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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance No. 3435-2024KENAI CITY OF KENAI ORDINANCE NO. 3435-2024 Sponsored by: Administration AN ORDINANCE AMENDING KENAI MUNICIPAL CODE SECTION 23.55.030 (b) — QUALIFICATION PAY, TO INCLUDE QUALIFICATION PAY FOR A PUBLIC WORKS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR HOLDING A PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER LICENSE. WHEREAS, the Public Works Director position initially required registration as a Civil Engineer until 1978, when the City hired an Assistant Engineer, which was reclassified to a City Engineer in 1981; and, WHEREAS, as part of a reorganization to increase efficiency in the Public Works Department, the positions of Public Works Director and City Engineer were reclassified into two Public Works Manager positions in 1998 and further consolidated into a single Public Works Director position without a civil engineer requirement in 2008; and, WHEREAS, the City of Kenai recognizes the significant value, cost -savings, and specialized expertise that a Professional Engineer (PE) license brings to the Public Works Department; and, WHEREAS, the City of Kenai is committed to attracting and retaining a highly qualified individual for the position of Public Works Assistant Director, particularly those who hold a PE license; and, WHEREAS, the adopted FY2025 Budget did not include funds for qualification pay for a professional engineer license, and an increase in the General Fund is necessary to provide for the cost of this qualification pay in the amount of $2,256 for the remainder of FY2025, an estimated annual cost of $3000; and, WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of Kenai to provide additional compensation for employees who meet this higher level of professional qualification, thereby enhancing the overall effectiveness of the Public Works Department. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. Amendment of Section 23.55.030 of Kenai Municipal Code: That Kenai Municipal Code, Section 23.55.030 (b), Qualification Pay, is hereby amended as follows: 23.66.030 Qualification Pay. (a) In recognition of professional development, personal time, and effort of the individual to achieve same, the following annual recognition entitlement is authorized, payable on a pro rata monthly basis. (b) This recognition entitlement, except senior officer pay, investigator pay, certified municipal clerk pay, public works assistant directorpay, and driver/operator pay, is not considered when calculating hourly rates for annual leave or holiday pay. (1) Police Department. (i) Certification in accordance with State of Alaska Certification Standards as follows: New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Ordinance No. 3435-2024 Page 2 of 4 Intermediate Certification Advanced Certification An additional 2.25% of Step A of the Police Officer range. Eligible grades are Police Officer and Police Sergeant. An additional 3.75% of Step A of the Police Officer range. Eligible grades are Police Officer, Police Sergeant, Police Lieutenant, and Police Chief. (ii) Recognition Pay for Qualified Senior Officers. Senior officer pay is for police officers who have completed five (5) years of service with the City of Kenai subject to an overall evaluation rating of "Meets Expectations" or better, as follows: An additional five percent (5%) of the employee's current range and step. (iii) Recognition pay for qualified field training officer personnel for officers temporarily assigned field training officer duties for eligible shifts only as follows: Five percent (5%) increase of the employee's current range and step. (iv) Recognition pay for qualified "investigator" personnel for temporary assignment as an investigator when the assignment is the employee's primary assignment and the assignment has been approved by the City Manager or designee as follows: Five percent (5%) increase of the employee's current range and step. (v) Recognition pay for qualified Public Safety Dispatcher personnel for employees temporarily assigned dispatcher training duties for eligible shifts only as follows: An additional five percent (5%) of the employee's current range and step. (2) Fire Department. (i) Recognition entitlement for an associate degree in fire science is four hundred eighty dollars ($480.00) per year. Eligible grades are fire fighter, engineer, and captain. (ii) Recognition entitlements for EMT certification for eligible grades of fire fighter, engineer, captain, Fire Marshal, Deputy Fire Chief, and Fire Chief are as follows: EMT/EMS Instructor An additional one-half percent (0.5%) of Step A of the Fire Fighter range. EMT I I I / Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT) An additional two and one -quarter percent (2.25%) of Step A of the Fire Fighter range. Paramedic An additional five percent (5%) of the employee's current range and step (included AEMT pay). (iii) Recognition