HomeMy WebLinkAbout10694ORDINANCE NO. 10694
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024
STAFFING ORDINANCE BY ADDING ONE (1) FULL-TIME
POSITION TO THE AUTHORIZED STAFFING OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT ENTITLED PD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
MANAGER
WHEREAS, it is necessary to revise the positions for the ultimate efficiency and
functionality for the City of Pueblo Police Department; NOW THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PUEBLO, that:
SECTION 1.
2024
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 effectuate and transactions described therein.
SECTION 3.
This Ordinance shall be deemed to amend the Fiscal Year 2024 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 April 08, 2024.
Final adoption of Ordinance by City Council on April 22, 2024.
____________________________
President of City Council
Action by the Mayor:
Approved on _______________.
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 _____________
____________________________
President of City Council
ATTEST
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City Clerk
City Clerk's Office Item # R9
Background Paper for Proposed
Ordinance
COUNCIL MEETING DATE: April 22, 2024
TO: President Mark Aliff and Members of City Council
CC: Mayor Heather Graham
VIA: Marisa Stoller, City Clerk
FROM: Marisa Pacheco, Director of Human Resources
Chris Noeller, Chief of Police
SUBJECT: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2024 STAFFING
ORDINANCE BY ADDING ONE (1) FULL-TIME POSITION TO THE
AUTHORIZED STAFFING OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT ENTITLED
PD COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT MANAGER
SUMMARY:
The Police Department requests the addition of one full-time position, entitled PD
Community Engagement Manager, to enhance the operational efficiency of the
department and provide specifically trained staff to handle the media and public
relations needs of the Police Department.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
On December 11, 2023, Ordinance No. 10613 was approved by City Council. This
Ordinance provided authorized staffing for Fiscal Year 2024.
BACKGROUND:
The need for professional public relations and communication services for the Police
Department has continued to increase. Given the known staffing challenges for sworn
personnel in the Pueblo Police Department, the addition of a full-time position to handle
public information officer and community engagement duties will facilitate the transition
of a sworn team member back to mission critical police work. This is part of the
civilianization efforts to move sworn staff back to primary police duties vs. performing
office work that could better be performed by specifically trained civilian staff.
The PD Community Engagement Manager will work in the Executive Office of the Chief
of Police and report directly to the Chief. The position will be responsible for the
information flow between the Pueblo Police Department and internal and external
administration and this position will be directly supportive of increasing citizen
engagement with the Police Department. The position will supervise the filled full-time
social media specialist and part-time social media content creator to maximize
community connection and ensure consistency in messaging. The manager will
coordinate department public affairs and media relations to increase brand awareness,
promote transparency and foster understanding of public safety issues within the
community. In addition, the manager will lead internal communication efforts to ensure
the vision and goals of the Chief of Police and the Mayor are effectively communicated
throughout the department.
The creation of this position benefits the community by freeing up a sworn member for
other duties, providing the department with a person specifically trained and
experienced in media and public relations, and increasing transparency both internally
and externally. Positions like this have become more and more important in law
enforcement with increased community expectations of transparency, the need to
communicate quickly and effectively in large-scale critical incidents hitting communities
of all sizes, and the need to be present and active in a variety of social media and
media platforms. Increasingly, these positions around the country are being converted
from sworn positions to civilian because of their training and experience to
communicate in front of a camera and build relationships with members of the media
and the citizens.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
The cost of the additional position for the remainder of 2024 is estimated to be $52,669
which includes salary and benefits for six months which will account for the time it takes
to post and go through the Civil Service hiring process. The department has existing
salary savings to cover this cost for 2024.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
Not Applicable.
STAKEHOLDER PROCESS:
None.
ALTERNATIVES:
The no action alternative would be to retain staffing levels as they are which is not
operationally desirable, especially given the staffing shortage of certified peace officers.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approval of the Ordinance.
ATTACHMENTS:
None