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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO -REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
From: James Funk, Director
Subject: Authorization to implement
augmentation of Building and Planning
staffing levels.
Dept: Development Services
Date: April 28, 2004
ORlGlNAL
MCC Date: 05/03/04
Synopsis of Previous Council Action:
4/21/04 - Ways and Means Committee recommended for approval.
Recommended Motion:
1.
That Staff be authorized to implement augmentation of Building and Planning staffmg
levels as outlined in the attached staff report;
That one additional Assistant Planner position, Range 1430 ($3,791-$4,607) be added;
That the salary range for Associate Planner be increased from Salary Range 1449
($4,167 - $5,065) to Salary Range 1461 ($4,424 - $5,378);
That the Director of Finance be authorized to amend the FY 2003/2004 budget by
moving salary and benefits savings in the amount of $17,000 from Division 190 as per
the staff report to cover the FY 2003/2004 implementation cost for staffing
augmentation; and
That the Human Resources Department be directed to update Resolution #6413, Section
10, to reflect these changes.
2.
3.
4.
5.
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Contact person: James Funk
Phone:
5357
Supporting data attached: Staff Report
Ward(s):
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount:
$17,000 for FY 2003/2004; $82,500 for
FY 2004/2005
Source: (Acct. No.) General Fund.
Acct. Description: N/A
Finance:
Council Notes:
5/'0/04
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/VD. /1
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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
Staff Report
Subiect:
Authorization to implement augmentation of Building and Planning staffing levels as outlined
below, to add one additional Assistant Planner position, to increase the salary range for
Associate Planner, to authorize the Director of Finance to amend the FY 2003/2004 budget
and to direct the Human Resources Department to update Resolution No. 6413, Section 10, to
reflect these changes.
Backl!I"ound:
The Building and Planning Divisions of the Development Services Department are experiencing
record volumes of applications and activities.
The following actions are being proposed to adjust to the high volume of cases and demand for
service:
1. New Assistant Plauner: With the concurrence of the City Administrator, it is
requested that the addition of an Assistant Planner position to assist in processing
work be authorized. The Assistant Planner will process sign applications, minor
variances, Development Permits and related zoning issues. Currently, there is an
existing employee who has been doing the work on a part-time basis. The
Department plans to promote this employee to this position full time immediately to
help reduce the workload.
2. Associate Planner 6% Salary Increase: It is desirable to retain qualified employees
and keep salaries competitive to attract qualified job applicants. The Human
Resources Department surveyed the Planner series. Salary survey results show the
City is paying 5.9% below the average for comparable positions in the local area.
The Human Resources Department (with the concurrence of the City Administrator)
recommends that the salary range of the position of the Associate Planner receive a
6% increase to bring the top step to approximately $5,369/month (see Attachment
A). Also, a 6% increase would provide a more appropriate 19.2% differential
between this position and the position of Senior Planner. There are two Associate
Planners in the department.
3. Six Building and Planning Interns: It is recommended that six (6) interns be hired
to serve in the Planning and Building Divisions. The Building Official has
interviewed and is requesting the hiring of two interns on the May 3" meeting of the
Mayor and Common Council. Interns will assist in record keeping, checking and
processing simple building plans, and responding to simple inquiries from clients.
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The Deputy Director/City Planner is working through the local colleges to hire
three planning interns to assist in record keeping, processing plans, and responding
to simple inquiries regarding planning issues. Authorization is requested to fund the
interns' salaries with departmental salary savings and to open recruitment to hire the
part time interns at a Salary Range of $6.75 - $20.00.
4. Principal Planner: In January 2004, the Mayor and Common Council approved
upgrading the vacant position of Senior Planner to Principal Planner. The Human
Resources Department is recruiting for the position. The Principal Planner is
anticipated to be hired in late May 2004. There will be no additional cost beyond
the cost previously approved by the Mayor and Common Council.
5. Expedited Building Plan Check Services: Proposals to provide expedited building
plan check services have been secured from three plan check consultant firms. The
total reimbursable cost is not to exceed $350,000. If an applicant desires to pay a
fee to expedite plan check, the plans will be checked by one of the consulting firms
and returned to the applicant within 10 days of submittal of the plans to the Building
Division. A companion item on the May 3, 2004 agenda requests approval of
service agreements with three firms to perform these services.
