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CREATE A NEW CLASSIFIED/REPRESENTED WATER SYSTEMS SUPERVISOR POSITION FOR THE STOCKTON MUNICIPAL UTILITIES DEPARTMENT AND APPROVE THE SALARY RANGE
recommended action
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the City Council adopt a resolution creating a new classified/represented classification of Water Systems Supervisor and approve the proposed salary range.
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Summary
Staff recommends Council approve the proposed new single-incumbent, supervisor-level classification titled Water Systems Supervisor and the proposed salary range. Establishing a new Water Systems Supervisor position will assist the Municipal Utilities Department (MUD) with hiring a well-qualified employee to perform the complex duties of supervising the City’s Water Distribution section of the Water Resources Division. The new position will replace the existing practice of providing special assignment pay to a senior water systems operator to supervise the day-to-day operations and staff of the water distribution section, which will allow for greater management and long-term stability of this important function.
In addition, this position will provide operational and supervisory redundancy in the Water Resources Division and ensure the City is in compliance with regulatory requirements in the absence of the Water Systems Superintendent. In FY 2018-19, the MUD plans to fill and fund the proposed Water Systems Supervisor position by underfilling the vacant Regulatory Compliance Officer allocation.
The Water Systems Supervisor classification will be placed within the classified service of the civil service system and will be represented by the Water Supervisory Unit. Upon adoption, the Director of Human Resources has the authority to maintain and approve class specifications in accordance with Civil Service Rules and Regulations for Miscellaneous Employees, Rule IV Classification, Sections 1 and 4.
DISCUSSION
Background
On November 15, 2012, the Civil Service Commission approved a request to change the then-existing Water Operations Supervisor classification into a Water Systems Superintendent classification (also referred to as the Chief Operator). This change was prompted by Title 22, section 64413.7 of the California Code of Regulations which requires a water supplier to staff a Chief Operator that meets the requirements of its distribution system. When the Civil Service Commission approved the noted classification change in 2012, the incumbent was reclassified to a Water Systems Superintendent and required to maintain a Grade V (D5) distribution operator certificate from the State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB), and the Water Operations Supervisor classification was eliminated.
The current Water Distribution division in the MUD consists of the following 26 allotted positions: one Water/Sewer Equipment Operator, four Water Field Technicians, thirteen Water Systems Operators, four Senior Water Systems Operators, one Senior Hydrant Worker, one Hydrant Worker, one Office Technician, and one Water Systems Superintendent who provides direction and supervision to all divisional employees. The department recognized a need to have a front-line supervisor position under the Water Systems Superintendent to assist with the day-to-day operations of the division.
Since June 2016, these day-to-day duties have been performed by a Senior Water Systems Operator receiving special assignment pay. However, the department now recognizes there is a long-term need for a supervisor to perform these duties. Based on these operational needs, the department has requested to recreate the Water Systems Supervisor classification to handle front-line supervisory and operational duties for the Water Distribution Division.
Present Situation
It is proposed that the new Water Systems Supervisor classification will be responsible for supervising, planning, organizing, and reviewing the work of assigned staff; making policy recommendations; developing goals and objectives; and resolving day-to-day work issues. The Water Systems Supervisor will work under the general direction of the Water Systems Superintendent. This classification requires a Grade IV (D4) water distribution operator certificate and a Grade II (T2) water treatment operator certificate issued by the SWRCB. The classification also requires two years of lead-level experience performing duties at a level equivalent to the City’s class of Senior Water Systems Operator and is tied to the Plant Operations Supervisor.
To establish the salary range, Human Resources staff completed an external market survey and did an internal equity evaluation. The proposed salary will be bracketed between the Water Systems Superintendent at $8,994.35 (top step - 6) and the Senior Water Systems Supervisor at $5,567.95 (top step - 8). As proposed, the salary will be 14.33% below the Water Systems Superintendent and 41.3% above the Senior Systems Operator position. This salary recommendation is acceptable within the current City structure. Based on analysis of the information collected, staff recommends the following salary range:
Water Systems Supervisor
Classified/Represented - Water Supervisory Unit
|
Step |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
|
Monthly |
$ 6,087.87 |
$ 6,408.10 |
$ 6,744.75 |
$ 7,100.17 |
$ 7,474.36 |
$ 7,867.31 |
|
Annual |
$73,054.44 |
$76,897.20 |
$80,937.00 |
$85,202.04 |
$89,692.32 |
$94,407.72 |
The Water Supervisory bargaining unit has reviewed the newly created classification and does not have any concerns with establishing the classification. In addition, the Water Supervisory bargaining unit was notified of the proposed action to reallocate the existing Regulatory Compliance Officer allocation with the newly created Water Systems Supervisor position.
Financial Summary
For FY 2018-19, the department intends to fill the vacant Regulatory Compliance Officer allocation with the Water Systems Supervisor. The Regulatory Compliance Officer was budgeted at a total compensation (includes base salary and benefits) of $13,309.45 per month or $159,713.40 annually, and the department is requesting a total top step compensation for the proposed Water Systems Supervisor classification of $13,156.95 per month or $157,883.35 annually. If the Water Systems Supervisor is hired at top step, it will result in an annual net savings of approximately $1,830.05.