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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10 AMENDING THE CITY'S CLASSIFICATION & COMPENSATION PLANS: BUILDING PERMIT TECH & PLAN CHECKERIIVAIAA III 1► Les 97 -A0 TO: FROM AGENDA REPORT NOVEMBER 18, 2014 JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER Agenda Item 10 Reviewed: City Manager Finance Director NIA DERICK YASUDA, ACTING DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES SUBJECT: AMENDING THE CITY'S CLASSIFICATION PLAN TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL POSITION IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING PERMIT TECHNICIAN AND ESTABLISH A LIMITED TERM PROJECT POSITION SUMMARY Approval of the following action will amend the City's Classification Plan to include one additional position in the classification of Building Permit Technician and authorize staff to fill the position as a limited term project position. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt City Council Resolution No. 14 -75 to amend the City's Classification Plan and authorize the appointment of a project employee in the classification of Building Permit Technician for a period not to exceed five (5) years, unless otherwise extended by the City Council. FISCAL IMPACT On an annualized basis, the anticipated cost of the position would be approximately $61,000 including salary and benefits. These costs are expected to be offset by a reduction in expenditures on contract consulting staff. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION In the recent past, the City authorized two Building Permit Technicians in the Community Development Department's budget. Several years ago, through attrition, the City eliminated one budgeted Building Permit Technician position. As the economy has improved and the need for building services has increased, the Community Development Department has utilized individuals employed through third -party consulting firms to supplement staffing and provide the necessary services to the community and ensure projects are completed. A Building Permit Technician is a front - counter position that serves as the primary point of contact with property owners, developers, contractors, and other members of the public regarding requests pertaining to the building permit process and permit activity for various residential, commercial, and industrial building activities. The minimum City Council Agenda Report November 18, 2014 - Amending the Classification Plan to Include An Additional Position in the Classification of Building Permit Technician and Establishing a Limited Term Project Position Page 2 qualifications for this classification include a combination of education and experience equivalent to graduation from high school and two years of customer service and administrative support experience in the building construction industry. The Community Development Department is interested in once again having these services provided directly by a City employee. Hiring an individual as a City employee as opposed to employing third -party contract staff will provide the Community Development Department with the ability to directly control and supervise the work of the individual employed as a Building Permit Technician. The City's Personnel Rules (City Council Resolution No. 10 -94) authorize the employment of "project employees" for a prescribed period of time or for the duration of a specified project, upon City Council approval. Project employees are hired directly by the City and are similar to regular City employees, with the distinction that individuals in project positions are employed at -will and do not.earn the right to employment beyond the period that is specifically authorized by the City Council. Hiring an individual as a project employee for a limited duration gives the City the flexibility to adjust staffing levels should the need for building services decline in another economic downturn. Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the appointment of a project employee in the classification of Building Permit Technician, for a period not to exceed five (5) years. Should the need arise for continued services, this project appointment can be extended by the City Council. Conversely, in the event the position is needed for a shorter period of time, the project appointment may be terminated prior to the expiration of five (5) years. Since employment in a project position is at -will, employment may be terminated at any time by the City or by the employee. The salary range for this position was previously authorized by the City Council during the annual budget process; therefore no change is necessary to the City's Compensation Plan. Further, since funds for this position already exist within the department's approved budget, no additional appropriation is necessary. Once the position is filled with a project employee, there will be corresponding reduction in expenditures on contract personnel. �' Derick Yasdoa Acting Director of Human Resources City Council Agenda Report November 18, 2014 Amending the Classification Plan to Include An Additional Position in the Classification of Building Permit Technician and Establishing a Limited Term Project Position Page 3 Attachment: 1. City Council Resolution No. 14 -75 RESOLUTION NO. 14-75 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE CLASSIFICATION PLAN FOR THE CITY OF TUSTIN TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL POSITION IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDING PERMIT TECHNICIAN AND AUTHORIZING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PROJECT POSITION WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Tustin, California (the "City ") has authorized and directed, under the provisions of the City's Personnel Rules, Resolution No. 10 -94, the preparation of a Classification and Compensation Plan for all employees in the City service; and WHEREAS, Resolution No. 10 -94 requires that amendments or revisions to the Classification and Compensation Plan be approved by resolution of the City Council; and WHEREAS, the City Council has periodically amended the Classification and Compensation Plans when appropriate; and WHEREAS, the City has determined the need to establish an additional position in the classification of Building Permit Technician; and WHEREAS, an employee appointed to one position in this classification is a ..project employee" as defined in the City's Personnel Rules; and WHEREAS, the City Council has consulted with the City Manager and Director of Human Resources concerning the proposed employment terms contained herein. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Tustin authorizes staff to implement the provisions of this Resolution and modify the City's Classification Plan to reflect the changes approved in this Resolution, and that the wages, hours, and conditions of employment be adopted and set forth as follows: Section 1: Establishment of Classification The classification of Building Permit Technician was previously established to provide public counter services pertaining to the building permit process and permit activity for various residential, commercial, and industrial building activities. Section 2: Project Appointment An employee appointed under this Resolution as Building Permit Technician is classified as a "project employee' under the terms and conditions specified in the City's Resolution 14 -75 Page 1 of 4 Personnel Rules. A project employee holds a position which has been authorized by the City Council for a prescribed period of time or for the duration of a specified project. A project employee is employed at -will and does not earn the right to employment beyond the specific period authorized. Section 3: Effective Dates The effective date of each section is November 18, 2014, unless otherwise stated herein. Section 4: Term of Employment An employee appointed by the City under this Resolution to the position of Building Permit Technician shall be employed in this position for five (5) years from the initial date of employment. Extended terms of employment may be granted by the City Council as deemed necessary. The employee appointed to the position will be employed at -will and employment may be terminated at any time by either the City or the employee. Section 5: Salary The monthly salary range for Building Permit Technician is hereby incorporated and listed in Appendix A. Section 6: Benefits The City shall provide the Building Permit Technician appointed under this Resolution with the same benefits that are provided to employees in the Tustin Municipal Employees Association (TMEA). PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Tustin held on the 18th day of November 2014. ELWYN A. MURRAY Mayor ATTEST: JEFFREY C. PARKER City Clerk Resolution 14 -75 Page 2 of 4 STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) COUNTY OF ORANGE ) SS CITY OF TUSTIN ) I, Jeffrey C. Parker, City Clerk and ex- officio Clerk of the City Council of the City of Tustin, California, do hereby certify that the whole number of the members of the City Council of the City of Tustin is five; that the above and foregoing Resolution No. 14 -75 was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the 18th day of November 2014, by the following vote: COUNCILMEMBER AYES: COUNCILMEMBER NOES: COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: JEFFREY C. PARKER City Clerk Resolution 14 -75 Page 3 of 4 APPENDIX A — MONTHLY SALARY RANGE Effective November 18, 2014 Classification A B C D E F Building Permit Technician 3562.00 3744.39 3936.13 4137.68 4349.56 4567.03 Resolution 14 -75 Page 4 of 4