entitlements for driver/operator qualified personnel for eligible grades of fire fighter are as follows: Driver/Operator Qualified An additional 5% of the employee's current range and step. (3) Water and Sewer Utility. Certification in accordance with the State of Alaska Certification Standards. W&SII W&SIII $300/year $480/year (4) City Clerk's Office. Certification in accordance with International Institute of Municipal Clerks. New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Ordinance No. 3435-2024 Page 3 of 4 Certified Municipal Clerk 2.5% of the employee's base pay (5) Building Plans Examiner. Recognition pay for certification in accordance with the International Code Council as a Building Plans Examiner beyond the basic requirements of the employee's position, which provides substantial cost savings or additional benefit to the City, upon recommendation by the department head and approval of the City Manager as follows: An additional two and one -quarter percent (2.25%) of Step A of the employee's current range and step. (6) Public Works Assistant Director. Recognition pay for holding a license in accordance with the State of Alaska Professional Engineer (PE) license beyond the basic requirements of the employee's position. which provides substantial benefit to the City. upon recommendation by the department head and approval of the City Manager as follows: An additional five percent (5%) of the employee's current ranee and step. Section 2. That the following budget revision is authorized: General Fund: Increase Estimated Revenues — Appropriation of Fund Balance $22.256 Increase Expenditures — Public Works Administration Salaries $1,740 Medicare 25 PERS 383 Supplemental Retirement 108 $2 256 Section 3. Severability: That if any part or provision of this ordinance or application thereof to any person or circumstances is adjudged invalid by any court of competent jurisdiction, such judgment shall be confined in its operation to the part, provision, or application directly involved in all controversy in which this judgment shall have been rendered, and shall not affect or impair the validity of the remainder of this title or application thereof to other persons or circumstances. The City Council hereby declares that it would have enacted the remainder of this ordinance even without such part, provision, or application. Section 4. Effective Date: That pursuant to KMC 1.15.070(f), this ordinance shall take effect 30 days after enactment. ENACTED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENAI, ALASKA, THIS 18T" DAY OF SEPTEMBER, 2024. ATTEST: , MMC, City Clerk a Approved by Finance: Brian Gabriel Sr., Mayor New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] Ordinance No. 3435-2024 Page 4 of 4 Introduced: September 4, 2024 Enacted: September 18, 2024 Effective: October 18, 2024 New Text Underlined; [DELETED TEXT BRACKETED] CV I K N � F t\ City of Kenai 1 210 Fidalgo Ave, Kenai, AK 99611-7794 1907.283.7535 1 www.kenai.city MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor Gabriel and Council Members THROUGH: Terry Eubank, City Manager FROM: Stephanie Randall, Human Resources Director DATE: August 26, 2024 SUBJECT: Ordinance 3435-2024 - An Ordinance Amending Kenai Municipal Code Section 23.55.030 (B) — Qualification Pay, To Include Qualification Pay For A Public Works Assistant Director Holding A Professional Engineer License This Ordinance proposes an amendment to Kenai Municipal Code Section 23.55.030(b) to include qualification pay for the Public Works Assistant Director position when held by an individual with a Professional Engineer (PE) license. Historically, the City of Kenai has recognized the importance of engineering expertise within the Public Works Department. The Public Works Director position initially required registration as a Civil Engineer until organizational changes in 1978, followed by further restructuring in 1998 and 2008. These changes consolidated the roles into a single Public Works Director position, removing the civil engineering requirement. The City recognizes the significant value, cost -savings, and specialized expertise that a PE license brings to the Public Works Department. The addition of qualification pay for a PE license aims to attract and retain highly qualified candidates for the Public Works Assistant Director role, thereby enhancing the department's efficiency and effectiveness. The adopted FY2025 Budget did not allocate funds for this qualification pay. Therefore, an increase in the General Fund is required to cover the additional cost, estimated at $2,256 for the remainder of FY2025 with an estimated annual cost of $3,000. This ordinance supports the City's commitment to maintaining a high level of expertise in its Public Works Department by offering additional compensation for a PE license. This incentive aligns with the City's broader goals of effective public service and professional development. Your consideration is appreciated.