Title
Adoption of Resolution Amending the Electric Utility Professionals Association of Alameda (EUPA) Salary Schedule to Establish the Classification of Media Coordinator; and
Adoption of Resolution Approving Workforce Changes at Alameda Municipal Power. (Human Resources 2510)
Body
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
From: Elizabeth D. Warmerdam, Interim City Manager
Re: Adoption of Resolution Amending the Electric Utility Professionals Association of Alameda (EUPA) Salary Schedule to Establish the Classification of Media Coordinator; and
Adoption of Resolution Approving Workforce Changes at Alameda Municipal Power
BACKGROUND
Over the past several years, the General Manager and Public Utility Board at Alameda Municipal Power (AMP) have undergone a series of initiatives to facilitate workforce development. In support of these goals and to meet the direction and trends of the electric utility, staff continues to analyze and make recommendations to ensure that AMP’s workforce is appropriately classified and compensated.
The proposed resolution recommends establishment of one System Operator position and one Media Coordinator position, and the elimination of one System Operator Trainee position and one Customer Program Coordinator position.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Alameda and Electric Utility Professionals Association (EUPA) covers the period of February 23, 2014 through December 26, 2015. The proposed resolution establishes the salary range for the Media Coordinator classification and its designation in EUPA.
On January 25, 2016, the Public Utilities Board will be reviewing a resolution recommending City Council approval of the aforementioned workforce changes.
DISCUSSION
System Operator
For the past several years, recruitments for journey level system operators have had mixed results to consistently attract and hire qualified personnel. The Engineering and Operations, System Operations Section requires one Chief System Operator and four System Operator positions to provide 24 hour per day, 365 day per year operational coverage of AMP’s electric distribution system.
The System Operations Section is currently staffed with one Chief System Operator, three System Operators, and one System Operator Trainee position. The System Operator Trainee employee recently completed a System Operator certification program while receiving intensive on the job training.
Upon Council’s authorization to create the fourth System Operator position, staff will conduct the recruitment and selection process to fill the position; thus meeting the section’s optimum staffing level. The System Operator Trainee employee will underfill the System Operator position until the System Operator position recruitment and selection process is completed.
Media Coordinator
The Customer Resources Division requires a Media Coordinator position to create and manage all AMP website content, improve the overall user experience, and maintain 24/7 reliability. The position will ensure that the AMP website content is updated and accurate on an ongoing basis. The Media Coordinator role is currently being staffed by a Customer Program Coordinator and this is a misclassification of the scope of work.
Upon Council’s authorization to create this new Media Coordinator position, staff will conduct the recruitment and selection process to fill the position. The Customer Program Coordinator employee will underfill the Media Coordinator position until the Media Coordinator position recruitment and selection process is completed.
The workforce changes have been discussed with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union No. 1245 and Electric Utility Professionals Association and both are supportive of what is recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Compensation for the Media Coordinator position is the same as the Customer Program Coordinator position. Compensation for the System Operator position exceeds the System Operator Trainee position for the remainder of the current fiscal year by approximately $7,000. Sufficient funds are available in the Alameda Municipal Power budget to cover this overage. Customer Program Coordinator and System Operator Trainee positions will be eliminated after new positions are filled. There is no impact to the General Fund.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
There is no Municipal Code/policy document cross-reference.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This action is exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it is not a project which has a potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, CEQA Guidelines, section 15378(b)(5).
RECOMMENDATION
Adopt Resolution amending the Electric Utility Professionals Association of Alameda (EUPA) salary schedule to establish the classification of Media Coordinator
Adopt a Resolution approving workforce changes at Alameda Municipal Power.
Respectfully submitted,
Susan Gonzales, Interim Human Resources Director
Financial Impact section reviewed,
Elena Adair, Finance Director