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City Council Minutes
June 3, 1968
Page 8
28.7 The adjourned meeting of June 5. 1968 was adjourned to Monday,•June.10,.1968
at 11:30 A.M. by the City Clerk.
APPROVED: June 17, 1968
Roll Call
City Staff
Y. H. FITZPATRICK
CITY CLERK
, MINUTES
ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
June 10, 1968 - 11:30 A.M.
CITY HALL
Present: Emmons Blake, Frank Gallagher, Arthur F. Spring,
Donald Q. Miller, Clell W. Whelchel
Present: J. H. Fitzpatrick, City.Clerk; R. D. Miller, Administrative
Officer.
1. Representatives of the Retail Merchants' Association again appeared before the
City Council regarding their request to close Higuera Street from Morro Street to
Broad Street on Saturday, July 27, 1968 for the purpose of putting on a Flea Market
promotion.
Eric Niland, representing the Merchants Association, stated they had looked into the
suggestions of the City Council but felt that Garden Street and Garden Alley would
be too small to accommodate the promotion they had in mind.
The City Council felt that Higuera Street was important to traffic circulation, but
agreed that until the program was tried, it would be difficult to know the problems
if any.
On motion of Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Blake, that Higuera Street be
closed from Morro Street to Broad Street on July 27, 1968 for the Flea Market
promotion with Chorro Street being left open. Motion carried.
On motion of Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Gallagher, the license fee
for Flea Market Operators other than those presently licensed by the City, would be
$1.00 per vendor per day. Motion carried.
2. The City Council went over the request of the CEA for salary increases and
other fringe benefits as follows:
' Item No. 2. This City still has one of.the most outdated vacation programs in the
State. We ask the City Council to adopt the following program. This program is
actually less than the average of the agencies studied, which also includes the nine
largest local employers. We feel that the minimum program should give 10 days per
year, until 5 years, 12 days per year from 5 years until 10 years, 15 days per year
from 10 years until 15 years and 18 days thereafter.
On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Gallagher, that the City
maintain the existing vacation:schedule.. Motion carried. .Councilman Miller voting
no.
City Council Minutes
June 10, 1968
Page 2
Item No. 2B. Vacation should be allowed to be carried over at a rate of one year's
accumulation. The average carryover of agencies studied is 20.1 days. . .
On motion of Councilman Miller, seconded by Councilman Spring, that the existing
policy of holding over one week's vacation be continued. Motion carried.
Item No. 2C. We would like to.see an employee be paid his next regular salary check
for the vacation period in advance, if payday falls within his vacation period.
It was the consensus of the _City Council that it continue the existing policy of
having the Finance Department deposit the employee's check upon request.
Item No. 3. According to the California League of Cities' 1968 Survey of Salary
and Working Conditions, the City of San Luis Obispo pays all outside employees time
and one half for overtime worked. This is not the case. Most department heads and
the Employees' Association feel that overtime should be handled uniformly throughout
the City. As of now, some forces such as the Park Department and Sewer Plant
must take C.T.O. and often cannot take it at all because of pressing work load. We
feel very strongly the policy of paying overtime as accumulated should be put into
effect, rather than forcing the employee to take time off or ignoring the situation
altogether.
On motion of Councilman Spring, seconded by Councilman Gallagher, no change in
existing City overtime policy. Motion carried. Councilman Miller voting no.
Item No. 4. For years the Water and Street Departments have had to supply one
employee from each department who is on standby for emergency calls for one week.
The employee must, night and'day, be in reach of a telephone for the seven day
period. He is expected to respond to all calls and work up to 8 hours at no
compensation other than the $20.00 base rate. When, as is often necessary, he must
call on a fellow employee for help, the other man -is paid time and one half' This
is obviously not fair and our recommended plan would call for the $20.00 base rate ,
to cover the standing by and that call -out time be paid for at the standard time and
one half rate.
It was the Council's opinion that the standby allowance would include the first hour
on each call and after the first hour the employee would receive the normal time
and one half rate for overtime.
Item No. 5. As yet, we have received no word about our health insurance rates for
the next year, but we would like to see the Council continue the policy of paying
the individual employee's premium.
The City Council agreed with the request.
Item No. 6A. Although no employee has yet reached the 120 day limit on sick leave,
the limit should be removed because the long time employee who has accumulated the
maximum and becomes seriously ill could'have insufficient sick leave to cover his
illness and any employee who reaches the limit might have a tendency to stay home
under marginal conditions. City employees do not have a tendency to misuse their
sick leave.
No change in existing policy as no employee has reached the maximum number of sick
leave days.
Item No. 6B. The Association's feeling is also that an employee should be off work
over 5 days before having to bring a note from the doctor, rather than the 3 day's
absence, as it is now. Many times a severe cold or flu will confine a person
within his home for 3'days and not require a doctor's treatment, making it necessary
for the employee to get an appointment for a note to substantiate his illness.
The City Council agreed with the recommendation of the CEA.
Item No. 7. The Association feels that no City employee should use his or her
privately owned vehicle on City business and, likewise, no employee should use a
City vehicle on private business. But, in case this is absolutely necessary, due
to an insufficient number of vehicles available in the department, the City should,
honor all claims for mileage at 8p per mile, the rate which is advertised as being
paid in the League of Cities survey. This claim should be countersigned by the
Department Head. The 8C will not cover the cost of the additional liability
insurance necessary, but will cover most of the cost of town driving.
City Council Minutes
June 10, 1968
Page 3
It. was the Council's - instruction that there would be no use of private vehicles for
City work without prior approval of the Department head and Administrative Officer.
