To: Honorable Mayor and Members of City Council
From: Heather Ruiz, Human Resources Director
Prepared By: Caitlin Saldanha, Management Analyst II
TITLE:
Title
Classification Plan and Salary for Senior Transportation Planner in the Public Works Department
LABEL
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution amending the City Classification Plan by adopting the new classification specification and salary range for Senior Transportation Planner; and amending the Budget Staffing Plan by adding one (1) Senior Transportation Planner position, and deleting one (1) Transportation Planner II position.
Body
DISCUSSION:
The Human Resources Department received a request from the Public Works Department to review the job classification, workload, and scope of responsibilities of the Transportation Planner II supporting the City’s planning, policy, and development review related to transportation. The study included a review of the existing classification specification, the incumbent’s position description questionnaire (PDQ), and interviews with department management to better understand if the classification specification accurately reflects the assigned duties and responsibilities. The class study recommendations are in alignment with the needs of the Public Works Department.
Based on the classification specification, the Transportation Planner II is a journey level classification responsible for general review, development, research, and reporting on transportation issues. Some duties include: review and development of the Transportation Element of the General Plan; researching systems and making recommendations; participation in interdisciplinary transportation projects; developing long range traffic forecasts; managing consultants; participating in funding strategies; and representing the City in various transportation planning activities.
Through the class study, it was found that the position is performing additional duties which included funding and full grant management, policy review, environmental review, as well as reporting and assignment to specific commissions. Not only are the knowledge, skills and experience related to transportation work extremely specialized, but the duties of the position have increased in complexity and responsibility. The work has become more complex as the City’s Transportation program is growing - there is a newly approved Senior Traffic Engineer allocation assigned to the team as part of the current Fiscal Year budget. Additionally, the position provides recommendations to the Director of Public Works, as the subject matter expert in the department. This requires a level of mastery that is not currently encompassed in the existing specification. The complexity of tasks as well as additional duties mean that the Transportation Planner II title and its journey-level description is not practical, does not best serve the City’s interests, and does not encompass the work performed by the position. Therefore, it is necessary that the City create a new classification where the Department would have the ability to assign the full scope of transportation planning responsibilities. The Public Works Department would like to ensure that the City maintains the existing Transportation Planner I/II classification specification as a part of the Classification Plan to allow for future flexibility.
The classification study also found that the job title needed to better reflect the work and expectations of this role. The recommended title for a new classification specification is Senior Transportation Planner.
In review of our classification against the external market, the pay for the current Transportation Planner II ($98,755.05 - $119,302.41) sits roughly 15% below the median comparable classifications. However, many of the comparable classes have additional responsibilities that align more closely with the recommended new Senior Transportation Planner classification. Additionally, the internal Planning series in the Community Development Department aligns with the current Transportation Planner series in Public Works. As a result of both internal and external factors, it is recommended that the Senior Transportation Planner salary align with Senior Planner ($113,572.56 - $137,197.73).
The affected bargaining unit, Administrative Managerial, and Professionals (AMP), was given an opportunity to review, and no issues were raised with staff’s recommendations.
The new classification and salary range for Senior Transportation Planner was heard by the Civil Service Commission at their special meeting on October 23, 2023, and the Commission recommended to Council for approval.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS:
The Public Works Department has worked with the Finance Department to shift already appropriated funding to accommodate the additional costs of these salary range changes for the FY 2023/24 and FY 2024/25 budget.
CEQA:
The Human Resources Director has determined that the Recommended Action described in this Agenda Report is not subject to CEQA, pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c).
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
ATCH 1 - Resolution
EX A - Classification Specification for Senior Transportation Planner
NOTIFICATION:
Department Managers and Bargaining Groups