HomeMy WebLinkAbout44-Community Development
cr. ., OF SAN BERNARD...40 - REQUk..dT FOR COUNCIL AC .'ION
From:
R. Ann Siracusa eEN':'.'...........c,'ftK.
Director of Planning l'U ......JIW"'"ai\~ect:
Funding of New positions for
Planning Department
Dept: Planning
198& MAR 24 .f>M ~ 24
Mayor and Council Meeting of
April 4, 1988, 2:00 p.m.
Date: March 23, 1988
Synopsis of Previous Council action:
~~
Council approved four new positions for the Planning Department on
February 15, 1988 (Senior Planner, Planner II, Planner I, and Typist
Clerk III) .
Recommended motion:
That the Mayor and Council:
1. Increase Personal Services budget line in an amount adequate to
cover the positions approved for the Planning Department .on
February 15, 1988, and
2. Direct staff to prepare and process the necessary paperwork to
increase budget line and fund positions.
V
Contact person:
R. Ann Siracusa
Phone:
384-5057
Supporting data attached:
Staff Report
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount:
Ward:
(see staff report)
Source:
(ACCT. NO.)
(ACCT. DESCRIPTION)
Finance:
Council Notes:
AQenda I tern No.
~~
CIYY OF SAN BERNARDII~O - REQU~ST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
STAFF REPORT
Subject: Funding of New Positions for Planning Department
Mayor and Council Meeting of April 4, 1988
REQUEST
The Planning Department is requesting that the Council budget
the four new positions authorized by Council on February 15,
1988 for the balance of the fiscal year from a building
permit fee collected as a result of the Moratorium Exemption
Committee action to exempt specific projects.
BACKGROl1NP
On February 15, 1988, after several continuances, the Council
adopted a resolution approving four additional positions for
the Planning Department: one Senior Planner, one Planner II,
one Planner I, and one Typist Clerk III.
Although the Council acknowledged that the Planning Depart-
ment is understaffed for the current workload, concern was
expressed that the City has funding limitations which affect
a number of departments, as well as Planning. The Department
was directed to return to the Council to fund the positions
when financial resources became available.
AVAJLABILITY OF FUNDS
It was recommended by staff at the time the positions were
approved that increased Building Permit fees be utilized, in
part, to fund additional planning positions in that the law
requires that fees be used for ielated functions. Obtaining
development permits through Planning processes is essential
for most development prior to the issuance of building
permits, and the use of Building Permit fees for staffing of
planning functions is considered an appropriate use of those
revenues.
On February 25, 1988, the Moratorium Exemption Committee,
established by the City in accordance with the provisions set
out by the Office of Planning and Research (OPR) , the City
exempted from the moratorium several tracts for single-family
housing. As a result of this exemption, on March 4, 1988,
Forecast Corporation, the developer, applied for building
permits for Tract No. 13490 and paid building permit fees of
$103,689.21. This is revenue not anticipated at the time the
budget was prepared because at that time there was no indica-
tion that projects would be able to move forward prior to the
adoption of the preferred land use alternative.
These funds have been received by the City and were paid at
the increased rates recently approved by the Council.
7<;.n'fi4
Funding of New Positions for Planning Department
Mayor and Council Meeting of April 4, 1988
Page 2
VACANT FUNDED P.9~ITl.9~p
In addition to the funding consideration, several Council
members questioned the need for additional staff since the
department has had two positions in the Current Planning
Division vacant for several months.
The Senior Planner position opened in September and was
filled effective March 7. The person selected, however,
vacated a Planner II position, which now must be filled.
Since there is no active Planner II list, recruitment has
begun and it will require at least two more months to fill
the position.
The Principal Planner position has been vacant since last
May. Two recruitments have been conducted and the position
will be filled effective April 5, 1988.
Even with the vacancies, the Department has been able to
manage the workload by extending the time periods required to
process applications, simply not doing certain projects and
tasks, and by having a contract Planner I position which may
be eliminated when the Department is fully staffed.
YACA~T FUNDED POSITIONS
Position
Senior Planner
Principal Planner
Planner II
List Status
Active List
Active List
Recruitment Open
Estimated Stgrt Date
Filled as of March 7
April 5
June 6
NEW UNFUNDED POSITIONS
The Department is requesting that, of the new positions, the
Senior Planner be filled immediately. This position is for
the Advanced Planning Division and is not affected by the
vacant positions in Current Planning or the project
processing workload. There is a current Senior Planner list
and the Department is ready to fill that position effective
April 5.
Of the three positions, the Planner II will have to wait
until a list is established and at best could not be filled
until early June. The other two positions (Planner I and
Typist Clerk III) have active lists and could be filled by
early May.
Based on realistic hiring schedules, the four additional
positions will require approximately $23,561 (salaries and
benefits) for the remainder of the fiscal year. Since the
Funding of New Positions for Planning Department
Mayor and Council Meeting of April 4, 1988
Page 3
Senior Planner position would be
basis, the additional cost for that
account overtime) is only $1,456 more
FY 87-88 to leave the individual in
occupied.
filled on a promotional
position (taking into
than it would cost in
the position currently
Therefore, the net funds required
positions through June 30, 1988 are
(salaries and benefits), which is
Building Permit fee referenced.
to fill the four new
an additional $11,238
eleven percent of the
N~~_POS1TIONS TO~E FUNDED
Politi9n
List
Status
Estimated
s..t~il_~te
Total
Salary
87-88
$8,685
$2,338
$4,767
$3,057
Senior Planner
Planner II
Planner I
Typist Clerk III
Active List
Recruitment Open
Active List
Active List
April 5
June 6
May 3
May 3
Cost for FY 87-88
Cost Already
Accounted for in
Budget
NET ADDITIONAL COST
Salary
Benefits
87-88
$10,856
$ 2,925
$ 5,959
$ 3,821
$23,561
-12,323
$11,238
The ongoing annual cost of the new positions is estimated at approxi-
mately $125,000 and will be accounted for in the Department's 1988-89
budget proposal.
RECOMM~NDATION
Staff recommends that the Mayor and Council approve:
1. Increase in the Personal Services budget line of the Planning
Department budget (001-171) in an amount adequate to cover the
four positions approved for the Department on February 5, 1988,
and
2. Director staff to prepare and process the necessary paperwork to
increase the budget line and fund the positions.
Prepared by: R. Ann Siracusa, Director of Planning
Planning Department
Attachments: Resolution Approving positions
mkf3/24/88
MCC:STAFFINGl