extended leave; and
WHEREAS, the “Temporary Public Works Foreman” classification would receive the same salary and benefits as the “Public Works Foreman” position; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Ripon is desirous of authorizing the Public Works Director to increase the hours of the Part Time Maintenance employees equivalent to the hours worked of one full-time Public Works Maintenance position allowing the Department to continue to complete the various responsibilities without impacting services to the community.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ripon does hereby approve a “Temporary Public Works Foreman” position that would be filled by the Public Works Director by an employee currently in the classification of “Public Works Maintenance Worker” during the time a foreman is on extended leave; and NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the “Temporary Public Works Foreman” classification would receive the same salary and benefits as the “Public Works Foreman” position; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ripon authorize the Public Works Director to increase the hours of the Part Time Maintenance employees equivalent to the hours worked of one full-time Public Works Maintenance position; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the creation of this position shall not change any other terms or conditions of the existing Employee Compensation Plan and those terms and conditions shall continue in full force and effect.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Ripon this 30th day of October, 2025, by the following vote:
RESULT: ADOPTED [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER:Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
THE CITY OF RIPON,
A Municipal Corporation
By ________________________________
DANIEL DE GRAAF, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: ___________________________
LISA ROOS, City Clerk