resolution adopting compensation changes ambulance paramedic firefighter employees 05-07-13

7/30/2019 Resolution Adopting Compensation Changes Ambulance Paramedic Firefighter Employees 05-07-13

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City CouncilAgenda Item Summary

Meeting Date: May 7, 20 13Prepared by: Susan Pau l

Name: Consideration of a Resolution adopting compensation changes for the City ofCarmel by-the-Sea Ambulance Paramedic/Firef ighter employees.Description: Adoption of this Resolution will provide fo r certain changes in compensationfor the City's Ambulance Paramedic/Firefighter employees including a market ba sed salaryadjustment and the establishment of a one-time retention incentive.Compensation Salary adjustments:

Paramedic/Firefighter- 15% Base sala ry adjustment effective Apri l 1, 2013.Retention Incentive- A one-t ime, non re-occurring $5000 retention incentive paid to

employees employed by the City of Carmel by-the-Sea on May ih,2013 working as a Paramedic/Firefighter.

Employees accepting the retention incentive wil l be required to execute aretention incentive agreement (Attachment II).

Overall Cost: City Funds: FY 12/13 - $27,884 (remainder of Fiscal Year)FY 13/14 - $78,656

No additional funding is proposed at th is t ime.

Staff Recommendation: Adopt Resolution

Reviewed by:~Jason Q Administrator IDate


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TO:FROM:PREPARED BY:SUBJECT:

RECOMMENDATION:

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEASTAFF REPORT

Honorable Mayor Burnett and City Council MembersJason Stilwell, City AdministratorSusan Paul, Administrative Services DirectorADOPTION OF A RESOLUTION ADJUSTING THE SALARIES FORCITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA PARAMEDIC FIRE FIGHTERS ANDESTABLISHING A ONE-TIME, NON RE-OCCURRING RETENTIONINCENTIVE

It is recommended that the City Council:(1) Review and adopt a Resolution (Attachment I} adjusting Paramedic Fire Fighter salaries

by 15%, and(2) Establish a one-t ime, non re-occurring retention incentive fo r City-of Carmel Paramedic

Fire Fighters employed with the City on May 7, 2013.SUMMARY:The Carmel Regional Fire Ambulance Authority (CRFA), which formerly provided ambulanceservices fo r the City of Carmel, dissolved in December 2011. On January 1, 2012 the City ofCarmel-by-the-Sea took over ambulance services for City residents. The ambulance service isstaffed with six (6) full-time Paramedic Firefighters. Staffing is supplemented by per-diememployees. Since the City took over the ambulance service three (3) employees have left towork fo r other jurisdiction(s) with salary being a primary factor in the decision to leave the City.Staffing shortages are typically filled with per-diem employees provided they are available andprimarily with City of Monterey Fire Fighters on an overtime basis whose salaries aresubstantially higher than that of the City's Paramedic Fire Fighters. Staf f has conducted a salarycomparison of the Paramedic Fire Fighter position with eight (8) surrounding entities. Not alljurisdictions had Fire Fighter services; however, of those who did including Monterey, Marina,Salinas, Seaside and LaSelva Beach and the City's salary fo r this position fell below market by anaverage of approximately 12%. With respect to just a comparison with the City of Montereywho the City has loss staff to , Carmel's pay lags 17% behind. In order to provide the most


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consistent services to the residents of Carmel with the most highly trained individuals staff isrecommending a 15% base salary adjustment and a $5,000, one-time, non-re-occurringretention incentive fo r the City Paramedic Firefighter employees.DISCUSSION:

The City of Carmel by-the-Sea assumed the responsibility of the ambulance service on January1, 2012. Since taking over the service three (3) employees have left the City fo r a higher payingjob with the City of Monterey. Ambulance employees are highly trained individuals typicallypossessing an associates degree in fire science, six (6) to eight (8) week attendance at a fireacademy and 100 (one hundred) hours of training to earn required certifications. Paramediccertification calls fo r approximately 1,300 (thirteen hundred) hours of advanced training as wellas training in advanced medical skills through college or a technical school. Because of thecosts associated with the various training the investment in these employees is extensive.Therefore, it is in the City's interest to retain the individuals hired into these positions.The City's ambulance service is typically staffed with six (6) ful l-t ime Paramedic Fire Fighterssupplemented by per-diem employees when necessary. Most often, the City's vacancies havebeen filled with City of Monterey Fire Fighters at an overtime rate of pay which is much higherthan the City's pay fo r the job.As a result of the turnover in the Paramedic Fire Fighter position staff conducted a marketsurvey to determine whether or not the City's salary for the position was competitive andwithin the market fo r the job . The survey showed that the City's salary lagged behindcomparable jurisdictions on average by 12% and 17% behind the city of Monterey.

In order to provide the most consistent services to the residents with the best qualifiedindividuals, staff is recommending adjustments to the City's compensation fo r the position.One component of the adjustment is a proposed 15% salary adjustment effective April 1, 2013.This adjustment will place the City's salary with in the market. Future adjustments to payshould be connected to a changed pay system that is tied to performance, goal achievementand other success factors designed to ensure the best possible service to the residents ofCarmel.The second recommended compensation change is a one-time non-re-occurring $5,000retention incentive fo r Paramedic Fire Fighters employed with the City on May 7, 2013.Retention incentives are used to retain employees in critical jobs and during times of economicrecovery when organizations compete aggressively fo r talent. Turnover is costly and directlyimpacts the performance of the service. The retent ion incentive will require employees to staywith the City through 2016 or pay the incentive back on a pro-rata basis.FISCAL IMPACT:


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Funding for the recommended changes in FY 2013-14 will be absorbed in the current operatingbudget. FY 2013-14 changes will be included in the proposed operating budget.The costs for the associated changes are $27,884 fo r the remainder of the fiscal year 2012-13and $78,656 beginning in FY 2013-14.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Adopt Resolution.


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ATTACHMENT I

CITY CCOUNCILCITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA

RESOLUTION 2013-A RESOLUTION OF THE OTY COUNOL OF THE OTY OF

CARMEL-BY THE-SEA APPROVING COMPENSATlON CHANGES FOR OTY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEAAMBULANCEPARAMEDIC/FIREFIGHTER EMPLOYEES INQUDINGA BASE PAY INCREASE AND A ONE-TlME NON RE-OCCURRINGRETENTlON INCENTlVE

WHEREAS, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea's Paramedic/Firefighter salary range is below marketfo r the position; and

WHEREAS, the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea has lost staffing as a result of the compensation fo r theposition; and

WHEREAS, the City's ambulance service is a critical City service staffed by highly trainedParamedic/Firefighter's; andWHEREAS, the City has determined that in order to provide the best, most consistent and

reliable service to the residents, the City will adjust Paramedic/Fire Fighter's salaries and is providing aone-time, non re-occurring retention incentive.THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:

1. Approve a 15% base salary adjustment fo r City of Carmel-by-the-SeaParamedic/Firefighters effective April l, 2013.

2. Approve a $5,000 one-time, non re-occurring retention incentive fo r City ofCarmel-by-the-Sea Paramedic/Firefighter employees, pursuant to receiving anexecuted agreement between the City and indiv idual employees.

PASSED AND ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA on this 7thday of May 2013 by the following roll call vote:

AYES : COUNCIL MEMBERS:NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONEABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE

SIGNED:

JASON BURNETT, MAYORATTEST:

Heidi Burch, City Clerk


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resolution adopting compensation changes ambulance paramedic firefighter employees 05-07-13

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