SEIU 521
Maintenance Unit
City of San Mateo Public Hearing, April 2025
SEIU Maintenance Unit
Overview
• Parks and Recreation & Public Works
• Landscape Maintenance
• Wastewater Treatment
• Traffic lights and safety
• 103 FTEs,14 vacancies,13.6% vacancy rate
SEIU Maintenance Unit
Turnover & Retention
• The median length of employment is 5.3 years
• Compare to Redwood City, median tenure is 11 years
• 19.8% of employees with less than 1 year tenure
• Wastewater Treatment Plant - 65% of employees with less than 4 year tenure
SEIU Maintenance Unit
Why employees leave
• Low-income threshold in San Mateo County
• Family of 4: $156,650
• Individual: $109,700
• Source: 2024 San Mateo County Income Limits as determined by HUD • Not one SEIU employee makes above family of 4 threshold • Higher wages in nearby cities
• WWTP 15% below median, lowest paid of all comparable
• Sewers 3.5% below median
• Many other jobs 2.5% or more below median, even after contract
Impact to City of San Mateo
• Loss of experience and institutional knowledge
• Cost of rehiring
o City spends manager time hiring and training
o City typically wastes 2x or 3x salary on hiring, onboarding, training o City pays for certs then employees leave
• Need for contracting out and extra help
o More expensive to city
o Lower quality
o Short term
o Unsustainable
Financial health
• Governmental Fund Balance (includes General Fund)
o $276.1 million
o 38% unrestricted
• Enterprise Fund Net Position (includes Sewer Fund)
o $390.6 million
o 47% unrestricted
Source: 2023-24 City of San Mateo ACFR, page 5
Financial health
• General Fund:
o Fund balance increased 28% over past 5 years
• Sewer Fund:
o Net position increased 101% over past 5 years
Source: City of San Mateo ACFRs, 2017-2024
How do we fix this?
• 2.5% reopener, Article 14 to bring unit to median
• Become above average city: Palo Alto goes to 75% percentile market • Housing incentives: Employees who live in San Mateo will stay o BMR program is a great first step, expand access for City Employees. Priority placement on waiting list
o Convert unused city facilities into barracks.
• Childcare provision: Redwood City offers employees subsidized childcare and first shot at slots
• Convert Extra Helps into Full Time Employees