Adopt Resolution #14-12-259 to Hire an Engineering Technician III

The purpose of this case is to request authorization to hire a fulltime Engineering Technician III.

In an effort to meet the applicable goals of the strategic plan the City conducted an internal and external recruitment for an Engineering Technician III.  There were no internal applicants; which lead to an external recruitment where four external candidates were considered.
 
The City extended a contingent job offer to Mr. Joe Feriancek. This offer is contingent upon City Council approval, as well as successfully passing the city's background checks, reference checks, and pre-employment drug screen and physical exam. Mr. Feriancek has successfully passed all of the requirements and is now recommended for approval by the City Council.

The business reason to fill this position fits within the City’s Three-year Strategic Action Plan and is essential from the City’s financial perspective, allowing the Engineering Department to complete the following tasks in-house:  1) Preparing construction plans, specifications and engineer’s estimates, 2) Preparing as-built plans, 3) Providing primary and/or back-up construction inspection, 4) Providing primary and/or back-up topsoil inspections, and 5) Providing primary and/or back-up storm-water infrastructure inspections for compliance with the city’s Storm-water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP).
 
In addition, this position has been identified as being essential to allowing the city to meet the “Enhancing the State, County and City’s transportation system” Strategic Initiative.  If this position is not filled, the city will not be able to meet this strategic initiative--meaning the implementation of the long-term road maintenance program will be further delayed.

Option #1: To hire a fulltime Engineering Technician III. Staff recommends hiring this position to help fulfill the public service needs of the City and to meet the goals of the strategic plan as it relates to this position, including pros such as the in-house ability to 1) Preparing construction plans, specifications and engineer’s estimates, 2) Preparing as-built plans, 3) Providing primary and/or back-up construction inspection, 4) Providing primary and/or back-up topsoil inspections, and 5) Providing primary and/or back-up storm-water infrastructure inspections for compliance with the city’s Storm-water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP).  Cons to this option include fixed personnel costs.
 
Option #2: Not to hire a fulltime Engineering Technician III and fill the role via contracted services. Staff does not recommend this option. Pros to this option include saved in-house fixed personnel costs. Cons to this option include greatly increased costs as a result of contracting out -- estimated at up to $70,629 over the cost of hiring a City employee (calculated at $88 dollars per hour x 1600 hours = $140,800 annually for contracted services, less $70,171 for an in-house employee = $70,629 more per year).
 
Option #3:  Not fill the position and not contract the services out.  Staff does not recommend this option due to the inability to act on the applicable Three-year Strategic Action Plan and the essential goals from the City’s financial perspective.   This option would not allow the Engineering Department to effectively complete the following tasks:  1) Preparing construction plans, specifications and engineer’s estimates, 2) Preparing as-built plans, 3) Providing primary and/or back-up construction inspection, 4) Providing primary and/or back-up topsoil inspections, and 5) Providing primary and/or back-up storm-water infrastructure inspections for compliance with the city’s Storm-water Pollution Prevention Program (SWPPP).
 

The 2014 funding for this position is well within the 2014 budget. The 2015 funding required for this position is approximately $70,171 and has been accounted for in the 2015 budget.
 

Staff recommends adopting resolution #14-12-259, to hire Mr. Joe Feriancek as a fulltime Engineering Technician III, effective on or near December 29, 2014, at $24.42 per hour which is step 1 of the 2014 wage scale, with a credit of 5 vacation days.
 

Motion to adopt resolution #14-12-259, to hire Mr. Joe Feriancek as a fulltime Engineering Technician III, effective on or near December 29, 2014, at $24.42 per hour which is step 1 of the 2014 wage scale, with a credit of 5 vacation days.