Sebastopol City Council
February 18, 2025

City of Sebastopol
2024
Classification and
Compensation Study
Scope of Project
2 ▪ Conduct a classification study of all positions
▪ Conduct a compensation study including:
▪ Research and recommend survey agencies
▪ Select benchmark classifications
▪ Collect and analyze salary and benefit data
▪ Develop recommendations based on data
▪ Any implementation is based on Council direction, what the City can afford and negotiations
Classification Recommendations
3 • No major classification issues
• Revised/new job descriptions for each classification
• Title changes
Survey Agencies
4 ▪ Cloverdale
▪ Corte Madera
▪ Cotati
▪ Healdsburg
▪ Mill Valley
▪ Rohnert Park
▪ Sausalito
▪ St. Helena
▪ Sonoma
▪ Sonoma County
Data Elements
• Calculated labor market median for:
– Maximum base salary (no incentives included)
– Total cash
• Maximum base salary
• Employee’s share of retirement paid by employer
• Deferred compensation
• Longevity pay at year 10
• Education/certification pay
– Total compensation
• Elements of total cash plus
• Paid insurances (cafeteria, health, dental, vision, life, long term disability) • Retiree Health Savings
• Employer’s cost to Social Security
• Minus the employee’s share of employer obligated cost to retirement 5 Data Elements
– Miscellaneous benefits (summarized)
• Cost of living increase
• Retirement practices
• Retiree health benefits
• Paid leave
• Leave cash out
• Short term disability and EAP polices
6 Findings
On average, the City is:
▪ 6.91% below market for base salary
▪ 3.30% below market for total cash
▪ 2.81% below the market for total compensation
Above market
▪ 0% - 5% - 3 classes
▪ 5% - 10% - 1 class
▪ 10% + = 4 classes
Below Market
▪ 0% - 5% - 2 classes
▪ 5% - 10% - 7 classes
▪ 10% + - 4 classes
7 Q & A
8