02-05-2002 - Limited Service Salary Increases Police Reserve Officers & Crossing GuardsCity of West Covina
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TO: Andrew G. Pasmant, City, Manager
And City Council
FROM: Kermit Francis, Acting Director
Personnel Services
SUBJECT: LIMITED SERVICE SALARY INCREASES
POLICE RESERVE OFFICERS
AND CROSSING GUARDS
Memorandum
AGENDA
ITEM NO. C-6a
DATE February 5, 2002
SUMMARY: The City Council authorized an increase in salaries for Police Reserve Officers
and Crossing Guards on January 8, 2002. The adoption of a resolution will
formalize that decision.
BACKGROUND:
At the City Council Meeting of January 8, 2002, staff presented a report, requesting an increase
in the salary ranges for Police Reserve Officers and Crossing Guards. The City Council
approved the recommended increases.
The Police Department relies on both the Reserve Officers and Crossing Guards to provide vital
public safety services to the community. Reserve Officers are trained as sworn law enforcement
personnel and provide backup for full time officers on calls where two officers are needed to
handle potentially dangerous situations. They also assist in an array of police functions such as
training, prisoner transportation, arrest warrant service, maintaining order at public meetings, and
handling routine calls and paperwork.
Crossing Guards are also an essential component of the Police Department's mission. They
work to ensure the safety of children as they travel to and from the City's schools.
Currently there are twenty-four Reserve Officers, working a total of approximately 1,400 hours
per month. Currently there are twenty Crossing Guards working a total of approximately 1,200
hours per month. These limited service positions provide profound benefits at a modest cost.
The Reserves and Crossing Guards allow the Police Department to make the best use of its full-
time sworn and civilian personnel by keeping them focused on their primary law enforcement
duties. Without these limited service positions, Police personnel would. be spread too thin and
public safety would suffer.
DISCUSSION:
Step 1 of the salary range for both the Reserve Officers and the Crossing Guards is $6.75 per
hour (current mandatory minimum wage). City staff conducted a survey. We found that, of
those agencies that do pay their reserve officers, our hourly rates are below those agencies of
similar size. Also, of those agencies that employ crossing guards, our hourly rates are below
those agencies of similar size.
To remain competitive in the law enforcement community, the Police Department requests an
increase for these positions. Specifically, a $1 per hour increase for Step 1 Crossing Guard,
would equate to approximately a 13% increase. A $1.19 per hour increase for Step 1 Police
Reserve Officer would equate to approximately an 18% increase. The Personnel Commission
also requested that the City Manager and City Council consider Police Reserve compensation.
Due to the increase in the minimum wage over the last couple of years, the current Reserve
salary scheme includes compaction between the ranks. For example, a Step 3 Reserve Officer
earns more that a Step 1 and Step 2 Reserve Sergeant. To remedy this, staff is recommending
that the proposed salary scheme for the Police Reserve series include a 2% increase between the
ranks, and the standard 5% between steps. Crossing Guards do not have a compaction problem.
Andrew G. Pasmant, City Manager February 5, 2002
And City Council page 2
RE: Limited Service Salary Increases
FISCAL IMPACT:
To calculate the cost estimate, staff used the Step 3 figures, incorporated the ranks and positions,
and projected the total costs. Annual salary costs are an estimated $292,283. With $226,541
budgeted for these positions in the Adopted FY 2001-02 Budget, this leaves an additional cost of
$65,742 annually, or $5,478 per month. This recommended increase can be implemented within
the Police Department's current limited service budget for two months, because of one Parking
Enforcement officer vacancy, which is currently budgeted for $11,490. Therefore, staff is
recommending that the increases become effective the first pay period in May, 2002. The
additional cost of this proposal in FY 2002-03 will be an estimated $65,742.
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the City Council adopt the following Resolution:
RESOLUTION NO. -ft.2 -% - A RESOLUTION OF THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA,
FIXING THE COMPENSATION OF CLASSIFICATIONS WITHIN
THE LIMITED SERVICE CLASSIFICATIONS AND AMENDING
RESOLUTION NO. 9546.
v
K it Francis, Interim Director
ersonnel Services
KF/AF/SG
Attachment: Resolution for Adoption
CC Reserves and Crsg.Gd.1.02
i
_ f
Artie F1'1ds,/Acting Direc r
Finance Department