TO: Mayor and City Council
THROUGH: Krishna Namburi, Interim City Manager
FROM: Michele Bennett, Human Resources Assistant Director
SUBJECT:
title
Compensation adjustment for represented and non-represented classifications.
Ward(s): All Wards
Councilor(s): All Councilors
Neighborhood(s): All Neighborhoods
Result Area(s): Good Governance.
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SUMMARY:
summary
The Human Resources has completed classification and compensation analysis for two job classifications that have experienced unsuccessful recruitments. The Public Safety Communications Director is a non-represented job classification and is responsible for leading the Willamette Valley Communications Center (WVCC) for 911 services. The Systems Technician classification, a represented job classification, requires an electrical license and is skilled in multiple trades to ensure the daily operation of drinking water services and wastewater collection. A compensation adjustment is recommended for both classifications to improve market competitiveness and enhance recruitment efforts.
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ISSUE:
Shall City Council approve compensation increases to the Public Safety Communications Director and Systems Technician job classifications and pay grades effective April 28, 2025?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Approve compensation increases to the Public Safety Communications Director and Systems Technician job classifications and pay grades effective April 28, 2025.
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FACTS AND FINDINGS:
Public Safety Communications Director - The WVCC provides emergency dispatch services to thirty-two (32) user agencies. Since 2021, the Public Services Communications Director position has been filled by a Deputy Fire Chief, who has managed the emergency communications center while also maintaining fire management duties. The Fire Department plans to transition the Deputy Fire Chief back to fire service operations.
The Fire Department recently held a recruitment to fill the WVCC Deputy Chief position, however, since the position requires strong experience, skills and knowledge specific to 911 dispatch, it was not successful. Reclassifying the position back to a non-sworn director will allow for recruitment of candidates with the necessary qualifications, experience, and leadership skills essential for managing a growing 911 center.
Before 2021, the Public Safety Communications Director job classification was assigned as the WVCC director. The current pay grade assigned to this classification is $10,819 - $14,540 per month. Market data from regional 911 centers found this pay grade is below market in compensation. An increase of eight (8%) percent to $11,684 - $15,703 per month is recommended, aligning with the City’s compensation philosophy of being within five percent of comparator agencies.
This recommendation represents a cost savings for the WVCC budget, as the position is currently funded at the Deputy Fire Chief pay grade of $15,190 - $17,097 per month. The estimated savings in WVCC for FY 2025 is $16,200 and the full FY 2026 savings estimate is $71,300. City Council approval is required to increase the Public Safety Communications Director classification and pay, supporting the department to proceed with recruitment.
Systems Technician Job Classification - This classification is used in the Public Works Department and is responsible for preventative and routine mechanical, electrical, and repair work for the utilities infrastructure and equipment including treatment, reservoir, pump and lift stations throughout the city. The position requires a limited maintenance electrician (LME) license and is skilled in multiple trades. There are five budgeted positions, but one position has remained vacant since 2021. There have been seven unsuccessful recruitments in attempt to fill that one vacant position. There is a second position vacancy anticipated due to retirement later this year. These positions are critical to ensuring the daily operation of drinking water services and wastewater collection and must be filled.
Contributing factors to the failed recruitments have found that there is a very narrow qualified applicant pool in Oregon for the specific type of required electrical license and demonstrated skilled experience in multiple trades work. Similar positions are found mostly in private manufacturing industries and special utility districts, and not in the comparator cities traditionally used to consider market compensation. The compensation for similar jobs in those industries and districts ranges from $39-$55 per hour for similar journey-level electrical license and multiple trade technicians.
The Systems Technician compensation is currently assigned to pay grade A24, $34.84 - $42.77 per hour. An increase to A26, $37.80 - $46.36 per hour is recommended. This will align the Systems Technician job classification and compensation to other utility classifications that require a similar type of electrical license. The department plans to utilize a direct outreach campaign to regional licensed electricians to announce the recruitment and anticipates the increased compensation level will improve recruitment efforts and encourage qualified applicants from other industries and districts to apply.
FISCAL IMPACT:
WVCC is funded approximately forty-four (44%) percent by the General Fund, with the remainder coming from service fees from the additional participating agencies. There is no fiscal impact to the General Fund from this recommendation, but it will ensure the classification and pay grade is more competitive.
The fiscal impact for the compensation adjustment for the Systems Technician classification is estimated to be $8,800 for the remainder of FY 2025 and is available in the Public Works Department Fund 310.
BACKGROUND:
The WVCC Director position was classified as Public Safety Communications Director from 1998 until June 2021 and reported to the Police Department. Following the retirement of a former Police Chief and the vacancy of the Public Safety Communications Director position in 2021, WVCC transferred to the Fire Department, and the vacant director position was reclassed as Deputy Fire Chief in November 2021
Allison Pavelek
Sr. Human Resources Analyst
Attachments:
1. None.