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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No. 2022-32Sponsored by: Administration KENAI CITY OF KENAI RESOLUTION NO. 2022-32 A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATION PLAN BY RECLASSIFYING THE PUBLIC WORKS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOREMAN AND THE WATER AND SEWER FOREMAN POSITIONS UNDER THE FOREMAN CLASSIFICATION AND ADJUSTING THE RANGE FOR THIS CLASS. WHEREAS, Ordinance 3211-2021 adopted the annual budget, salary schedule, and employee classification plan for the FY 2023; and, WHEREAS, the FY2023 annual budget includes current employee classifications and ranges for a Water & Sewer Foreman and Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman in Public Works; and, WHEREAS, the Water & Sewer Foreman position has been vacant since August 15, 2019, despite multiple recruiting attempts; and, WHEREAS, consolidation of management and supervision of the Water & Sewer and Wastewater Treatment Plant divisions under a Utility Foreman 1/II and staffing an additional entry-level Operator 1/11 position would allow for greater opportunities for recruitment, cross -training, replacement planning, and flexibility in staffing; and, WHEREAS, a position description was drafted to consolidate the duties of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman and the Water and Sewer Foreman to contain these duties within the proposed Utility Foreman 1/11 position description; and, WHEREAS, the State of Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits reviewed the current and proposed organizational charts and position descriptions and concluded that the proposed reclassification would not require a termination study under the City's Public Employees' Retirement System participation agreement; and, WHEREAS, these proposed changes would not result in an increase to the FY2022 budget and would result in a decrease of $4,073 to the utility beginning in FY2023; and, WHEREAS, comparing the proposed Utility Foreman 1/11 position to other positions in the City within the Public Works class, an amendment in the range of the Utility Foreman 1/11 from a 21 to a 21/22 is warranted; and, WHEREAS, making this amendment ensures that the range for the Utility Foreman 1/11 accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities of the position comparable to other positions within the City and is adequate to recruit and retain candidates qualified to supervise and coordinate the daily operation, safety, and maintenance of the City's Wastewater Treatment and Water & Sewer facilities. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA: New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Resolution No. 2022-32 Page 2 of 2 Section 1. The Council amends the Employee Classification Plan by reclassifying the position Public Works Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman and Water & Sewer Foreman positions as follows: 410 — [WATER AND SEWER] Q01y Foreman 1/II Range 21/22 [414 — WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOREMAN RANGE 211 Section 2. That this resolution takes effect immediately upon passage. PASSED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, THIS 18TH DAY OF MAY, 2022. _ a� - d Brian Gabriel, Sr., Mayor Em Michelle . ner`NIMC, City Clerk New Tex[ Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETEDI �* KENAI City of Kenai 1 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 1907.283.75351 ww .kenaixity MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Gabriel and Council Members THROUGH: Paul Ostrander, City Manager FROM: Christine Cunningham, Human Resources Director DATE: May 3, 2022 SUBJECT: Resolution 2022-32 — Amending Public Works Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman and Water and Sewer Foreman Positions This resolution requests that City Council amend the City's Classification Plan to reclassify the Water & Sewer Foreman and Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman positions in Public Works. This change would consolidate the two foreman positions into a single Utility Foreman 1/11, amend the hourly pay range, and allow the City to recruit an additional Utility Operator 1/11. The Water & Sewer Foreman position has been vacant since August 15, 2019, despite multiple recruiting attempts. The Public Works Director worked with Human Resources to recommend combining the two foreman positions into one and staffing an additional entry-level Operator 1/II position to meet the City's operational needs. The current Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman employee meets the minimum qualifications for both foreman positions and would be interested in assuming a wider range of management and supervision duties. This proposed change would benefit the City by providing greater opportunities for recruitment, cross -training, replacement planning, and flexibility in staffing. As a participant in the State of Alaska Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS), eliminating a position can subject the City to the substantial costs of a termination study (e.g., the requirement for a participating employer to pay for future benefits due to participating employees whose coverage is terminated in an amount calculated by the State). The State of Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits reviewed the current and proposed organizational charts and position descriptions and concluded that a termination study would not be required. This is due to the City having an employee classification of "Foreman," and downsizing a position in a class would not be considered a removal of a classification of employees from PERS participation. The current and proposed position descriptions show that the duties of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman and the Water and Sewer Foreman are contained in the proposed Utility Foreman 1/II position description. This represents a reclassification of the positions under the "Foreman" class of employees and not the creation of a new position nor the removal of a classification of employees. The proposed Utility Foreman 1/II position description provides for a minimum of a U level 2 certification at the Foreman I level and then advancement to a Foreman 11 once additional certifications have been obtained. Based on the proposed Utility Foreman 1/II position description, a range of 21/22 accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities of the position comparable to other positions within the City and is adequate to recruit and retain candidates qualified to supervise and coordinate the daily operation, safety, and maintenance of the City's Wastewater Treatment and Water & Sewer facilities, and the following amendment to the Classification Plan is recommended (New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED]): 410 —[WATER AND SEWER] 21i1i Foreman 1/II Range 21/22 [414 — WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT FOREMAN RANGE 21] Due to the vacancy of the Water & Sewer Foreman position, the proposed changes would not result in an increase to the FY2022 budget and would result in a decrease of $4,973 to the utility beginning in FY2023. If the City Council passes Resolution 2022-32, the Public Works Department can reclassify the existing Water & Sewer Foreman and Wastewater Treatment Plant Foreman positions into a Utility Foreman 1/11 and begin recruitment to fill a Utility Operator 1/II position. Your consideration is appreciated.