Adopt Resolution #13-12-230 to Reclassify Four City Positions

The purpose of this case is to ask the City Council to reclassify four current city positions as part of the adopted 3-year Strategic Plan. This case does not ask the City Council to hire additional staff; i.e. there would be no changes to the number of City employees.

The reclassifications listed below fall within the City's Strategic Imperative IV:  An Effective Organization "Maintain a highly functional staff,  citizen volunteers, and elected officials and governance structure that meet the increasingly ever-changing needs of the organization."    Specifically, row 2, page 9 of 13 of the strategic plan, "tactic" reclassifications of jobs "key outcome" retained employees.

The following positions have taken on additional duties to reflect changes in staffing levels and duties.  These positions are working outside of current job classifications.

1. Reclassify the current Planning Division Secretary to Community Development Assistant
2. Reclassify the current Permit Technician to Building Inspection Technician
3. Reclassify the current Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator to City Planner
4. Reclassify one Streets Maintenance Worker to Streets Lead Worker

A brief summary of the changes include:

Community Development Assistant

• Became primary contact and Reviews Coordinator for Land Use Application administrative processes (pre-development) to reflect adjusted duties of other department staff
  • Will continue to expand that role
  • Expanded role is necessary in order to centralize our permitting and land use application efforts (Strategic Plan Goal)
• Added responsibility of back-up Building Permit Technician previously held by Building Division Secretary (this position was previously eliminated)
  • Scheduling and issuance of permits requires skill set not required at the current position description
  • Simply stated, permits will not be able to be issued in acceptable timeframe without this duty added to this position

 
Building Inspection Technician

• Became primary contact for septic maintenance program (previously by Building Inspector)
• Added primary point of contact for inter-departmental review and tracking
• Became certified as Building Inspector (limited)
• Will add Plan Review and Inspections to duties to reduce the need for additional staff to be added

 
City Planner:

• Primary Reviewer for building permit review for zoning and subdivision compliance
• Primary Reviewer of land use applications (pre-development)
• Primary Code Enforcement for Commercial/Industrial and Home Occupations
• Primary contact for zoning administration activities

 
Streets Lead Worker:

• This reclassification has been planned since June 13, 2012, prior to the Strategic Planning process, when Grant Riemer, the former Streets Supervisor became the PW Superintendent
• The need for this reclassification was re-addressed in the strategic plan and continues to be necessary
• Mr. Riemer took on the overseeing all of the PW operations when the PW Director position was left vacant
• Mr. Riemer's Street Supervisor duties were not back filled
• A Streets Lead Worker is needed to accomplish the necessary back-filling in the Public Works Department

City staff will be on hand to provide additional reasoning and to answer any questions that the City Council may have about the proposed changes.   Again, in all four cases, the staff in these positions have been working out of their job class in order to meet the public service needs in their respective areas, and all have obtained additional training beyond what is required under their current classification. 

Note:  The Strategic Plan identified five reclassifications in 2014; the fifth reclassification will be brought forward for City Council consideration in late September.

The reclassifications listed above are contingent upon the passing of the 2014 preliminary budget this evening.

Option #1:  Reclassify positions as follows:

1. Reclassify the current Planning Division Secretary to Community Development Assistant
2. Reclassify the current Permit Technician to Building Inspection Technician
3. Reclassify the current Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator to City Planner
4. Reclassify one Streets Maintenance Worker to Streets Lead Worker

Option #2: Reclassify some, but not all of the following positions, based on City Council discussion:

1. Reclassify the current Planning Division Secretary to Community Development Assistant
2. Reclassify the current Permit Technician to Building Inspection Technician
3. Reclassify the current Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator to City Planner
4. Reclassify one Streets Maintenance Worker to Streets Lead Worker

Option #3:   Do not reclassify the above listed positions. 

The pros and cons of the above actions are tied to the Strategic Plan.  The key reason to reclassify these positions is to more accurately recognize the job functions that these employees are currently performing  and to proactively work to retain the City's talent--reducing the risk of turnover costs and loss of institutional knowledge.

The 2014 funding required for this action has accounted for in the preliminary 2014 budget at approximately  $16,968 for all five reclassifications; the funding required for the four reclassifications listed here is would be approximately $14,465 in 2014

Staff recommends option #1 to:  1) reclassify the current Planning Division Secretary to Community Development Assistant; 2) reclassify the current Permit Technician to Building Inspection Technician 3) reclassify the current Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator to City Planner and 4) reclassify one Streets Maintenance Worker (Lonny Lofgren) to Streets Lead Worker -- all effective January 1, 2014.

Motion to adopt resolution #13-12-230 to 1) reclassify the current Planning Division Secretary to Community Development Assistant; 2) reclassify the current Permit Technician to Building Inspection Technician 3) reclassify the current Associate Planner/Environmental Coordinator to City Planner and 4) reclassify one Streets Maintenance Worker (Lonny Lofgren), all effective January 1, 2014.