HomeMy WebLinkAbout10459ORDINANCE NO. 10459
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023
STAFFING ORDINANCE BY ADDING ONE (1) FULL-TIME
POSITION TO THE AUTHORIZED STAFFING IN THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ENTITLED ABANDONED VEHICLE
COORDINATOR
WHEREAS, it is necessary to revise the positions for the ultimate efficiency and
functionality for the Pueblo Department; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
The following sections captioned “Police” of Ordinance No. 10363, being the 2023
Staffing Ordinance, are amended as follows:
SECTION 2.
The officers and staff of the City are directed and authorized to perform any and all acts
consistent with the intent of this Ordinance to implement the transactions described therein.
SECTION 3.
This Ordinance shall be deemed to amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and staffing with
respect to the number and allocation of positions within the Police Department and shall
become effective on the date of final action by the Mayor and City Council.
Action by City Council:
Introduced and initial adoption of Ordinance by City Council on May 08, 2023.
Final adoption of Ordinance by City Council on May22, 2023.
President of City Council
Action by the Mayor:
☒ Approved on May 24, 2023 .
□ Disapproved on based on the following objections:
Mayor
Action by City Council After Disapproval by the Mayor:
□ Council did not act to override the Mayor's veto.
□ Ordinance re-adopted on a vote of , on
□ Council action on _______ failed to override the Mayor’s veto.
President of City Council
ATTEST
City Clerk
City Clerk's Office Item # R5
Background Paper for Proposed
Ordinance
COUNCIL MEETING DATE: May 22, 2023
TO: President Heather Graham and Members of City Council
CC: Mayor Nicholas A. Gradisar
VIA: Marisa Stoller, City Clerk
FROM: Chris Noeller, Chief of Police
Marisa Pacheco, Director Human Resources
SUBJECT: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 STAFFING
ORDINANCE BY ADDING ONE (1) FULL-TIME POSITION TO THE
AUTHORIZED STAFFING IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENTITLED
ABANDONED VEHICLE COORDINATOR
SUMMARY:
The Police Department requests to add one full-time position to provide coordination
and administrative support of the abandoned vehicle program.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
On December 27, 2022, Ordinance No. 10363 was approved by City Council. This
Ordinance provided authorized staffing for Fiscal Year 2023.
BACKGROUND:
The primarily administrative workload associated with processing abandoned vehicles
has been performed by a sworn Police Corporal since the inception of the unit. On
average, the unit processes 3,711 vehicles per year and has processed 18,556
vehicles in the last five years. The essential duties of the unit include compliance,
coordination, and administrative tasks.
The processing of abandoned vehicles is governed by the Public Utilities Commission
(PUC) under the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) and the Colorado
Department of Revenue. This highly regulated process makes the importance of careful
processing and compliance critical to protect the Police Department and City of Pueblo
from litigation associated with this work. In 2022, state legislation was passed which
provides additional rights to “nonconsensual” public vehicle towing, which provided an
opportunity for staff to review not only current processes and policies but also how the
unit is staffed.
A survey of other police departments in the state was conducted seeking to identify
opportunities to streamline processes and to understand how the function is staffed
elsewhere. All other agencies surveyed indicated they have civilianized this function
with non-sworn personnel performing the administrative and coordination
responsibilities of the position. While some paperwork will continue to require the
review and signature of sworn personnel, the unit should always have the oversight of a
sworn Sergeant, but it appears the opportunity to free up the currently assigned Police
Corporal to engage in other actual law enforcement activities, to include traffic
enforcement and investigation to make the roadways safer would be beneficial. The
reassignment of the Police Corporal would also free up patrol officers as another traffic
unit resource would then be available to work crashes.
The Pueblo Police Department is committed to searching for positive methods to
accomplish the department’s mission and free up existing sworn resources to serve the
community, especially in light of the current staffing shortage. This proposed change
represents a positive opportunity to civilianize this function and use staff resources
more appropriately. The Colorado Department of Revenue and the Public Utilities
Commission were both contacted and confirmed the proposed change in staffing is
legal within the regulations and posed no concerns.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost of the new position is outlined below, which will be covered for the remainder
of 2023 by salary savings and therefore no new funding is required at this time.
The actual costs for 2023 will be $25,030 as it will take several months to get the
position posted and through the Civil Service process to hire.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
Not applicable
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
The International Brotherhood of Police Officers (IBPO) Local #537 was consulted and
did not have objections to this proposed plan of action. The new position, if approved,
will be part of the Pueblo Association of Government Employees bargaining unit. PAGE
leadership too, had no objections to the creation of the position nor its inclusion in the
bargaining unit.
ALTERNATIVES:
The no-action alternative would be to retain the current staffing levels in the Abandoned
Vehicles Unit.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of this Ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
None