HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1990 0516 CC REG ITEM 11DPAUL W. LAWRASON, Jr.
Mayor
SCOTT MONTGOMERY
Mayor Pro Tern
ELOISE BROWN
Councilmember
CLINT HARPER, Ph.D.
Councilmember
BERNARDO M. PEREZ
Councilmember
LILLIAN KELLERMAN
City Clerk
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
BACKGROUND
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M E M O R A N D U M
The Honorable City Council.
Steven Rueny, City Manager��
April 27, 1990
Director of Public works
ITEM _11
S
TEVEN KY
City Manager
CHERYLJ.KANE
City Attorney
PATRICK RICHARDS, A.I.C.P.
Director of
Community Development
R. DENNIS DELZEIT
City Engineer
JOHN V. GILLESPIE
Chief of Police
RICHARD T. HARE
City Treasurer
In mid 1989, the Council directed staff to study the
feasibility of establishing an in -house City Engineer. The
Council had previously considered such a study prepared by
City Staff in May, 1987. On May 27„ 1987, the Council
received and filed the report on this matter and the City
continued with a contract City Engineer. A copy of the May,
1987 report has been previousl,, provided to the Council.
In the spring of 1988, the City considered proposals for
contract City Engineer and Building Inspection services.
Willdan was selected to continue as City Engineer and Charles
Abbott Associates was selected to provide building inspection
services. On November 1, 7.985 , the Council authorized an
interim position of Public! Works Director. An interim
position has allowed the City t.,,_> move forward on a number of
projects while the Organization and Management Review and In-
House City Engineer Study were being completed. The position
has focused on completing and it itiat.ing certain public works
maintenance and capital pro€<
The Organization and Management Review, accepted by the
Council on April 18, 1990, ii,cluded a recommendation for
establishing a Public Works Director position. This Review
acknowledged that the City was . ompleting a feasibility study
for an in -house City Engineer which would determine if the
Public Works Director positic,i shoui.d also serve as City
Engineer. The Organization an- Management Review found that
the City's public works respon� bid it. t>s were too fragmented,
The Honorable City Council
April 27, 1990
Page 2
placed inappropriate demands on the City Manager's time, and
contributed to an unmanageable ,.cope of :responsibilities for
the Director of Community Serv,,,.es.
Discussion
There are three primary alternat::.ives with variations of each
for staffing City Engineer and Public Works positions:
1. Combined City Engineer / Public Works Director position.
A. With in -house professional staff.
B. Primarily contract- services.
2. Public Works Director osition with contract City
Engineer.
3. Separate in -house C3.ty Engineer and Public Works
Director positions
A. Within one departm�rit wit? one reporting to the
other.
B. Separate departmery t ;.
A City Engineer position almost always requires education
and professional registration is a civil engineer. Civil
engineering experience and education is beneficial but not
necessarily mandatory for a manager of public works
maintenance activities. The tipical responsibilities of a
City Engineer and Public Works Director are quite different.
City Engineer
1. Review of development projects.
2. Plan check of public improvements designed by others.
3. Design of public improvements.
4. Traffic engineering.
5. Assessment district engineering.
6. Approve and sign plans -ind subdivision maps.
7. Preparation and review Tf legal. descriptions.
8. Determination of fees and sureties for developer
funded projects.
9. Inspection of developer funded projects.
10. Develop and revise flo d nsurance maps consistent
with Federal_ requiremerl s .
Public Works Director
1. Street sweeping.
2. Pavement management an repair
The Honorable City Council
April 27, 1990
Page 3
3. Pavement markings and siqnage.
4. Landscape and tree maintenance.
5. Graffiti removal.
6. Traffic signal maintenanc-e.
7. Street lighting maintenance.
8. Slurry seal and overlay program.
9. Administer capital improvement projects.
10. Curb, gutter and sidewalk repair..
11. Storm drain maintenance.
Our biggest need is managing the public works maintenance
activities and timely construction of City- funded capital
projects. This can be done without the expense of an in-
house City Engineer.
