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Home My WebLink About5/5/2004 - STAFF REPORTS (22) DATE: May 5, 2004 TO: City Council FROM: Assistant City Manager- Administration SUBJECT: Fiscal Year 2003-04 Budget Amendment -- Development Services RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council adopt a Resolution amending the Fiscal Year 2003-04 budget by appropriating an additional $78,409 to cover personnel related expenses in Development Services. SUMMARY: The City Council has previously authorized the addition of six (6) positions and the reclassification of two (2) others in Development Services to deal with the increasing workload and to facilitate the separation of the existing Planning Department into two new departments — Strategic Planning and Planning Services. The proposed Resolution amends the current year budget by appropriating an additional $78,409 from building permit revenues to cover personnel related expenses in Development Services through the end of the fiscal year. BACKGROUND: In October 2003, the prior City Council approved Amendment #5 to the Allocated Positions and Compensation Plan creating three (3) new positions in Development Services (Building, Engineering and Planning). These positions, which included a Plans Examiner, Planning Manager and Engineering Field Technician, were placed on hold pending the adoption of a development user fee study that was being conducted by a consultant retained by the City. In February 2004, the City Council, in a 3-2 vote, approved Amendment #8 to the Allocated Positions and Compensation Plan which added three (3) new positions and reclassified two (2) existing positions. The new positions included a Principal Planner, Development Concierge Technician, and a Secretary. The Planning Manager position, which was created under Amendment #5, was reclassified to Director of Planning Services to facilitate the separation of the existing Planning Department into two new departments — Strategic Planning and Planning Services. The existing Director of Planning Services position was reclassified to Director of Strategic Planning Services. These positions were also placed on hold pending the adoption of the development user fee study. j u. /� 1 In March 2004, the City's consultant, MuniFinancial, submitted its development user fee study. This study determined that the existing fees charged by the Development Services departments were significantly lower than the City's actual cost of providing the service. Based on the study's findings, the City Council approved the creation of several new fees, as well as the modification of existing fees. The new fee structure is slated to go into effect on May 19, 2004. It is estimated that the incremental revenue from the new fees could generate in excess of $485,000 a year depending on development trends. Over the past several months staff has been actively recruiting to fill the new positions in Development Services. Currently, staff is prepared to extend offers of employment for the positions of Principal Planner, Development Concierge, and Engineering Field Technician. Staff is also completing recruitments for the remaining positions and anticipates being able to extend offers of employment to select individuals by mid-May. The estimated cost of the proposed personnel changes through the end of the fiscal year is $78,409. The annual personnel cost for these positions is around $431,000. For your information, a table showing the proposed personnel changes and their estimated monthly and annual cost is attached. The proposed personnel changes are consistent with the recommendations of the Development Task Force and are intended to deal with the increasing workload that has been placed on the Development Services departments over the past six months. In addition, these changes will help facilitate the separation of the existing Planning Department into two new departments — Strategic Planning and Planning Services. As indicated, the City Council has previously authorized these positions contingent on the passage of the development user fee study. This study has now been approved by the City Council and the new fee structure is schedule to become effective on May 19th. Based on staff's estimates, the incremental revenue generated by the new fees should sufficiently cover the anticipated annual costs of the proposed personnel changes. In order to complete the recruitment process and fill these new positions, staff is recommending that the City Council approve the attached budget adjustment to provide the necessary funding for these positions through the end of the fiscal year. TRX L. B_l Z .AFF Assistant Ci ,yh,,nager APPROVED— City Manager ATTACHMENTS: 1. Proposed Resolution 2. Proposed Personnel Changes and Cost Impacts 2 CITY OF PALM SPRINGS Mo. 04-05 SALARY BUDGET FORECAST Salary Annual 2% 25.193% PLANNING SERVICES Through 630-04 Anniv Thru Rounded Salary COLA Final Adj. PERS MEDI FICA Fund Dept. Name Title Unit Range Step Date 630-04 Months FTE 04-05 04-05 Sala 04-05 04-05 04-05 001 4151 VACANT DIRECTOR OF PLANNING SERVICES EX 71 1 1Jul 7,296 12 1.00 91,930 1,639 $3,768 25,513 1,468 0 001 4151 VACANT PRINCIPAL PLANNER PS 57 1 1-Jul 5,164 12 1.00 65,066 1,301 66,368 