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12-20-1994 - Revised Classification SpecsICity of West Covina Memorandum TO: City Manager and City Council FROM: Personnel Services Department AGENDA ITEM NO. c-10b SUBJECT: REVISED CLASSIFICATION DATE December 20, 1994 SPECIFICATIONS SUMMARY: Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) has necessitated revision of the classification specifications for all regular City classes. BACKGROUND The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became effective January 26, 1992. The . purpose of -the ADA is to remove barriers which may prevent individuals from enjoying the same activities and opportunities as any person without disabilities. From an employment perspective the ADA does not establish quotas or require hiring preferences for disabled, persons. But employers are required to eliminate all potential barriers in the employment arena, either for applicants or current employees. Applications, minimum qualifications, examinations, medical evaluations and working conditions are all relevant areas. of employment requiring reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. The City, over the course of the last three years, has spent considerable time in compliance activities including analysis of all physical components of various City positions and'' revision of pre -employment medical examination criteria as appropriate. All employment related practices, policies, rules, ordinances and agreements (MOUs) have been . modified where adverse impact on disabled applicants or employees might occur. The key element in all these activities has been to provide accommodation for impaired physical capacities unless to do so would cause an undue hardship to the City. In order to determine the degree of accommodation which can be practically made requires an analysis of each City classification and preparation of job descriptions which divide duties into "essential" and "non -essential" functions. The listing of essential functions clarifies „what duties must be performed as part of the job regardless of an individual's physical condition. These written descriptions form the foundation of the accommodation process. During the last year, Personnel staff have interviewed incumbents and supervisors and rewritten all City classification specifications. The need to revise the .descriptions has provided an additional opportunity to update some specifications which are no longer accurate due to changes in the organization. The revised specifications have been reviewed with the Personnel Commission and have their recommendation for Council approval. The specifications are attached as "Exhibit A" for City Council review. FISCAL E%IPACT There is no fiscal impact to the City as a result of these revisions. RECOl♦CMW11gDATION It is recommended that the City Council approve the revised classification specifications for use as the official City job descriptions. Diane F. Ure Personnel Director DU:cn\Anac6meat =c6adaspece.mmo