ATTACHMENT B
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDED BUDGET AMENDMENTS:
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE / GENERAL FUND
Increase allocation of 1.0 FTE Deputy City Attorney/City Prosecutor position.
The City Attorney’s Office seeks to add one position vital to City operations in addressing criminal prosecutions of the Santa Maria Municipal Code issued by City departments . The current City Prosecutor is a contracted position that handles over 200 to250 cases on average every year and the individual filling the position is on the verge of retirement. The City Attorney’s Office anticipates this case level will significantly increase once the position is brought in-house as many cases currently go unprose cuted due to inadequate staffing levels. Additionally, this position is critical to meet the Division of Risk Management’s needs in supporting department requests to obtain compensation for City property damage caused by outside parties. There is no fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 as appropriations in the General Fund are sufficient. The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024-25 is estimated at $327,100.
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE / INSURANCE FUND
Increase allocation of 1.0 FTE Confidential Technician II.
The City Attorney’s Office seeks to add one 1.0 FTE position which is critical for succession planning and assisting in the management of liability, property, workers’ compensation, and contract management. This is in addition to handling day-to-day operations of intake of all types of claims. Without this essential position, Risk Management cannot properly operate. There is no fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 as appropriations in th e Insurance Fund are sufficient. The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024-25 is estimated at $94,700. Ongoing costs in future years will be funded by charges to General Fund and Enterprise Funds.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE / GENERAL FUND
Increase allocation of 1.0 FTE Economic Development Manager from the General Fund.
To provide a more responsive and focused economic development program, the City Manager’s Office proposes to establish an internal position utilizing current budget dollars for funding the position. The Economic Development Manager, a new position within t he Business Program Leader Classification, will be committed to creating economic opportunities for workers, investors, and entrepreneurs within the City of Santa Maria. Creating a vital and competitive economy is crucial to support the ongoing costs of Ci ty-funded programs and services while increasing prosperity and quality of life for the City’s residents and businesses.
The Economic Development Manager will be funded using an existing budget appropriation currently used to pay for outside economic deve lopment services. By establishing the position, the City will be able to create a strong line of communication and continuous interaction with City staff and programs. There is no fiscal impact in the current fiscal year. The ongoing cost to fund the one FTE, Economic Development Manager, is estimated at $ 240,000, which will be offset by savings from the current contract with the Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $222,500.
CITY MANAGER’S OFFICE / GENERAL FUND
Increase allocation of 3.0 FTE Confidential Technician I /II and 2.0 FTE Business Program Leader positions.
Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was programmed from January 2022 through June 2024 for the addition of three 1.0 FTE fixed-term Confidential Technician I/II positions and two 1.0 FTE Business Program Leader positions for the Human Resources Division in the City Manager’s Office. The City Manager’s Office and Human Resources is seeking to maintain service delivery within these central services functions with an in crease in allocation of three 1.0 FTE Confidential Technician I/II and two 1.0 FTE Business Program Leader positions in the General Fund. There is no fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023-24 as funding from ARPA will continue to be utilized. The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024 -25 is estimated at $689,700, comprised of $202,800 for each 1.0 FTE Business Program Leader and $94,700 for each 1.0 FTE Confidential Technician II.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT / GENERAL FUND
Increase allocation of 1.0 FTE Deputy Building Official position.
The Community Development Department is requesting an allocation of one 1.0 FTE position to address the need for additional leadership and supervision required for the high volume of construction activity in the city. This would alleviate the Building Official’s workload of managing the Building Division’s three operating sections: plan review, permit issuance, and building inspections. The Building Division currently issues approximately 3,000 permits and conducts 15,000 inspections annually. The addition of this position would also address the high inspection volume since the Deputy Building Official will be a working supervisor. The fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2 023-24 is estimated at $53,600. The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024-25 is estimated at $214,500.
FINANCE / GENERAL FUND
Increase allocation of 2.0 FTE Confidential Technician I positions.
Funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) was programmed from January 2022 through June 2024 for the addition of two 1.0 FTE fixed-term Confidential Technician I positions for the Payroll Division in the Finance Department. As a central service business unit, Payroll is responsible for providing timely and accurate payments to more than 755 employees, while maintaining compliance with City policies and procedures, labor agreements, and State and Federal laws. These positions were identified as critical to align effective service delivery to the City’s workforce in order to publicly serve the residents of Santa Maria. The Finance Department is seeking to maintain the level of service provided by the Payroll Division with an increase in allocation of two 1.0 FTE Confidential Technician I positions i n the General Fund. The re is no fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 as funding from ARPA will continue to be utilized . The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024 -25 is estimated at $189,400.
FIRE / GENERAL FUND
Increase appropriations by $323,900 in the General Fund and increase allocation of 9.0 FTE Firefighter positions.
The Fire Department is seeking to hire nine 1.0 FTE Firefighters to start in a scheduled recruit academy scheduled in April 2024. These positions will staff a full -service fire engine at Fire Station 6, which is located at the Santa Maria Public Airport. A new response unit in the southwest area of the City will: 1) improve response times to emergency calls for service in the southern section of the City; 2) alleviate the need for Engine 4 to vacate its response area in the southeast to provide contracted support for airport operations; and, 3) move toward the improvement of the City’s Insurance Services Office rating, which in turn may improve insurance costs to residents and businesses located within the city limits. The fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 is estimated at $323,900 . The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024-25 is estimated at $1,403,400.
RECREATION & PARKS / GENERAL FUND
Increase appropriations by $500,000 in the General Fund for water, refuse, and sewer expenditures.
The Recreation & Parks Department assumed fiscal responsibility for the services at retention basins associated with Recreation facilities. The operating budget within the Measure U Fund is not sufficient to cover these costs. Through the second quarter, 92 percent of the budget appropriated for water, refuse and sewer charges have been spent. Appropriating additional funding from the General Fund will allow the department to continue to irrigate and remove trash and waste from the basins and parks, thereby providing a health outdoor environment for our residents. The alternative would be to decrease watering, thereby res ulting in brown basins as the grass dies, the landscape deteriorates, and trash increases. The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024-25 is estimated at $500,000.
RECREATION & PARKS / GENERAL FUND
Increase appropriations by $39,400 in the General Fund and increase allocation of 1.0 FTE Senior Park Services Officer.
The Recreation & Parks Department is seeking to add one 1.0 FTE Senior Park Services Officer position based on recommendations from the recently completed organizational assessment conducted by Baker Tilly. The organizational assessment identified that the Park Services Officer program, which operates as a quasi-public safety group with citation authority that closely coordinates with the Police Department, has a propensity for higher r isk and higher profile incidents. The two existing Park Services Office III positions act as supervisors of the unit, although the job description states it is a lead worker position and does not provide direct supervisory duties. For these reasons, the pr ogram would be better managed with supervision from a senior level in the reporting structure. In addition, changing the reporting structure for the program will aid in distributing span of control in a more equitable manner. Additionally, by adding this level of a position, one supervisor can effectively manage and supervise the program, which is in line with best practices for appropriate supervision. It will also address any potential working out of class issues. The fiscal impact of this addition throug h the remainder of FY 2023 -24 is
estimated at $39,400 for the General Fund. The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024- 25 is estimated at $157,600.
RECREATION & PARKS / NORTHWEST LANDSCAPE DISTRICT FUND
Increase appropriations by $22,500 in the Special Districts Fund and increase allocation of 1.0 FTE Account Clerk I/II.
The Recreation & Parks Department is seeking to add one 1.0 FTE Account Clerk I/II position based on recommendations from the recently completed organizational assessment conducted by Baker Tilly. The organizational assessment identified a significant shortage of administrative support in the department. This position will support the existing Business Program Leader and Office Assistant II that are currently responsible for all administrative functions, including payroll, employee evaluations, workers’ compensation, incident reporting, recruitments, the department’s budget, and purchasing. To be effective, additional staffing support is required to meet the current and growing needs of the department. The fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 is estimated at $22,500 in the Special Districts Fund . The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024-25 is estimated at $89,850.
