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Home My WebLink About2004-02-10; City Council; 17507; Police Communications operator positions amendn W [I 6 a a a .. z 0 F 0 a J G z 3 0 0 AB# 17,507 MTG. 2110104 TITLE: AMEND TWO COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR POSITIONS IN POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET I DEPT. POI I CITYMGR 32- RECOMMENDED ACTION: 1, City Council adopt Resolution No. 2o04-050 amending the Police Department budget to change two Communications Operator positions to Lead Communications Operators. ITEM EXPLANATION: The Police Communications Center handles approximately 70,000 police service calls each year that generate an incident number. The center also answers thousands of additional phone calls every year that do not generate incident numbers. The Communications Center is staffed with 18 personnel - 1 Communications Manager, 2 Lead Communications Operators, and 15 Communications Operators. All positions, excluding the manager, serve as hands-on dispatchers. The Communications Operators work 12-hour shifts, so generally there are four assigned to each shift. With two Lead Communications Operators, there is direct supervision 50 percent of the time. The reclassification of two Communications Operator positions to Lead Communications Operators will assure an adequate level of supervision to this group of front-line employees and reduce potential liability for the City. The addition of two new front-line supervisors would mean that training, direction, and expertise will be provided to the Communications Operators on all shifts, 24-hours a day. This will be particularly important after the new, complex computer-aided dispatch system is installed. FISCAL IMPACT: The reclassification of two existing Communications Operator positions to Lead Communications Operators has a total fiscal impact of $1 3,000, which can be absorbed in the existing Police Department budget. EXHIBITS: 1. Resolution No. 2004-050 2. Staffing Analysis DEPARTMENT CONTACT: Lynn Diamond, 760-931 -21 70 email: Ldiam@ci.carlsbad.ca.us I I 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 2Y 28 RESOLUTION NO. 2004-050 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARLSBAD, CALIFORNIA, AMENDING THE POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET BY CHANGING TWO COMMUNICATIONS OPERATOR POSITIONS TO LEAD COMMUNICATIONS OPERATORS. WHEREAS, the Police Department requests amending their budget to change two Communications Operator positions to Lead Communications Operators at salary range 24 of the Carlsbad Police Department Salary Schedule; and, WHEREAS, the City and the Carlsbad Police Officers Association have met and conferred on the impacts of these recommendations on represented employees. 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 the Police Department to amend its budget to change two Communications Operator positions to Lead Communications Operator positions at salary range of 24 of the Carlsbad Police Department Salary Schedule. PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the Carlsbad City Council ield on the 17th day of February , 2004 by the following vote, to wit: \YES: Council Members Lewis, Finnila, Kulchin, Hall and Packard VOES: None 4TTEST & V’7) m . WOOD, City Clerk Ex~\~o;* 2 CITY OF CARLSBAD STAFFING ANALYSIS FISCAL YEAR 2003 - 2004 Purpose: This form is designed as a worksheet to assist in staffing decisions and to guide the a. Department: Police /I b. Proposed Position TitlelClassification (also attach organization chart indicating the placement of the position): Conversion of 2 Communications Operators to Lead Communications Operators Note if change from an existing titlelclassification) c. Status (check appropriate boxes): 0 Track 1 - Funded Vacancy 0 Track 2 - UnfundedlNew Position Change in Classification d. Funding Source: The reclassification of two existing Communications Operator positions to Lead Communications Operators has a total fiscal impact of $13,000, which can be absorbed in the existing Police Department budget. REVIEWED: HR FINANCE: TRACK 1 APPROVAL: ACM: TRACK 2 APPROVAL EXEC TEAM: CM: a. Describe the specific City Council, Departmental andlor Program goals and obiectives which the position supports: The conversion of two communicators operators to lead communicators operators will help increase the ability of the dispatch center to serve all of its customers., . .police personnel, other city employees, citizens and other public safety personnel. This request falls within the council’s “topquality service” priority goal. b. If this position is not filled, describe specific impacts on goals and objectives, programs, serviceloutpuff product levels, revenue generation or others: Significant improvements have been made during the past year with a change in the management of the communications center. Operations have been modified to bring the dispatch center into compliance with regard to minimum staffing; time off has decreased, and the department is now better able to bring dispatchers in (either part-time or overtime) to fill in on an as neededlemergency basis when staffing levels drop. It is believed that regular, front-line supervision on all shifts is needed to maintain these improvements and continue to see regular improvement in this division. Explain the potential of alternatives to full-time staffing, including contracting, reorganizing, reassianinq (duties or position), part-timeltemporat-y staffing, andlor use of improved technoloqvlmethods. Evaluate each option in terms of fiscal and operational impacts and from a departmental and interdepartmental standpoint: 3 While part-time staffing is beneficial for front-line communications operator positions and the use of a part- time pool has increased to meet staffing needs to avoid dropping below minimum staffing requirements, it is preferable to utilize full-time, regular employees as supervisors. Expected changes in technology (new computer-aided dispatch system, mapping, routing of all cellular 91 1 calls to Comm Center) and its added complexity increase the need for a supervisor on each shift. Lead Communications Operators will have additional technical skills, a greater level of expertise in the complex technological systems, and able to provide direction and training to the rest of the onduty communications staff. a. Description of Existing andlor Prospective Duties: See Lead Communications Operator job description. b. Specific Skills, Knowledge and Abilities Required: See Lead Communications Operator job description. c. Explain the relationship between the requested classification and the required skills level: Front-line supervision skills are requested and are part of the lead communications operator job description. Existing updated job description attached. Signed: Title: Date: The Police Communications Center handles approximately 70,000 police service calls each year that generate an incident number. The center also answers thousands of additional phone calls every year that do not generate incident numbers. The Communications Center is staffed with 18 personnel - 1 Communications Manager, 2 Lead Communications Operators, and 15 Communications Operators. All positions, excluding the manager, serve as hands-on dispatchers. The Communications Operators work 12-hour shifts, so generally there are four assigned to each shift. With two Lead Communications Operators, there is direct supervision 50 percent of the time. The reclassification of two Communications Operator positions to Lead Communications Operators will assure an adequate level of supervision to this group of front-line employees and reduce potential liability for the City. The addition of two new front-line supervisors would mean that training, direction, and expertise will be provided to the Communications Operators on all shifts, 24-hours a day. This will be particularly important after the new, complex computer-aided dispatch system is installed. Additionally, added front-line supervision is particularly important as 9 of the 14 current communications operator positions are presently filled with employees who have been hired within the past 12 months.