The conclusions of the May, 198 report are still valid. The
same fee schedule is used and the City still receives 250 of
the fees collected. The General Fund would have to support
an in -house City Engineer to are even greater extent than in
1987 due to the relatively arge salary increases for
engineers since then. It is a very competitive situation for
engineers as a result of the high volume of development
activity and capital projects c. : ,.onstruction throughout most
of California and the nation. In 1987, we projected salary
and fringe benefit costs for a t:'ity Engineer at $60,000. As
a result of housing costs in Ventura County and the
aforementioned competitive sitution, we would expect to pay
at least $65,000 in salary alone.. With benefits (35 %) , total
compensation would be about $8'), 800 per, year. This is nearly
a 50% increase. An experienced public works manager should
cost about two - thirds this amount. A survey of salaries and
other pertinent information L attached. If the Council
concurs with establishing a Public Works Director position
with a non - engineer requirement, the recommended monthly
salary range is $3,578 - $4,349,. This is comparable to other
non - engineer public works marl cl =sr p:)osi. t ions.
I do not recommend the hiring of an in -house City Engineer.
The relatively high cost and potential under - utilization of
a registered professional civil engineer are major concerns.
With a small department, the City Engineer will spend a
significant amount of time adiru.r 1 sterinq contracts for design
and plan check. Combining the City Engineer and Public Works
Director positions would mean R ?,�,en greater under - utilization
of engineering abilities and ,!_,kills with the time spent
overseeing and administering -A reet maintenance activities.
Even with such a combined position, Moorpark would encounter
difficulty in attracting quality applicants since we don't
provide a full range of servi-s (no water or sewer); have
a limited number of maintenazr.- inc! : >upervisory staff and no
The Honorable City Council
April 27, 1990
Page 4
professional staff; and contract for many services. We would
probably not attract qualified c:- andidates with experience in
both facets of such a position. It would probably be seen
as a career opportunity for someone who lacks experience in
either city engineering or public works..
With an emphasis on street maintenance and capital projects,
a non - engineer Public Works Director is more cost effective
and efficient. The City can still. contract for city
engineering services and purchase engineering services on an
as- needed basis to support, the. public works and CIP
functions. A less costly position of Public Works Director
can focus on contract administration for maintenance
activities, study the feasibility and implement additional
in -house services, and seek bids Eor professional engineering
services. During the past: :;ix months, this has been
successfully demonstrated. ThE:+i.nterim Public Works Director
has coordinated the City's review of c:- ertain plans for the
freeway connection; and investigated the feasibility of
assuming responsibility for part (::.)f Caltrans' permit
issuance; developed bid packages for slurry seal and concrete
removal and replacement projects; and administered the aerial
photography contract, among at: t- - r activities.
The Public Works Director po::,.ition will allow the City
Manager to transition out of` the day -to -day responsibility
for many capital projects act.iv.ti.es and to delegate much of
the oversight required for thi it,y azill Traffic Engineering
services.
The hiring of a non - engineer Flui -lic Works Director does not
preclude the eventual hiring of an in -house City Engineer.
Depending on the City's ultimate growth potential, re-
evaluation of transferring water and sewer functions to the
City, and availability of Genei al. Fund revenues to support
a City Engineer, an in -house CJ!y Fngi.neer may be feasible.
In summary, alternatives 1. an 3. are not recommended for
cost and other reasons addressed in this report. Continuing
with contract City Engineer services and establishment of a
Public Works Director positions ,illows the City to focus on
street maintenance and capital needs while optimizing the
participation of, and minima •inq the cost for, civil
engineering staff on these a.ti.vities. A proposed job
description for the Public W-ar} Oire.ctor is attached.
Staff Recommendation
1. Reconfirm November 1, 98c, a(tion to establish a
Public Works Director- I' ;ition. This position is a
The Honorable City Council
April 27, 1990
Page 5
management (exempt) pos i ' iori .
2. Approve position descr °ption included with this
report.
3. Approve salary range of $3,578- $4,349 per month, $150
per month car allowance, and comparable benefits as
provided to other City Dopartment Heads.
4. Authorize City Manager tt: make in appointment to the
position.