6. Old Fire Burned Out Homes: Wildan & Associates has a $24,500 contract to
provide free expedited plan check services for the 330 homes destroyed by the Old
Fire. The cost to the City to provide the plan check services necessary to process
the plans for the entire 300 homes are projected to be $175,000. In order to keep
the City's cost down, existing Building Division personnel will be conducting the
inspections for the reconstruction of the homes. Staff has obtained proposals from
qualified consultants to plan check the remaining homes. A companion item on the
May 3,2004 agenda requests approval of purchase order with Willdan Associates to
perform this service.
7. League of California Cities/Consultant Services: Staff is investigating securing
the services of a retired high-level Planner to assist the Deputy Director/City
Planner in processing the back log of applications for variances, zone changes,
general plan amendments, tentative tract maps, conditional use permit applications,
and accompanying environmental documents. This assistance will free time for the
Deputy Director/City Planner to focus on the update of the City's General Plan.
Staff will bring this item back to Council for consideration when a potential Planner
has been identified.
8. Planning Division Consultant Services: The Deputy Director/City Planner is
seeking proposals from three planning/environmental consulting firms to provide
expedited services related to processing of major development projects. It should be
noted that this would not result in costs to the City; the project proponent will pay
for the expedited services . We anticipate issuing three purchase orders, each in the
amount of $50,000, to three consultant firms. This item will be brought back to the
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Council with a recommendation once the proposals have been received and
evaluated.
Financial Impact: The annual cost for the new Assistant Planner position is $54,500, the
annual increase for the (2) Associate Planner position salaries at top range with benefits totals
$8,000, and $20,000 will fund the six intern positions.
Implementation cost of the above actions for the balance of Fiscal Year 2003/2004 is
approximated at $17,000; the cost for Fiscal Year 2004/2005 is $82,500. For FY 2003-2004
salary savings in the amount of $17,000 will be used from the vacant Senior Planner position,
Division (190). It should be noted that since the $17,000 was counted as salary savings in the
Mid-year Report, there may be a reduction of savings in the General Fund since these funds
are now going to be used. For FY 2004-2005 a total of $82,500 will be added to the
Development Services budget for the Assistant Planner, Associate Planners and Intern
positions. At mid-year, a review will be done to see if any additional funds are needed for
Interns .
The Building and Planning staffing augmentation proposals relating to Expedited Building
Plan Check Services (cost is reimbursable) and Old Fire burned out homes have identified
sources of funding on the companion items presented for Council consideration at the May
3,2004 Council meeting.
Recommendation: That staff be authorized to implement augmentation of the Building and
Planning staffing levels as outlined in Staff Report, that one additional Assistant Planner
position, Range 1430 ($3,791-$4,607) be added, that the salary range for the two Associate
Planner positions be increased from Salary Range 1449 ($4,167 - $5,065) to Salary range 1461
($4,424 - $5,378), that the Director of Finance be authorized to amend the FY 2003/2004
budget by moving salary and benefits savings in the amount of $17,000 from Division 190 to
cover the cost of staffing augmentation for FY 2003/2004; and, that the Human Resources
Department be directed to update Resolution No. 6413, Section 10.
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ATTACHMENT "A"
Salary Survey Current Monthly
Associate Planner Salary Ranl!e
City Low Hil!h
Riverside $ 3,893 $ 5,339
Chino $ 4,237 $ 5,508
Ontario $ 4,331 $ 5,265
Fontana $ 4,322 $ 5,254
Pomona $ 4,262 $ 5,439
Average $ 4,209 $ 5,361
San Bernardino $ 4,167 $ 5,065
Below A veral!e 5.9%
* HR/Miscellaneous: Salary Survey. Associate Planner
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ATTACHMENT "B"
BUDGET/COSTS
I. Assistant Planner
2. Increase Associate Planner Salary 6%
(6% salary increase of 2 positions at top range with benefits)
3. Six Building and Planning Interns
4. Principal Planner
(This vacant position is budgeted. There is no additional cost.)
5. Expedited Building Plan Check Services
(*This cost is reimbursable)
6. Old Fire Burned Out Homes
FY 2003/04 (Previously approved Purchase Order)
FY 2003/04 (New Request) and FY 2004/05 (New Request)
Projected need commencing July 1,2006
7. League of California Cities/Consultant Services
FY 2003/04 (New Request)
FY 2004/05 (New Request)
8. Planning Division Consultant Services
(*This cost is reimbursable)
ADDITIONAL COST
$54,500 yearly
$ 8,000 yearly
$40,000 yearly
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$75,000 yearly*
$ 24,500
$105,000
$ 45,500
$ 15,000
$ 35,000
$150,000*