AGENDA TITLE:
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Adopt a Resolution Approving Amendments to the Job Classifications of Electrical Engineer and Senior Power Engineer to Provide for Flexible Staffing (HR)
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MEETING DATE:
November 20, 2024
PREPARED BY:
Cristina Gonzales, Interim Human Resources Manager
recommendation
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution approving amendments to the job classifications of Electrical Engineer and Senior Power Engineer to provide for flexible staffing.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The job classifications of Electrical Engineer and Senior Power Engineer are used within the Electric Utility Department exclusively. Currently, employees must participate in a competitive examination to promote from the position of Electrical Engineer to Senior Power Engineer. Flexibly staffed positions allow employees to progress within a series of positions without participation in a competitive examination, enabling employees to advance from one position into a higher-level position after obtaining the necessary knowledge, skills and experience. The City of Lodi Rules for Personnel Administration define Flexibly Staffed as:
Flexibly Staffed. The procedure by which an employee may be promoted to the next level of staffing within a job series without a competitive recruitment process.
The City has several series of flexibly staffed positions which provide opportunities for internal staff to promote within their departments, maintaining continuity of job knowledge. Flexibly staffed positions provide for succession planning and salary advancement, which is beneficial to both the employee for career growth and the Electric Utility Department to retain qualified and high performing employees. Additionally, having flexibly staffed classifications is a recruitment tool in a competitive market.
This flexibility feature allows for in-house promotional opportunities and career ladder progression. Currently, when the more junior employee grows in experience and knowledge the Utility has to undertake a Council action to reclassify the more junior position into the senior role or conduct a competitive examination process to promote the employee. This creates additional administrative burdens as well as lengthy delays. As a flexibly staffed series, the Electric Utility Director as Department Head would have the authority to approve the promotion without the reclassification or recruitment process if the employee is meeting performance standards and minimum qualifications for the new job classification.
To qualify for a flexible promotion, the Electrical Engineer would need to possess seven years of qualified experience with increasing complexity and responsibility, must demonstrate a higher level of knowledge and skill, and demonstrate the ability and aptitude to handle a substantial amount of work autonomously. Registration as a Professional Engineer is desirable but not required. Additionally, the Electrical Engineer must have satisfactory performance.
City staff met and conferred with representatives from Lodi City Mid-Management Association (“LCMMA”) and they are in agreement with the proposed move to flexible staffing of the Electrical Engineer and Senior Power Engineer classifications.
It is recommended that City Council approve the change in job classifications to allow flexible staffing between the Electrical Engineer and the Senior Power Engineer.
STRATEGIC VISION:
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Having an organizational structure that better promotes retention of qualified employees will allow the Electric Utility to better execute its role in accomplishing specific Council Strategic Vision objectives.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is a ten percent (10%) differential between the top-step of an Electrical Engineer to Senior Power Engineer. Pursuant to the City of Lodi’s Salary Policy, employees who promote into a higher classification are eligible for a minimum increase of five percent (5%), not to exceed the top salary step of the position into which they are promoting.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
Funding available in the Electric Utility Department’s budget.
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Andrew Keys
Assistant City Manager
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Scott R. Carney
City Manager