CC 2016-01-12_09g Overfilling Position_PW Utilities DivisionMEMORANDUM
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GEOFF ENGLISH, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
SUBJECT: CONSIDERATION OF OVERFILLING ONE POSITION FOR THE PUBLIC
WORKS DEPARTMENT UTILITIES DIVISION
DATE: JANUARY 12, 2016
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council approve overfilling one full-time Maintenance Worker position
allocated to the Utilities Division to accommodate an employee on extended leave.
IMPACT ON FINANCIAL AND PERSONNEL RESOURCES:
There is no additional impact on the budget . The position is currently funded
through the Sewer Fund and the employee on extended leave is not currently
being paid, therefore staff recommends utilizing the savings generated to
temporarily overfill the position.
BACKGROUND;
T he Public Works Department has a Maintenance Worker position paid through the
Sewer Fund. The employee currently in this position has not worked since
February of 2014 due to work related injuries. The Department has been operating
with this vacancy since this time, which is unsustainable.
ANALYSIS OF ISSUES:
A Public Works Department employee sustained a work related injury and is
currently off work. Staff analysis indicates that funding will be available within the
current operating budget to provide for the overfill position until the leave situation
is resolved. The City is not currently incurring any expenses for compensation to
this employee
The Public Works Department has experienced several maintenance incidents
within the past few months that have highlighted the need to fill this position.
Routine Utilities Division maintenance tasks such as valve turning, sewer line
cleaning, water service replacements and other tasks are not being completed or
a re being completed on a less than ideal frequency due to staffing limitations.
Additionally, time demands on staff resulting from customer contacts due to
mandatory water reduction requirements have been substantial. Customer water
audits, baseline adjustment requests, Water School preparation and related
customer contacts have stretched existing staff thin and taken away from routine
maintenance activities.
Item 9.g. - Page 1
CITY COUNCIL
CONSIDERATION OF OVERFILLING ONE POSITION FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS
DEPARTMENT UTILITIES DIVISION
JANUARY 12, 2016
PAGE 2
There are currently seven full-time employees funded in the Utilities Division that
maintain the City’s water and sewer system:
Lead Worker, Utilities (1)
Water Service Worker (1)
Maintenance Workers (5) (including the position on unpaid leave)
In order to provide staffing levels adequate for these essential Utilities Division
maintenance functions, staff is requesting the ability to “over fill ” one Maintenance
Worker position at this time.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Approve the proposed overfill of one full-time Maintenance Worker position
allocated to the Utilities Division;
2. Do not approve the proposed overfill and maintain the current staffing levels;
or
3. Provide direction to staff
ADVANTAGES:
The proposed changes will allow the Utilities Division to better address
maintenance tasks such as valve turning, sewer line cleaning, water service
replacements and other tasks that are not being completed or a re being completed
on a less than ideal frequency due to staffing limitations.
DISADVANTAGES:
No disadvantages are identified at this time.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
No environmental review is required for this item.
PUBLIC NOTIFICATION AND COMMENTS:
The Agenda was posted in front of City Hall on Thursday, January 7, 2016 and the agenda
and staff report were posted to the City’s website on Friday, January 8, 2016. No public
input has been received to date.
Item 9.g. - Page 2