AGENDA TITLE:
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Consider Adopting a Resolution Approving Amendments to the Job Classification of Electric Utility Resources Analyst and Approving the Job Classification, Job Description, and Salary Range for the new Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst to Provide for Flexible Staffing and Approving the Reclassification of one Electric Utility Resources Analyst to Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst, effective July 7, 2025 (ISD - HR)
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MEETING DATE:
July 16, 2025
PREPARED BY:
Cristina Gonzales, Interim Human Resources Manager
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RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Consider adopting a resolution approving amendments to the job classification of Electric Utility Resources Analyst and approving the job classification, job description, and salary range for the new Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst to provide for flexible staffing and approving the reclassification of one Electric Utility Resources Analyst to Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst, effective July 7, 2025.
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BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
The job classification of Electric Utility Resources Analyst is a single classification within the Electric Utility Department exclusively. The Electric Utility Director is requesting to create a Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst classification and to designate both classifications as flexibly staffed. Creating a Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst provides growth opportunities within the series as the employee increases their knowledge, skills and abilities to perform highly complex analytical work and exercise a high level of technical expertise. The proposed salary range for the Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst is $151,778 - $184,487 annually. The proposed salary is comparable to the Senior Electric Utility Business Analyst and is approximately 16.5% above the Electric Utility Resources Analyst.
The incumbent in the Electric Utility Resources Analyst classification has been working at a higher level, performing complex analytical work. The incumbent has a high level of authority and demonstrates excellent judgement and decision making in his role. The incumbent serves as primary lead staff on the City's Risk Oversight Committee and is the assigned voting member on multiple NCPA Committees with independent decision-making abilities as it relates to the interests of the utility. Reclassifying the incumbent to the Senior Electric Utility Resource Analyst will provide compensation commensurate with the higher-level work being performed.
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 provides 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 and the Electric Utility Department (“Utility”). Additionally, having flexibly staffed classifications is a recruitment tool in a competitive market and will enable the City to retain talented staff. This flexibility feature would allow for in-house promotional opportunities/career ladder progression. Currently, when the more junior employee grows in experience and knowledge, in order for that employee to promote, the Utility has to undertake a Council action to reclassify the more junior position into the senior role, or they must participate in a competitive examination process. This creates additional administrative burdens as well as lengthy delays. As a flexibly staffed series, the Utility would have the authority to approve the promotion without the reclassification or recruitment process. To qualify for a flexible promotion, the Electric Utility Resources Analyst would need to possess five 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. Additionally, the Electric Utility Resources Analyst must have satisfactory performance. City staff have 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 Electric Utility Resources Analyst and the Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst classifications. It is recommended that Council approve the change in job classification to allow flexible staffing of the Electric Utility Resources Analyst and approve the new classification, job description and salary range of Senior Electric Utility Resources Analyst and approve the reclassification of one Electric Utility Resources Analyst to Senior Electric Resources Analyst, effective July 7, 2025.
STRATEGIC VISION:
All
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is a sixteen and one-half percent (16.5%) differential between the top-step of an Electric Resources Analyst to Senior Electric Resources Analyst. 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.