PUBLIC UTILITIES / WATER FU ND, WASTEWATER FUND, SOLID WASTE COLLECTION
FUND, AND SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL FUND
Increase appropriations by $70,500 in the Water Fund, $ 154,700 in the Wastewater Fund, $10,400 in the Solid Waste Collection Fund, and $10,400 in the Solid Waste Disposal Fund for the increase in allocations of 1.0 FTE Business Program Leader, 1.0 FTE Wastewater Supervisor, and 1.0 FTE Water Resources Manager positions, and to purchase a vehicle for the Wastewater Supervisor.
The Utilities Department seeks to add three 1.0 FT E positions to meet critical operation needs in the Business and Water Resources Divisions. The increase in personnel costs for these three positions are included in the Department’s rate models for the identified Enterprise Funds. The Wastewater Supervisor and Water Resources Manager positions will be critical to the successful completion of the capital project for the Wastewater Treatment Plan upgrade that is required by the Regional Water Quality Control Board under the General Order.
Business Program L eader: This 1.0 FTE position will assist the day -to-day human resources and risk management functions occurring within the department in support of 124 full -time positions. The fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023-24 is estimated at $10,400 each in the Water, Wastewater, Solid Waste Collection, and Solid Waste Disposal Funds. The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024 -25 is estimated at $41,400 in each of those funds.
Wastewater Supervisor : This 1.0 FTE position will improve efficiencies and span of control by separating the two functions of Treatment Plan and Sewer Collections/Storm Sewer by allowing one supervisor to focus on the existing and future operations of the Treatment Plant and t he other to supervise the day -to-day operations of the Sewer Collections/Storm Sewer systems. The fiscal impact of this position addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 is estimated at $ 44,300 in the Wastewater Fund. The annualized fiscal impact of this position addition beginning in FY 2024-25 is estimated at $177,300. The fiscal impact of purchasing a vehicle in FY 2023-24 is $100,000.
Water Resources Manager : This 1.0 FTE position will separate the two operations of Water and Wastewater into two distinct functions with each managed by a division head.
This change is consistent with the current structure in the Solid Waste Division. The fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 is estimated at $60,100 in the Water Fund. The a nnualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024 -25 is estimated at $240,200.
PROPOSED BUDGET AMENDMENTS NOT RECOMMENDED AT THIS TIME .
APPROPRIATIONS WILL BE CONSIDERED DURING THE FY 24 -26 FINANCIAL PLAN DEVELOPMENT.
RECREATION & PARKS / GENERAL FUND
Increase appropriations by $22,500 in the General Fund and increase allocation of 1.0 FTE Account Clerk I/II.
The Recreation & Parks Department is seeking to add one 1.0 FTE Account Clerk I/II position based on recommendations from the recently completed organizational assessment conducted by Baker Tilly. The organizational assessment identified a significant shortage of administrative support in the department. Th is 1.0 FTE position will support the existing Business Program Leader and Office Assistant II that are currently responsible for all administrative functions, including payroll, employee evaluations, workers’ compensation, incident reporting, recruitments, the department’s budget, and purchasing. To be effective, additional staffing support is required to meet the current and growing needs of the department. The fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 is estimated at $22,500 for the General Fund. The annualized fiscal impact beginning in FY 2024 -25 is estimated at $ 89,850 in the General Fund.
CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE / INSURANCE FUND
Increase allocations of 1.0 FTE Business Program Leader II and 1.0 FTE Confidential Technician II.
The City Attorney’s Office seeks to add two 1.0 FTE positions critical for succession planni ng and assisting in the management of liability, property, workers’ compensation, and contract management. This is in addition to handling day-to-day operations of intake of all types of claims.
Without these essential positions, Risk Management cannot pro perly operate. There would be no fiscal impact of this addition through the remainder of FY 2023 -24 as appropriations in the Insurance Fund are sufficient. The annualized fiscal impact, however, beginning in FY 2024-25 is estimated at $297,500, comprised of $202,800 for the 1.0 FTE Business Program Leader and $94,700 for 1.0 FTE Confidential Technician II. Ongoing costs in future years will be funded by charges to General Fund and Enterprise Funds.