Item No. 8. Another point which should be brought up at this time is the matter of
granting a 15C /hour shift differential.for employees working outside the normal
8:00 to 5:00, Monday through Friday week. This would not include the Fire or Police
Departments, as their salaries are supposed to reflect their rotating shifts. The
operator of the street sweeper, the painters, night men at the utility plants and.
some members of the Park and Library Departments, would be covered by this.plan.
Most of the employees so covered are now earning less than $3.25 /hour. This would
amount to about 4% differential, a figure which is about standard for. odd, hour
compensation.
The City Council felt there would be no shift differential allowed, as upon
employment, each person knew whether or not the job involved odd shift work.
Item No. 9. The Council should consider the creation of two new classifications.
The position of.Heavy.Equipment Operator should be established for the Public Works
employee who is the Motor Grader Operator. This is a special skill. The position
is.now filled -by a foreman, who should be reclassified. Over 90% of all cities
have this position. Eight positions of Engineer should be created in the Fire
Department, in recognition of the added duties, training and responsibilities of
personnel serving as driver - operator of fire equipment.
The City Council approved the request and added one position of Motor Grader
Operator but no additional position for engineer in the Fire Department.
Item No. 10. As it exists now, there is too large a gap in the position of Chief
Utility Plant Operator and Utility Plant Operator II. There is now a salary
difference of $128.00 per month.- The duties of the Operator II are at times the
same as the Chief Operator and we suggest the Operator II's salary be raised to
two and one half steps below the upper position, rather than the existing four.step
gap.
The Administrative Officer said he had recommended an additional half step for the
Utility.Plant Operator II.
Item.No. 11. When a girl has the sole responsibility.for all the secretarial work
in the department in which she works, such - as the Public Works Department, Fire
Department; etc., she.should have the title of Secretary and a commensurate salary
of one step over the present range. There appears to be an unjustified pay
difference between Legal and Administrative Secretary and the stenographer's
positions.
The Administrative Officer said he had prepared his recommendations for stenographer,
taking into consideration the fact that some in this position performed the duties
of departmental secretary.
Item No. 12. It should be noted that the Fire Department position of Dispatcher -
Clerk is still in need of reclassification. This position should be changed to
Account Clerk III level. The salary now paid for this particular job is at least
two steps low.
The Administrative Officer said he had recommended that the Dispatcher -Clerk in the
Fire Department be classified as a Senior Typist Clerk and be paid an extra half
step.
Item No. 13. Arlene Hyer, in the Park Department, is employed as a part time
employee in the office and part time in the field as a recreation supervisor. The
Administrator has not allowed the time to be combined to allow her to be eligible
for retirement, insurance, etc. We feel that she should be given the classification
of Recreation Supervisor. This would be quite advantageous for our recreation
program, as we could use more women's activities, which should be supervised by
women.
The Administrative Officer said he had recommended that Mrs. Hyer be hired as a
full -time women's supervisor.
City Council Minutes
June 10, 1968
Page 4
Item No. 14. Jim Stockton, whose classification is Park and Recreation Supervisor,
does the job of Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation and should be classified
as such. This title change would be extremely advantageous to him in the profession,
such as when he represents the City at conventions, communicates with suppliers or
other Park Departments, etc.
It was the Council's feeling that due to the reorganization of the Park and
Recreation Department in 1968 that no reclassification of employees take effect at
this time.
Item No. 15. For the Council's consideration is the proposal to give the employee
a free day off each year, in exchange for all employees working on Columbus Day.
This allows the City Government to be in operation for one additional day per year,
with no expense or inconvenience.
Request was approved with the employees to take the day off on their birthday or
if on a Saturday or Sunday to take off "Friday'or Monday.'
The City Council-also determined that no Department heads would be allowed'to go to
the League of California Cities Meetings except the Administrative Officer and City
Clerk as the other Department heads are attending meetings in their own specialty.
The item of placing gunite in-the drainage channel along Cuesta Drive was placed
back in the budget under the condition that the property owners fence off their
property to protect people and children falling in the drainage channel.
The City Council continued their discussion with representatives of the CEA on the
Association requesting salary and fringe benefits.
On motion of Councilman Gallagher, seconded by Councilman Spring,-the Director of
Planning and Building was to receive the same salary increase as the other Department
heads. Motion carried.
P. Landell, President of the CEA, brought to the Council's attention the gap of 7
steps in the salary range between the firemen and fire captain and urged that the
City Council bridge this gap in half by adding the position of fire engineer.
On motion of Councilman Miller, seconded by Mayor Whelchel, that the City establish
eight positions of fire engineer at a salary range one step above fireman, with
vacancies to be filled by written examination. Motion carried. Councilman Blake
voting no.
P. Landell appealed to the City Council for salary adjustments for the Secretary/
Stenographer positions which he feels after comparison with other agencies, that the
recommended adjustment will still be behind the medium salaries of other agencies.
P. Landell also urged the City Council to reconsider their-decision on salary
increases and allow an additional one and one half step increase to each position
so that the City salaries can catch up with comparable agencies.
On motion of Councilman Gallagher, seconded by Councilman Spring, the City Council
accepted the recommendations of the Administrative Officer on salaries-as amended
by the City Council. Motion carried. Councilman Miller voting no.
On motion of Councilman Blake, seconded by Councilman Spring, the meeting adjourned
to 11:30 A.M. Wednesday, June 12, 1968. Motion carried.
APPROVED: July 1, 1968
H. FITZPATRICK
CITY CLERK-
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