Loading...
PSPP051022PUBLIC SAFETY, PERSONNEL & PLANNING COMMITTEE MEETING May 10, 2022 Elected Officials Participating Virtually Staff Participating Virtually Councilmember Laura Johnson (Chair) Jessica Neill Hoyson, HR Director Councilmember Susan Paine Dave Turley, Administrative Services Director Council President Vivian Olson (ex-officio) Scott Passey, City Clerk Councilmember Will Chen Jeff Taraday, City Attorney 1. CALL TO ORDER The Edmonds City Council virtual online PSPP Committee meeting was called to order at 4:30 p.m. by Councilmember L. Johnson. 2. COMMITTEE BUSINESS 1. Update to Personnel Policy 3.10 Job Assignments Ms. Neill Hoyson explained this proposed update to personnel policies would allow the executive branch to make minor updates to job descriptions that would not impact the overall duties, intention of a position or compensation. Currently, city council must approve every change to job descriptions. When a position becomes vacant, departments are asked to ensure the job classification is correct, reflects the duties, etc. Due to the tight recruitment market and the need to fill positions quickly, often departments do not update job descriptions because it may take up to a month for it go through the council committee and council approval process before the job can be posted. Questions and discussion followed regarding adding to the revised language "or any changes required by changes in law," support for allowing the administration to make minor changes especially in this tight job market, equity fixes such as removing the requirement for a driver's license forjobs that do not require driving, considering life experiences in lieu of a degree, what constitutes a minor change, a suggestion to email minor changes to job descriptions to the PSPP committee members to provide oversight, support for removing process, and job description changes that will continue to come to council. Action: Consent agenda 2. Update on City Recruitment Ms. Neill Hoyson reported the mayor is in the process of interviewing candidates for the economic development & community services director position. Once he provides his feedback, the candidates will be scheduled for council interviews. Five candidates for the public works director position are being interviewed tomorrow. Feedback from those interviews will be provided to the mayor, candidates will be interviewed by the mayor, and then interviews held with council. There are seven vacancies in the WWTP positions, the City is in bargaining with the union which includes issues intended to address recruiting challenges. One WWTP operator in training has been hired but the position will remain open with the possibility of hiring candidates as temporary hires. There are five vacancies for WWTP operators; one has been hired. There are challenges across the industry with hiring operators. A WWTP maintenance mechanic position has also been posted Questions and discussion followed regarding the urgent need for WWTP employees, rationale for temporary hires, whether temporary hires could become permanent employees, whether the change in 05/10/22 PSPP Committee Minutes, Page 2 technology at the WWTP impacts hiring, addressing position classifications in bargaining, and hiring challenges. Action: Update only. 3. Proposed Updates to Employee Reimbursement Policy Mr. Turley advised the intent was to describe the proposed changes, gather committee feedback and return the revised policy to the committee next month. In addition to minor cleanup of language and updates, he sought the committee's feedback on, 1) improving the clarity of the policy regarding who can purchase something without preapproval and be reimbursed; typically unless someone is a director or council president, without pre -approval, reimbursement may be denied, 2) the auditors pointed out the reimbursement policy states the City is not allowed to pay for food at retirement parties, but City code states it is allowed, and 3) a proposed change to allow a gift up to $100 for a retirement. Questions and discussion regarding the definition of "reasonable," how council training is approved, a preference to have policies related to council in the council's rules and procedures, volunteer recognition events, clarifying that alcohol is not eligible for reimbursement, working lunches, having full council weigh in on whether to remove reference to council in the reimbursement policy, and some councilmembers' interest in having the reimbursement policy include both employees and council. Action: Return to committee next month. 4. Peace Run Resolution Council President Olson advised the packet included a sample resolution; this is an international initiative. If committee members are satisfied with the resolution, the intent is have it on next week's consent agenda. Questions and discussion followed regarding the lack of information in the packet regarding this event, concern the agenda memo assigns research homework to committee members, concern with putting one's name on a resolution without further information about the organization, councilmembers typically having a connection to an event/issue, concern the resolution is not specific to Edmonds, whether the council has ever had a resolution regarding a run, a resolution regarding Ukraine that was pulled from the agenda, who was co -sponsoring the run in Edmonds, and plans for ceremony in the City on May 18th Action: No recommendation by committee 3. ADJOURN The meeting was adjourned at 5:27 p.m.