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HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 5.C 9/15/2014DATE: TO: FROM: SUBJECT: September 15, 2014 Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council John C. Brown, City Manager Resolution Modifying the Two Position Allocations of Building Inspector I in the Building Services Division to Building Inspector I/II Positions. RECOMMENDATION It is recommended that the City Council adopt the attached Resolution Modifying the Two Position Allocations of Building Inspector I in the Building Services Division to Building Inspector I/II Positions. BACKGROUND Due to revenue shortfalls in 2008, the Community Development Department was reorganized. Resolution 2008-184 abolished, an -tong others, the positions of Building Inspector I and 1I. As workloads increased and the economy recovered, two Building Inspector I (BI I) positions were reinstated independently, in 2009 and in 2011. Two BI I positions are currently allocated, and both positions are currently filled. BI I is the entry level of the Building Inspector series. Building Inspector II (BI II) is the journey level. No BI II positions are currently allocated to the Building Services Division. Although the Building Division needs no additional staff at this time, many of the duties required to meet department needs are at the full journey level rather than at the entry level. These would include, for example, the ability to perform complex residential and most commercial inspections, answer complicated questions posed by our customers, provide guidance to BI I staff, help provide training for the Permit Techs and BI I staff, and respond to Fire and Police callouts primarily when vehicles hit structures causing damage to support portions of the buildings. To meet this need. staff recommends that the City Council modify both of the existing BI I allocations to BI I/II. This would provide the flexibility to fill vacancies at the BI II level, or underfill at the BI I level, as shills, duties and workloads dictate. It would also enable the Division to promote existing I's to II level as workload needs and their proficiencies dictate. BI I/II is an alternately staffed series, meaning the incumbent may advance without recruitment once the employee demonstrates proficiency and is performing work at the BI II journey level. Agenda Review: City Attorney Finance Director Cite N/hm It is anticipated that one inspector would be promoted within the next few months to the position of BI II. The other BI I position will likely remain as assigned for some time to come. The Building Services Division total staffing level will not change with this resolution. FINANCIAL IMPACTS An approximately three percent difference exists between the top step of the BI I position and the first step of the BI II position. Five steps exist within the BI II classification, separated by five percent increments in salary. The estimated first years cost of promoting a BI I, at the top step of that classification, to a BI II at the second step of that classification, salaries and benefits, is approximately $5,490. By way of explanation, an employee who is flexibly promoted must be moved to lowest step of the new position that provides him/her at least a five percent increase. The hourly rate at the top step of the BI I classification is $32.58/hr. Because the difference between the top step of that range and the bottom step of the BI II range is less than five percent, the employee would be placed at the second step of the II range, $35.22/hr. This represents a difference of 8.1 percent over the top step of the BI I. The cost estimate provided in the preceding paragraph represents a one-year cost. The 2014/15 cost of the recommended action will be 75 percent or less of that amount, depending on the timing of one promotion. That cost can be supported from within the existing Building budget. ATTACHMENTS Resolution 2 ATTACHMENT I RESOLUTION MODIFYING THE TWO POSITION ALLOCATIONS OF BUILDING INSPECTOR I IN THE BUILDING SERVICES DIVISION TO BUILDING INSPECTOR I/11 POSITIONS WHEREAS, due to revenue shortfalls, the position of Building Inspector II was abolished in Resolution 2008-184; and WHEREAS, when the Building Inspector positions were reallocated, they were only reinstated at the BI I level; and WHEREAS, the workload and revenues in the Building Services Division demonstrate the need, and provide an adequate funding source, to promote a Building Inspector I to a BI II position; and WHEREAS, the field inspection workload includes a large amount of work that should be performed by an inspector with a BI II rating; and WHEREAS, the Building Services Division would like to have the flexibility to promote or hire inspectors at both the BI I and BI II positions; and WHEREAS, for the foreseeable future, the need for a person rated as a BI II will be required to perform complex inspections in the Building Services Division. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council does hereby authorize the modification of the two existing Building Inspector I positions in the Building Services Division to two Building Inspector 1/11 positions.