Report to Mayor and City Council
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
Consent
SUBJECT:
Title
CONSIDER THE DEFUNDING OF THE ONE (1) REPRESENTED SENIOR COMMUNITY LIAISON POSITION AND THE TWO (2) REPRESENTED COMMUNITY LIAISON POSITIONS IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2018-19 BUDGET AND RE-FUNDING TWO (2) UNCLASSIFIED, UNREPRESENTED FIELD DEPUTY POSITIONS (CITY COUNCIL)
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I. SUMMARY
This item originated as a request by Mayor Pro Tem Hicks and Councilmembers Davis-Holmes and Dear for Staff to bring the City-Wide Department Organization Charts at the January 28 Special Meeting. As requested at the January 28 Special Meeting, Staff held a meet and confer session with AFSCME 1017 (1017) regarding the defunding of the Senior Community Liaison position and the two (2) Community Liaison positions and the re-funding of these positions as three (3) unclassified, non-represented, non-management full time positions (one (1) Senior Field Deputy and two (2) Field Deputies). The Senior Community Liaison position is currently vacant and the City is not recruiting to refill it at this time.
Staff reported the results of the meet and confer meeting with 1017 to Council at the February 19, 2019 meeting; 1017 did not support the defunding of its represented positions and did not support the action. No further Council action was taken on February 19.
These specific actions were then scheduled for a March 19 Special Meeting of the Council, but the meeting was cancelled at the request of Councilmembers Dear and Davis-Holmes and Mayor Pro Tem Hicks. The item is on this meeting’s agenda at the request of Mayor Robles.
II. RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1. CONSIDER DIRECTING STAFF TO RETURN AT A FUTURE MEETING WITH RESOLUTION NO. 19-051, TO UNFUND THE EMPLOYMENT CLASSIFICATIONS OF SENIOR COMMUNITY LIASION REPRESENTATIVE AND COMMUNITY LIAISON REPRESENTATIVE
2. CONSIDER DIRECTING STAFF TO RETURN AT A FUTURE MEETING WITH RESOLUTION NO. 19-052 TO FUND TWO POSITIONS IN THE UNCLASSIFED, NON-REPRESENTED, AT-WILL GROUP OF EMPLOYEES OF FIELD DEPUTY
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III. ALTERNATIVES
TAKE another action the Council deems appropriate.
IV. BACKGROUND
This item originated as a request by Mayor Pro Tem Hicks and Councilmembers Davis-Holmes and Dear for Staff to bring the City-Wide Department Organization Charts at the January 28 Special Meeting. The requests related to these specific positions arose during the discussion of the organization charts, and the Council approved a motion to request a meet and confer with AFSCME 1017 to remove the positions from the represented unit and return them to unclassified, non-represented positions. At the end of the January 28 meeting, this item among others was requested to be reconsidered by Mayor Robles at the following City Council meeting. On February 5, the item was presented for reconsideration, which action failed. The original motion and approval by Council stood; it was confirmed and Council agreed that the motion was that staff was requested to meet and confer with AFSCME 1017 within 5 days to discuss the defunding of the Senior Community Liaison position and the two (2) Community Liaison positions and the re-funding of these positions as unclassified, non-represented, non-management full time positions (one (1) Senior Field Deputy and two (2) Field Deputies).
Staff provided the information to AFSCME 1017 and the union restated their objection to the requested de-funding/re-funding action. No further staff work has been done on either the defunding or refunding of the positions. The item was briefly agendized for a special meeting on March 19, but that meeting was cancelled. Since the actions do involve represented personnel, the resolutions adopting such action should be prepared by the City Attorney’s office. Because there has not been action from Council specifically directing to do so, Staff has not prepared the required resolutions, but upon direction of Council would bring them at the next meeting or as soon after that as practical.
V. FISCAL IMPACT
None. The Field Deputy and Community Liaison positions receive the same salary and benefits.
VI. EXHIBITS
None.
Prepared by: John S. Raymond, Acting City Manager