AGENDA TITLE:
title
Adopt a Resolution Approving 2023/24 Mid-Year Budget Adjustments; Approving Classifications, Job Descriptions and Salary Ranges for New Health and Safety Specialist, Assistant Electric Utility Director, Electric Utility Technician, Engineering Operational Technology Supervisor, and Engineering Planning and Design Supervisor Positions; and Approving Update to Job Description for Management Analyst (Confidential) (Budget)end
MEETING DATE:
February 21, 2024
PREPARED BY:
Lisa Noffsinger, Budget Manager
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt a resolution approving 2023/24 mid-year budget adjustments; approving Classifications, Job Descriptions and Salary Ranges for new Health and Safety Specialist, Assistant Electric Utility Director, Electric Utility Technician, Engineering Operational Technology Supervisor, and Engineering Planning and Design Supervisor Positions; and approving update to Job Description for Management Analyst (Confidential).
recommendation
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The City Council adopted the Fiscal Year 2023/24 Budget on June 7, 2023. The budget sets the priorities for funding services within the City of Lodi for the fiscal year. A mid-year review of revenue and expenditure projections was conducted and staff presents the following recommended budget adjustments and staffing changes.
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General Fund Revenues
General Fund revenues are coming in under the original projection by $1,561,760 primarily driven by discontinuing collection of the business license tax. The current revenue budget is $80,572,240 with a mid-year revenue projection of $79,010,480. The major category changes in projected revenue are summarized in Table 1 below:
General Fund Expenditures
The overall General Fund expenses are projected to be $1,584,659 lower than the current revised budget of $89,132,469, and is primarily due to staff vacancies. A budget adjustment request of $100,000 is supported by new revenue for downtown maintenance as part of the Solid Waste contract, and is included in the overall expense projection. Table 2 shows the General Fund expenditure projections compared to budget by department.
Electric Utility
Electric Utility is projecting an expenditure decrease of $5.7 million, primarily related to power supply cost reduction and labor offset for capital projects. Power supply costs were impacted by energy consumption due to fairly mild weather and lower energy market prices than forecasted. The department is requesting $273,500 in capital projects and equipment as indicted in Table 3 below:
Additional Mid-Year Adjustments
• Transit Fund: An adjustment of $115,000 in expenses for the LCTOP program for student bus fares and extended Saturday service.
• Streets Fund: A revenue increase of $3.2 million, primarily for grant reimbursements related to the completed Turner/99 interchange project.
• Wastewater Fund: An adjustment of $20,000 to purchase a surplus Facilities truck.
• Self-Insurance Fund: An adjustment of $692,500 for a property insurance budget omission.
• Vehicle Replacement Fund: $60,000 for a Public Works Inspector truck.
Personnel Adjustments
Staff is recommending the addition of six (6) full time positions, the reclassification of four (4) positions and the elimination of four (4) positions as indicated in Tables 4a and 4b below:
• Eliminate Assistant City Clerk; Add Deputy City Clerk - The department opted to recruit for the vacant Assistant City Clerk position at the Deputy City Clerk level, which allowed for an internal promotional recruitment. The goal is to provide staff with training, education and the time to obtain certifications in order to promote to Assistant City Clerk, which may take several years.
• Add (1) Health and Safety Specialist - This position is being requested to plan, organize, coordinate and implement a comprehensive safety, wellness, and loss control/prevention programs for the City, which will include inspections of facilities and equipment for compliance with mandated safety regulations. The Job Description for this new classification is attached to this report. Below is the requested salary scale:
• Reclass Risk Management Technician to Management Analyst (Confidential) - The incumbent has been performing higher level duties such as making program recommendations and decisions, serving as the point of contact for the City’s Workers’ Compensation program and stakeholders, serving as an alternate board member to the Ctiy’s two insurance pool joint powers authorities, and taking a lead role in the redevelopment of the citywide safety committee. The Job Descsription has been amended to include up-to-date risk related duties and is attached to this report.
• Eliminate Senior Payroll Technician position; Add Payroll Technician - The department opted to recruit for the vacant Senior Payroll Technician position at the Payroll Technician level, which allowed for an internal promotional recruitment.
• Eliminate (2) Building Inspector I positions; Add (2) Building Inspector II - The department recommends recruiting for the two vacant Building Inspector I positions at the Building Inspector II level. Positions at the higher class can provide the capacity and level of service needed for field inspections, including residential, commercial and industrial inspections.
• Reclass Rates and Resources Manager to Assistant Electric Utility Director - The incumbent has been performing higher level duties for the past several years. The position oversees a number of department-wide activities and will be taking over direct supervision of the Field Services department, key account and customer programs management, and two additional utility technician/analyst positions. The Job Description for this new classification is attached to this report. The proposed classification is 7.5% above the current scale as follows:
• Add (1) Electric Utility Technician - The addition of this full-time position is needed to oversee the work order process, billing for third party work, recovery of third party damage to utility assets, and the Northern California Joint Pole Association (NCJPA) cost-sharing process. It is anticipated the increase in revenue recovery associated with this new position will offset most of the cost. The Job Description for this new classification is attached to this report. Below is the requested salary scale:
• Reclass (1) Senior Power Engineer to Engineering Operational Technology Supervisor - The electric utility industry has undergone tremendous change since the roles and responsibilities of the current position were established. Specifically, there is increased complexity in the equipment and systems that have implications for regulatory compliance and audit functions, and requires oversight for their on-going development, maintenance and operation. The Job Description for this new classification is attached to this report. The proposed classification is 7.5% above the current scale as follows:
• Reclass (1) Senior Power Engineer to Engineering Planning and Design Supervisor - The electric utility industry has undergone tremendous change since the roles and responsibilities of the current position were established. One of the industry requirements is to have a dedicated engineering group focused on system planning and design. This position would oversee the new group responsible for such things as capacity planning, contingency analysis, and power quality investigations. The Job Description for this new classification is attached to this report. The proposed classification is 7.5% above the current scale as follows:
Exhibit A, attached to this report, specifies the line item budget adjustments needed for all of the above recommended mid-year adjustments.
STRATEGIC VISION:
3A. Fiscal Health: Promote City's transparency & fiscal fluency.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Revenue and expenditure budget adjustments per Exhibit A to address staff recommendations.
FUNDING AVAILABLE:
General Fund appropriation request of $100,000 is offset by new revenue. Expenditure requests for Electric Utility, Vehicle Replacement, Self-Insurance, Streets, Transit, Water, and Wastewater will come from fund balance.
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Lisa Noffsinger
Budget Manager
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Melissa Munoz
Accounting Manager
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Andrew C. Keys
Interim City Manager