18,068 1,039 001 4151 VACANT DEVELOPMENT CONCIERGE TECHNICIAN G 40 1 1-Jul 3,460 12 1.00 43,596 872 44,468 12,099 696 0 001 4151 VACANT SECRETARY G 29 1 1-Jul 2,638 12 1.00 33,239 665 33,904 9,225 531 0 TOTAL 4.00 233,831 4.677 238.607 64,894 3,735 0 307,137 total per year 25,695 total per month CITY OF PALM SPRINGS Mo. 04-05 SALARY BUDGET FORECAST Salary Annual 2% 26.193% BUILDING&SAFETY Through 630-04 Anniv Thm Rounded Salary COLA Final Adj. PERS MEDI FICA Fund Dept, NAME TITLE Unit Range Step Date 630-04 Months FTE 04-05 04-05 Salary 04-05 04-05 04-05 001 4161 VACANT PLANS EXAMINER G 46 1 1-Jul 4,013 12 1.00 50494 1,011 61,575 14,033 808 0 66,416 total per year 5,635 total per month CITY OF PALM SPRINGS Mo. 04-05 SALARY BUDGET FORECAST Salary Annual 2% 26.193% STREET CLEANING(GSA 152) Through 630-04 Anniv Thm Rounded Salary COLA Final Adj. PERS MEDI FICA Fund Dept. Name Title Unit Range Step Date 630.04 Months FTE 04-05 04-05 Salary 04-05 04-05 04-05 124 4242 VACANT ENGINEERING FIELD TECH(DUST INSPECTOR) G 40 1 1-Jul 3,460 12 1.00 43,596 872 44,468 12,099 696 0 57,263 total per year 4,772 total per month Ob V� SCHLECHT, SHEVLIN & SHOENBERGER A LAW CORPORATION JAMES M SCHLECHT LAWYERS TELEPHONE (760)320-7161 JOHN C.SHEVLIN 801 EAST TAHQUITZ CANYON WAY, SUITE 100 TELECOPIER 760 323-1758 DON A. T.JOH SON PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92262 ( ) DANIEL T.JOHNSON E-MAIL ssslaw@ssslaw.com DAVID A. DARRIN MAILING ADDRCSS P. 0. BOX 2744 OF COUNSEL PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA 92263-2744 RICK M. STEIN IN REPLY REFER TO: )as/cops2 April 28, 2004 HAND DELIVERED Mr. Ron Oden, Mayor City of Palm Springs 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 Mr. Chris Mills, Mayor Pro Tem City of Palm Springs 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 Ms. Ginny Feat, Council Member City of Palm Springs 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 Mr. Michael McCulloch, Council Member City of Palm Springs 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 Mr. Stephen Pougnet, Council Member City of Palm Springs 3200 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, California 92262 Dear Mr. Mayor and Council Members: The Development Task Force met yesterday to discuss the implementation of its recommendations. The City Manager reported that a number of recommendations of the Task Force either had or were close to being implemented, including the establishing of a concierge in the Planning 1 Gf`✓d' (�� 1 SCHLECHT, SHEVLIN & SHOENBERGER A LAW CORPORATION LAWYERS Council Members April 28, 2004 Page 2 Department, the hiring of another principal planner, the hiring of a new secretary, the acquisition of an e-govertunent computer system for tracking purposes, the hiring of a dust control officer in the building department, and the issuance of cell phones to key personnel. All of these steps will improve the development process and everyone was pleased with the progress that has been made. We discussed the hiring of a new planning manager and the division of the Planning Department into two departments. Although the meeting was not well attended, it was the clear consensus of those who did attend the meeting that this additional step is not necessary at this time, particularly in light of the budget crisis the City is facing. This additional position will cost the City in the neighborhood of$130,000 and there will be significant additional cost in remodeling the Planning Department offices and staffing two separate departments. The Planning Department is functioning well at the present time and there continue to be many projects, including a number of large projects such as Palm Hills, the Classic Project, Shadowrock, and the Noia Project, that are working their way through the planning process and will not be well served by the disruption that will result from a reorganization of the Planning Department at this time. I understand that the Council will be considering budget issues at its meeting next week. I hope you will all carefully consider the need at this time to implement these additional changes in the Planning Department. Very truly yours, p JON A. SHOENBERGER fr cc: Mr. David Ready, City Manager RESOLUTION NO. OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA,AMENDING THE BUDGET FOR THE 2003-04 FISCAL YEAR. WHEREAS Resolution 20615 approving the budget for the fiscal year 2003-04 was adopted on June 4, 2003; and WHEREAS the City Manager has recommended, and the City Council desires to approve, certain amendments to said budget; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Director of Finance is authorized to record inter-fund cash transfers as required in accordance with this Resolution,and that Resolution 20615, adopting the budget for the 2003-04 fiscal year is hereby amended as follows: SECTION 1. ADDITIONS Fund Activity Account Amount 001 4151 Planning 40000 $53,292 GENERAL FUND 4161 Building/Safety $10,594 4242 Engineering $14,523 Purpose SECTION 2. SOURCE Fund Activit Account Amount 32201 Building Permit $78,409 001 GENERALFUND Adopted this day of 2004. AYES: NOES: ABSENT: ATTEST: CITY OF PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA By City Clerk City Manager REVIEWED AND APPROVED /n