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HomeMy WebLinkAbout10461ORDINANCE NO. 10461 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 STAFFING ORDINANCE BY CONVERTING A VACANT POSITION WITHIN THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, it is necessary to revise the positions for the ultimate efficiency and functionality for the Wastewater Department; NOW THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that: SECTION 1. The following section captioned “Wastewater Engineering” “of Ordinance No. 10363, being the 2023 Staffing Ordinance, is amended as follows: The following positions shall be authorized for FY 2023: 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 and transactions described therein. SECTION 3. This Ordinance shall be deemed to amend the Fiscal Year 2023 Budget and staffing with respect to the allocation of positions within the Wastewater 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 May 22, 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 # R7 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: Marisa Pacheco, Director Human Resources Andra Ahrens, Director Wastewater SUBJECT: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2023 STAFFING ORDINANCE BY CONVERTING A VACANT POSITION WITHIN THE WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT SUMMARY: The Wastewater Director, with Mayor Gradisar’s approval, requests to convert a currently vacant position in the Wastewater Department from an Associate Engineer II to a new classification of Civil Engineer Wastewater to improve operational efficiencies within the department. PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: On December 27, 2022, City Council approved Ordinance No. 10363. This Ordinance provided authorized staffing for Fiscal Year 2023. BACKGROUND: The Wastewater Department requests to convert one currently vacant WW-Associate Engineer II position to a new classification of Civil Engineer – Wastewater. The department has been unable to fill the Associate Engineer II position which has been posted four times since October 2022 with no applicants. While the vacancy has created a workload imbalance for the remaining staff, it has also afforded the Engineering Division the opportunity to review internal engineering operations and to assess what level of position would optimize efficiency in this busy division of the Wastewater Department. Wastewater is the only City department with an engineering function that does not have a professional, journey-level civil engineer position. There is a workload at this level to justify the addition of this position. The conversion of the vacant Associate Engineer II vacancy will result in the Engineering Division operating more efficiently. Project management, oversite of the construction team, ensuring project close-out is complete, and coordinating with other City Departments will be reassigned to this new position. This will allow the Wastewater Engineering Manager to focus on other mission critical and higher-level management tasks such as completing the Wastewater Design Criteria and other documents, training new employees, writing various procedures, and performing subdivision reviews in a more efficient manner. Another ancillary benefit is that the creation of this classification will provide a career ladder for others in the City who are currently or who have pursued professional engineering licensure. The City’s ability to attract and retain engineering talent has been difficult. By creating another professional civil engineer position, the opportunity for internal promotion will ideally result in retaining talented staff and growing the Wastewater Department’s and City’s engineering capacity. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: This is zero net change to staffing levels within the Wastewater Department. The cost to convert the vacancy is the difference between the Associate Engineer II and the Civil Engineer Wastewater position, estimated to be $2,377 per month (includes salary related benefits), or $28,523 annually. Funding for this cost increase will come from the Wastewater Enterprise Fund. Assuming the position will be filled in July, the cost difference for the remainder of the year is approximately $16,639 and can be absorbed by the department’s existing 2023 budget. No additional funding is required for 2023. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION: Not applicable. STAKEHOLDER PROCESS: None. ALTERNATIVES: The no-action alternative would be to retain the current staffing levels, which would eliminate any opportunity to re-balance staff workload and enhance department efficiencies. RECOMMENDATION: Approval of this Ordinance ATTACHMENTS: None