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
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