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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11 AMENDING THE CLASSIFICATION & COMPENSATION PLANS TO INCLUDE THE CLASSIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL PLAN CHECK ENGINEERAgenda Item 11 Reviewed: AGENDA REPORT City Manager Finance Director N/A MEETING DATE: FEBRUARY 3, 2015 TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER FROM: DERICK YASUDA, DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES SUBJECT: AMENDING THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLANS TO INCLUDE THE CLASSIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL PLAN CHECK ENGINEER AND ESTABLISHING A LIMITED TERM PROJECT POSITION SUMMARY Approval of the following actions will amend the City's Classification Plan and Compensation Plan to include the classification of Principal Plan Check Engineer and authorize staff to fill a limited term project position in this classification. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt City Council Resolution No. 15 -08 to amend the City's Classification and Compensation Plans and authorize the appointment of a project employee in the classification of Principal Plan Check Engineer 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 $150,000, including salary and benefits. These costs are expected to be offset by a reduction in expenditures on contract consulting staff. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION A Principal Plan Check Engineer is a supervisory classification that requires significant technical training and experience in building plan checking. An employee in this classification plans, supervises, and performs the most complex structural and civil engineering tasks related to the review of residential, commercial, and industrial plans and specifications for compliance with pertinent building and safety codes and regulations and provides technical assistance and training to other professional and technical staff. The minimum qualifications for this classification include a combination of education and experience equivalent to a bachelor's degree in civil or structural engineering, registration with the State of California as a Professional Engineer or Licensed Architect, and four years of experience in complex building plan checking, including at least two years in a lead or supervisory capacity. City Council Agenda Report February 3, 2015 Amending the Classification and Compensation Plans to Include the Classification of Principal Plan Check Engineer and Establishing a Limited Term Project Position Page 2 In the recent past, the Building Division of the Community Development Department included fifteen (15) full -time City employees. After layoffs and restructuring over the past several years, the Building Division currently includes only five (5) full -time City employees, with additional services supplemented by various contract personnel. While in the past, the City typically had one or more professional engineers on staff with knowledge and experience in complex plan checking, there are currently no City employees with this level of expertise; these services have been provided recently by a variety of different independent contractors. 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 Principal Plan Check Engineer. Along these lines, employing an individual directly through the City will eliminate the potential CalPERS and /or IRS liability that exists when using contract staff. Employing a City employee for these services will also help the City control the quality of customer service as well ensure technical expertise is available on a regular basis and is applied in a more consistent manner in accordance with direction from Community Development management staff. The addition of a full time employee would expedite plan check turnaround and enhance communication that is currently mostly performed off -site by consultants. Further, a full -time employee would be able to provide Building Division customers (e.g. architects, engineers, and property owners) direct access and communication with a technically trained, in -house staff person to immediately address their concerns and plan check corrections, rather than continuing to route such matters to off -site consultants. 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 Principal Plan Check Engineer, for a period not to exceed five (5) years. Should the need arise for continued services, this project appointment can be extended in the future by the City Council. Conversely, in the event City Council Agenda Report February 3, 2015 Amending the Classification and Compensation Plans to Include the Classification of Principal Plan Check Engineer and Establishing a Limited Term Project Position Page 3 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 is proposed to be set at approximately $94,796 to $121,543 per year, which is consistent with other positions at the City requiring similar levels of education and experience, and which aligns appropriately amongst other classifications used in the Building Division. 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 Yasuo Director of Human Resources Attachment: 1. City Council Resolution No. 15 -08 RESOLUTION NO. 15 -08 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUSTIN, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLANS FOR THE CITY OF TUSTIN TO INCLUDE THE CLASSIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL PLAN CHECK ENGINEER 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 the classification of Principal Plan Check Engineer; and WHEREAS, an employee appointed to a 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 Principal Plan Check Engineer is hereby established to plan, supervise, and perform the most complex structural and civil engineering tasks related to the review of residential, commercial, and industrial plans and specifications for compliance with pertinent building and safety codes and regulations, to provide technical assistance and training to other professional and technical staff, and to ensure efficient and effective service to the customers of the Building Division. Resolution 15 -08 Page 1 of 4 Section 2: Project Appointment An employee appointed under this Resolution as Principal Plan Check Engineer is classified as a "project employee" under the terms and conditions specified in the City's 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 February 3, 2015, unless otherwise stated herein. Section 4: Term of Employment An employee appointed by the City under this Resolution to the position of Senior Plan Check Engineer shall be employed in this position for up to 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 Principal Plan Check Engineer is hereby incorporated and listed in Appendix A. Section 6: Benefits The City shall provide the Principal Plan Check Engineer with the same benefits that are provided to employees in the unrepresented Management unit. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Tustin held on the 3rd day of February 2015. CHARLES E. PUCKETT Mayor ATTEST: JEFFREY C. PARKER City Clerk Resolution 15 -08 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. 15 -08 was duly passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Tustin City Council, held on the 3rd day of February 2015, by the following vote: COUNCILMEMBER AYES: COUNCILMEMBER NOES: COUNCILMEMBER ABSTAINED: COUNCILMEMBER ABSENT: JEFFREY C. PARKER City Clerk Resolution 15 -08 Page 3 of 4 APPENDIX A — MONTHLY SALARY RANGE Effective February 3, 2015 Classification I A I B I C I D I E I F Principal Plan Check Engineer 1 7899.72 1 8304.23 1 8729.45 1 9176.45 1 9646.33 1 10128.65 Resolution 15 -08 Page 4 of 4