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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1988-12-20; City Council; 9786; Reclassification Senior to Principal Planneri, a SB#- MTG. 12-20-88 IEPTPE~ DEPT. HD. RECLASSIFICATION OF TWO SENIOR PLANNERS TO PRINCIPAL PLANNERS TITLE: RECOMMENDED ACTION: City Council adopt Resolution No. rfi+2? , authorizing the reclassification of two Senior P1 anners to Principal P1 anners. ITEM EXPLANATION The P1 anni ng Director requested that the Personnel Department complete a job evaluation for the two Senior Planners. Staff conducted the analysis of the positions which included the completion of a position questionnaire by both incumbents, an interview with each of the incumbents, an interview with the Assistant Planning Director and a review of the classification of Senior Planner and Principal Planner. Both Senior Planners meet weekly with the Assistant Planning Director to evaluate project and to assign the weekly workload for staff. The Senior Planners assist in coordinating the daily administrative functions of the Department and are responsible to assume lead supervision for major planning programs. Both Senior Planners are performing duties comparable to those listed in the Principal Planner classification. For this reason, staff recommends that the two Senior Planners be reclassified to Principal Planners. FISCAL IMPACT The additional cost for the remainder of the Fiscal Year is approximately $4,810. The funding is available in the Department budget. EXHIBITS 1. Resolution No. fPL3 2. Memorandum to Personnel Director, dated December 9, 1988. I I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 a 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 2a RESOLUTION NO. 88-439 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, RECLASSIFYING TWO SENIOR PLANNERS IN THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO PRINCIPAL PLANNERS. WHEREAS, the City Manager recommends and the City Council concurs, that two Senior Planners should be reclassified to Principal Planners. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Carlsbad, California, as follows: 1. That the above recitations are true and correct. 2. That the City Council authorizes and directs the City Manager to reclassify two positions of Senior Planner to Principal Planners. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of Carlsbad on the 20th day of December , 1988, by the following vote, to wit: AYES: Council Members Lewis, Kulchin, Pettine, Mamaux and Larson NOES: None ABSENT: None CCAUDE A. LEWES, Mayor ATTEST : (SEAL) December 9, 1988 To: PERSONNEL DIRECTOR From: Management Analyst JOB ANALYSIS - SENIOR PLANNERS Backaround The request to conduct a job analysis for the two Senior Planners was initiated by Mike Holzmiller, Planning Director. Mr. Holzmiller believes that the two Senior Planners are performing duties above and beyond what is required by the classification. The incumbents, Mike Howes and Gary Wayne, were both hired in 1980. The Planning Department has grown over the last several years and there are currently 16 employees in the department. Recently, the philosophy of the city towards development has changed from one of rapid growth to one of slow and carefully managed growth. This approach requires that the Planning Department undertake more detailed research on each project that comes before them for approval. resulted in a large increase in the workload of the department and this is the reason for the large Planning Department staff. The increased requirements placed on each project has The classification of Principal Planner is one that has not been used by the city for the last several years. In 1985, the City did employ two Principal Planners. At that time, one Principal left service with the City and the other was promoted to Assistant Planning Director. This left the two Principal positions open and at that time the decision was made to underfill the two Principal Planner positions with Senior Planners. Recommendation Reclassify the two Senior Planners to Principal Planners. Dicussion Professionally accepted data gathering techniques were used. This included the completion of a position questionnaire and an oral interview with the incumbents, an interview with the Assistant Planning Director and an analysis of the job classification of Senior Planner and Principal Planner. The first step of the process was to interview both Senior Planners to get a better understanding of how their jobs have changed and evolved over the last several years. Both planners emphasized that the major changes have occured in the areas of , Personnel Director Page 2 December 9, 1988 project management and the amount of direct supervision of subordinates that is now being required. The two Senior Planners are not only required to perform work of a very technical nature, but are also responsible for the training and professional development of their subordinates. Both Senior Planners estimate that 60% of their time is spent in direct supervision of their subordinates. Both Mr, Howes and Mr. Wayne are responsible for the supervision of five employees. The Senior Planners also spend a large amount of time handling complex projects, preparing reports for the Planning Commission and City Council, and meeting and negotiating with applicants. The next step in this process was to interview the Assistant Planning Director, Charles Grimm. Mr. Grim concurred with the information presented by Mr. Howes and Mr. Wayne. Mr. Grimm felt that the level of supervision that the Senior Planners exercised should warrant a reclassification to a management level employee. Once every week the two Senior Planners and the Assistant Planning Director meet to assign work for the week and to determine appropriate procedures to follow in making planning decisions. The two Senior Planners are responsible for the work assigned to their subordinates and must check to ensure that all assigned work is completed and correct. Mr. Grimm believes that this reclassification will provide the Planning Department with an adequate management structure to handle the current and future workloads of the department. According to Mr. Grimm, the Planning Director spends most of his time dealing with policy issues while the actual day to day operations of the department are left up to the Assistant Director and the two Senior Planners. This responsiblity requires that the Senior Planners act as part of a decision making management team and requires the exercising of much independent judgement and management skill. The final step in this process was to analyze the classifications of Senior Planner and Principal Planner. The Senior Planner classification requires that incumbents perform difficult and highly complex technical staff work and to assume lead responsibility for one or more planning program areas. The classification of Principal Planner requires that the incumbent assist in the coordination of the daily departmental administrative activities and to assist in the coordination and supervision of other professional and technical staff. Personnel Director Page 3 December 9, 1988 Mr. Howes and Mr. Wayne are currently performing the following duties that are listed in the Principal Planner classification: Assist in the development and implementaion of goals, objectives, policies and priorities. Provide lead supervision and guidance for other professional staff and participate in the conduct of complex studies relating to the social, economic, and physical development of the community. Assist in coordinating a program of staff assistance to the Planning Commission and other commissions and committees in planning matters, including the preparation of reports and recommendations. Assist in the coordination of routine departmental purchasing, personnel, budget, and related administrative activities. Make oral presentations concerning planning programs and development projects to the Planning Commission and to the City Council and other boards and commissions as required. Oversee the preparation of ordinances, resolutions, and reports to the City Council, Planning Commission and others regarding departmental planning activities. Conclusion From the analysis of these positions, it is apparent that the two Senior Planners are performing duties comparable to the Principal Planner classifications. By reclassifying the incumbents, the Planning Department should be equipped with the management structure needed to handle their current and future needs. It is important to recognize that this classification will not cause much of a financial drain on the department. Currently, both planners are eligible for overtime and comp time, and as management employees these provisions would not apply. these conclusions, it is recommended that the two Senior Planners be reclassified to Principal Planners. Based on GRANT YATES