HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/21/2000, C7 - APPROVE FUNDING TO CONTINUE A TEMPORARY POSITION IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. A] council M.°°,,;w, Z,_ ��
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C I T Y OF SAN L U IS O B I S P O
FROM: Robert F. Neumann
Prepared By: Darren Drake, Fire Marshal
Viv R. Dilts, Management Assistant
SUBJECT: APPROVE FUNDING TO CONTINUE A TEMPORARY POSITION IN
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CAO RECOMMENDATION
Appropriate $17,000 from the unreserved General Fund balance to continue funding a temporary
position in the Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Program.
DISCUSSION
Background
The Fire Department has actively been involved in Hazardous Materials Programs since the
mid-80's. At that time a full-time position and a half-time secretary were needed to oversee the
Underground Fuel Tank Program and manage the clean-up of contaminated sites. In the early
1990's downsizing resulted in the loss of the Hazardous Materials Coordinator position and the
secretary. Their duties and responsibilities were then reassigned and absorbed by other members
of the Fire Prevention Bureau.
In 1996, the City Council requested that the California Environmental Protection Agency
approve the Fire Department's status as Participating Agency (PA) under the San Luis Obispo
County Certified Unified Program Agency (CUPA). With this approval, the Fire Department,
the Utilities Department and the County Health Agency now act in a"unified format" to manage
and implement the following six hazardous materials programs.
• Underground Storage Tank Program • CalARP (California Accidental Release
• Hazardous Materials Business Plan Prevention Program)
Program • Uniform Fire Code, Article 80, Haz. Mat.
• Above Ground Storage Tank Program Inventory Reporting Program
• Waste Generator Program
In November of 1999, the employee assigned to these duties left for another position. While
recruiting for the vacancy, the Department hired a temporary employee to carry on with the
workload. Staff was fortunate in hiring a temporary employee who was uniquely qualified and
whose performance has exceeded our expectations. The new coordinator's position was filled in
June of 1999. To assist with the transition and based on the size of the workload, the temporary
employee continued to work.
C7-1
Council Agenda Report—Funding for Temporary Salaries
Page 2
Current Situation
Even with the assistance of this temporary employee, staff has fallen behind in implementing the
new CUPA program. There are a number of reasons for this. Staff initially underestimated the
complexities of the program. A new State mandated software conversion of our existing
database has taken longer than expected. In addition we have had to adjust work-loads so as to
accommodate the cleaning of a number of severely contaminated properties: Santa Barbara
Avenue transit center, John's Battery on Match Street, and railroad right-of-way at Roundhouse.
We are requesting additional funding to maintain the support of the temporary employee. We
have now reached a critical point in our program development. Considerable time and energy
has gone into developing the infrastructure of this program, i.e. staff training, software
implementation, and hiring of a qualified program manager. By losing this temporary position,
we will lose our momentum and will jeopardize the effectiveness of the program. At risk will be
the following:
1. Keeping up with upgrades and alterations to existing service stations
2. Complying with new State mandates for aboveground storage tanks
3. Fully implementing hazardous materials management software
4. Timely inspection of new facilities and assessment of newly annexed properties
5. Quality and accuracy of consolidated fee collection
Should we not be successful with this request, staff will be compelled to reassign other personnel
to assist in the program duties. Subsequently, we will see a reduction in service levels in our
other community programs. The most apparent reduction will be in new construction inspection
services and complaint investigations.
Staff, over the next six months, will evaluate current and predicted workload. This is especially
important given that the recent annexations in the airport area have yet to be absorbed into the
current workload. Staff will return to Council either through the budget process or when Council
considers the area airport specific plan,with a recommendation for staffing of the program.
CONCURRENCES
The Finance Director, Utilities Director, and the Human Resources Director concur with this
recommendation.
FISCAL IMPACT
We have exhausted every possible funding source, including salary savings, to continue this
temporary position until the end of the fiscal year. We have approached the Utilities Department
for funding and been advised that no funds are available.
C7-2
Council Agenda Report—Funding for Temporary Salaries
Page 3
In order to fund the position until the end of this fiscal year, an additional $17,000 will be
required as noted below.
Over-Budget as of 11//6/00 (2,700.00)
Salary Savings 8,000.00
Temporary Position Cost Until 6/30/00 (22,300.00)
Need until the end of FY 2000-01 (17,000.00)
Two issues of note:
1. Salary savings: in FY 2000-01, the Haz. Mat. Coordinator's position was funded at top step.
Salary savings result from the difference between the top-step funded position and the new
employee placed at a lower step.
2. Because of the expertise and education required, the temporary position is funded at
$15.00/hr.
It should be noted that as a result of the DMG Cost of Recovery Study, the CUPA program will
bring in an additional $40,000 yearly in revenue to the City.
Based on the 1999-01 Financial Plan Supplement, Council-approved changes since then, and
interim year-end results for 1999-01, this request will result in an ending fund balance that is
22.1% of operating expenditures compared with our policy minimum of 20%.
C7-3