5. Appropriate $12,000 to ftAnd this position for balance
of 1989/90 Fiscal Year a, fellows:
A. $8,000 from Gas Tax Fund Reserve.
B. $4,000 from General Fund. Reserve.
6. Effective July 1, 199CI, he position to be funded as
follows:
A. Gas Tax Fund - 60°
B. General Fund - 3051
C. AD 84 -2 - 10%
This spread to be evaluated during 1990/91 Fiscal Year
and reconsidered during 1991/92 Fiscal Year Budget
deliberations.
7. Direct City Staff and Pub.i.ic Works Committee to review
the current Agreement. for city Engineering Services
to determine if any revisions are warranted as a
result of the estaba.i:-, time nt .)f the Public Works
Director Position.
4272.per
OO C RK CAUFORNLq
Of ,S--i�Adl Aeenng .
G�i (_mot. L � LJ•_._�.
SALARY SURVEY - DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
Reg.
Years of
Civil
City
Salary
Experience
Engr
Comments
Lake Havasu
$42,973- 61,402
5
Years
Yes
Full service
75 employees
Stanton
46,152- 56,100
5
years
Yes
Full service
Also City Engr-
Hercules
Up to $63,912
-
Yes
Newly created
Dept.; Full
Service; Also
City Engr.
California City
50,138- 60,944
-
Yes
Full service;
Also City D-rj .
X111 service-
Also City Erg .
Brentwood
54.196 °66,120
5
nears
_
Yes
Full service;
Also City Errs.
Atascadero
45,000 - 60,000
-
Yes
Full service
Also City n-igr.
Coachella
48,936- 61,248
5
years
Yes
Full service
Requires civil
Engineering
Lake Elsinore
44,328- 52,692
5
years
No
Public Works
Manager
Pacifica
42,840- 52,080
3
years
No
Public Works
Superintendent
Page 1
of 2
SALARY SURVEY - DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
4273.per Page 2 of 2
Reg.
Years of
civil
City
Salary
Experience
Encir
Comments
San Fernando
39,012- 52,080
2 years
No
Assistant
Public Works
Director
Gilroy
47,450- 61,874
-
Preferred
Full service;
Decree in Engr.
Campbell
48,588- 59,040
6 years
No
Public Works
Super; Civil
Engineering
N g o u r a Hills
No
Contract Engr. .
S Services;
Public Works
Manager; Has
Other assign-
ments
Proposed
Moorpark
42,936- 52,188
5 years
No
Manage Public
Works function
4273.per Page 2 of 2
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
DEFINITION:
Management (exempt) position reporting to the City Manager.
Under general direction, develop and manage overall public
works maintenance function for street and related activities.
Responsible for planning and budgeting of street related
capital projects and other duties and responsibilities as
assigned.
EXAMPLE OF DUTIES•
Planning, coordinating and organizi -ng the City's public works
programs. Administration of design, construction and
inspection of capital projects. Administration of contract
services for street maintenance and related activities,
including pavement repair, traffic signs and pavement
markings, street sweeping, street lighting, traffic signals,
landscaping and tree maintenance, and supervision of
maintenance staff. Represent City with other public agencies
on related matters. Develop and implement department's
goals, objectives, policies rind procedures. Assist in
administering City Engineer and Traffic Engineer Agreement.
Administer Landscape and Lighting Maintenance Assessment
District (A.D. 84 -2). Develop and maintain various public
works inventories.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Traininq and Experience:
Five years of progressively responsible experience in the
management of public works maintenance and construction
activities, preferably with a public agency. At least two
years of administrative and supervisory experience.
Education equivalent to a Bachelor Degree in engineering,
public administration or a related field. Possession of a
valid California Drivers License. Masters Degree and
California Civil Engineer Regi_ .trati.orz are desirable.
Knowledge and ,.Abilities
Ability to manage a variety .:�f projects and communicate
technical concepts to the public; knowledge of work
techniques and materials used in a vareity of public works
activities. Ability to establish and maintain effective
working relationships with other City Staff, public and other
agencies. Ability to provide incise and clear written and
oral reports.
4271.per