HomeMy WebLinkAboutSR - Res No. 07-71 - Associate EngineerCITY OF PALM DESERT
DEVELOPMENT SERVICES DIVISION
STAFF REPORT
REQUEST: Amend Resolution 07-51, the City's Allocated Classifications by adding
the classification "Associate Engineer" at Grade 127 as an alternative to
"Sr. Engineer" at Grade 129.
DATE: October 25, 2007
CONTENTS: Resolution # 07-71
Staff Report
SUBMITTED BY: Homer Croy, ACM/Development Services
Recommendation:
Adopt Resolution No. 07-71 amending Resolution 07-51 outlining the City's salary
schedule and allocated positions.
Discussion:
Staff is requesting that the City Council amend the existing salary resolution to allow for the
flexible staffing of an existing engineering position in the Public Works Department. Approval
of this request does not add an additional staff member. It would allow the City to fill the
existing position at either the Associate Engineer or Sr. Engineer classification depending
upon qualifications.
The City currently has a vacancy in the position of Sr. Engineer in the Public Works
Department. This vacancy exists due to the promotion of Bo Chen to City Engineer, but the
City has had a continuous vacancy in engineering since Mike Errante resigned in 2005 (with
the exception of three months that Joe Gaugush acted as City Engineer). The labor market
for engineering staff at all levels, but especially for registered civil engineers, continues to be
extremely tight. There are a number of factors affecting the field, notably the retirement of
baby boomers and the reduced number of college students studying engineering. In this
environment the City has not been able to locate a qualified and acceptable candidate for the
position at the Sr. Engineer level.
Human Resources has consulted with the department and determined that a possible
solution is to amend the position to be flexibly staffed at either the Associate or Sr. Engineer
G \HR\HR Group Documents\Staff Reports.Amend Res 07-51 for Assoaate Engineer doc
level, which would allow us to locate and recruit a more recent college graduate with the
aptitude to be developed in to the Sr. Engineer position. This is a best practice in succession
planning and would assist the City in preparing potential candidates for future higher level
vacancies.
Submitted by:
LORI CAftIEY
HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER
Approval:
SHEILA R. GILLIGAN
ACM Community Service
CARLOS L. ORTEGA
City Manager
PAUL GIBSON
Finance Director
CITY COUNCIL �iCTION:
APPROVED ,/ DENIED
RECEIVED OTHER
keS .No. 07-7/
MEETING DATE /0 - v?5-07
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ABSTAIN:
JERIFIED BY:
'riginal on File w City Clerk's Offic:
G:\HR\HR Group Documents\Staff ReportslAmend Res 07-51 for Associate Engineer.doc