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5. Staff Report-Job Description PT Parks Maint Staff Report Date of Meeting: October 1, 2014 To: City Council From: Kristina Handt, City Administrator Re: PT Parks and Grounds Maintenance Worker Background: The City previously had a year round part-time maintenance worker until his retirement in October 2008. The Maintenance Superintendent was out on medical leave at the time. Also, due to budget constraints, the position was converted to part time seasonal after Poidinger’s retirement. The 2015 draft budget includes funding to bring back the part time year round position. Issue: Should the City Council move forward with a revised job description for a part time, regular parks and ground maintenance worker? Proposal Details: Staff is proposing some modifications to the previous job description, mainly the addition of the ice rink maintenance duties. A redlined copy of the current seasonal job description is included in your packet. Because the ice rink maintenance duties typically start in early December, staff is seeking approval to change the job description and advertise for the new part time position to start December 2014. While this proposal would in an additional $2,000 expense, staff believes the benefits of a permanent employee outweigh that cost. For example, we have had difficulty in recruiting for the part time positions. This resulted in the City having to advertise for a second time this spring to fill the summer parks maintenance position. We receive very few applications for the ice rink maintenance worker position. Additionally, if the position is filled on a permanent basis staff will not have to devote time to recruiting, interviewing and training seasonal employees each year. Lastly, having a permanent employee will also allow them time to become more familiar the city and job requirements and improve their skills, resulting in a better product for the City. Over the last couple years we’ve seen our park system and responsibilities (including Vinterfest) grow. A permanent employee is needed to help meet those need. Fiscal Impact: 2014: If the pt parks maintenance worker began in December, staff does not anticipate any problems staying within budget. In previous years the ice rink maintenance worker has spent over 65 hours in December preparing the rink for the season. In addition, the new person would spend some time in public works assisting with plowing. Lastly, there are funds in the budget due to the fact that the summer parks maintenance position was filled later than previous years due to problems with recruitment. 2015: The separate seasonal positions for the summer parks maintenance and ice rink maintenance worker would have a personnel services budget impact of about $10,950 for wages and taxes. Over the last four years the City has average just under $2,000 a year in unemployment expenses for these seasonal positions. In addition, each time a position is posted and filled the City incurs about $200 in advertising and drug test costs. The part time year round position in the 2015 budget would result in about $15,930 in the personal services budget for parks and rec. However, there would be a reduction in the advertising, drug test, and unemployment costs if the position was filled on a permanent basis. Options: 1) Direct Staff to Place the Job Description Update on the next Council agenda 2) Amend the Job Description and then Direct staff to place it on the next Council agenda 3) Do not update the job description Second Request: Assuming job description is updated 1) Direct Staff to Advertise and Interview for PT Parks and Grounds Maintenance Worker at next Council meeting 2) Direct Staff to Advertise and Interview for Ice Rink Maintenance Worker at next Counci l meeting Recommendation: Option 1 Option 1