01-18-1971 - Regular Meeting - MinutesMINUTES OF THE ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF WEST COVINA, CALIFORNIA
JANUARY 18, 1971.
The adjourned regular meeting of the City Council was called to order
by Mayor Ken Chappell at 7.30 P.M„ in the West. Covina Council Chambers.
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by the Mayor.
ROLL CALL
Present.
Mayor Chappell, Councilmen
Shearer, Nichols,
Young, Lloyd
Others Present.
George Aiassa, City Manager
Lela Preston, City Clerk
Leonard Eliot, Controller
Ray Windsor, Administrative
Assistant
Ross Nammar, Administrative
Analyst
Terry Brandt, Administrative
Analyst,, Jr.
.Allen Sill, Chief of Police
H. 'R. Fast, Public Services
.Director
Craig Meacham, Deputy Police
Chief
1970 MID -YEAR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS
L
Mr. Aiassa.
I have_Mx. Windsor present,
the Assistant
Personnel Officer, who has
done a very
thorough and comprehensive
job. He will pre-
sent what we are
proposing for Council approval.
Mr. Windsor. Mr. Mayor and members of Council, you have
before you a report submitted to you on
Friday, which, outlines a survey that was
taken by staff and the consultant as an outgrowth of the Memorandum
of Understanding signed in May of 1970. As Council is aware, at
that time the City Manager agreed that in November of 1970 we would
check the 1.0 criteria cities on those classifications that we had
comparable data for and where these classes fell. below the fourth
rank we would make adjustments as of. January 1, .197.1. The consultant
and staff were guided by two major factors in making the survey.
1 - Percentile relationships of the Criteria Cities which were
arrived at through a combination of position ranking and dollar
difference between West Covina°s classifications and the high and low
;::salaries in the comparison Cities, and 2 - Percentile relationships
between classifications in any given Department in order to maintain
proper alignment of positions and avoid compaction. As the Council
knows,, these range relationships are based upon a dollar difference
of 2.5% and 5,
Based upon this we came up with some preliminary
data and a recommendation which was put to the Personnel Board at its
meeting in January, but there was some disagreement on the part of
many employees as to the manner in which we arrived at some of our
conclusions. Based upon this the Board agreed to hold the matter over.
Following this the City Manager met with the Employees' Association
Salary Committee and from this some compromises were made and based
• upon that we were able to go back to the .personnel Board with firm
recommendations for salary adjustments as of January 1. The Board
did approve and this was the report sent to you on Friday.
Mr-. Aiassa. Mr. Mayor, staff has no further presentation,
but perhaps the representatives of the
Employees' Association would like to address
a few words to the Council.
(Council agreed to hear presentation.of the Employees' Association
Salary Committee.)
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1970 Midyear Salary Adjustment
Carol Whelan Mr, Mayor and members of Council,
Vice -President and Chairman, Mr, :butler is home with a bad back
WoCoCoEoAo Salary Committee this evening and I will be making
the presentation. As you know the
recommendation of staff and the Employees' Association was made with
a great deal of work on both the part of staff as well as the
Salary Committee, and it was an attempt on our part to solve a
number of problems, perhaps created by an across-the-board raise
granted by the City Council in July, 1970. The Salary Committee is
made up of members of both the Employees' Association as well as the
Fire and Police and we have worked in unity since the Committee was
established in 1970. It is the same Committee that worked on the
Memorandum of Understanding. The mid -year survey is a direct result
of the Memorandum of Understanding and the reasons for the midyear
adjustments include discrepancies that were anticipated. to occur in
the Public Safety categories as a result of the raises granted such
categories throughout the 10 City comparisons, as well as various
other cities, and is an attempt, to even out - as Mr. Aiassa, uses the
terms m the mountains and, the valleys within the various salary
classifications. While we realize that unemployment is high at this
point and sales taxes are down, we feel that the criteria established
is reasonable and important that it be maintained and the compromise
effectuated as a result of the raises in the Memorandum of Under-
standing in 1970, were such that it was felt .in the best interests of
the City that six months be given in order to carefully and fully
evaluate the effects that other Cities, activities have on the City
of West Covina.
The six months having past, the picture was
quite clear that :some adjustments would have to be made. So in
November the Salary Committee started. their work and did some ,
extensive surveying and came up with some rather startling figures
that we were all surprised about.: This revealed there were a
number of rather grave inequities in positions in the Street Depart-
ment, as well as other problems that had been anticipated in the Police
and Fire categories. The result of the discrepancies noted resulted
in the hiring of Mr. Cold to do a salary survey and as I am sure you
are aware, the survey was not intended to be an overall comprehensive
survey but rather to study, the ,specific problem areas reveled by our
study. As a result of his work a report was submitted by Urban
Associates recently and taken under study by the administrative staff
as well. as the Employees' Association and of course the Fire and Police
Associations. It was found that along with the criteria reports
adopted by the City and followed by Gold that there were a, few problem
areas and it was in keeping with the criteria, report that the
Employees' Association Salary Committee tried to iron out these -
difficulties to create the most logical well, designed salary
adjustment package that was possible. When the report was held over.
by -the Personnel Board, again the Salary Committee went into
negotiations with management and in keeping with our policy of con-,
ferring in good faith, some changes were agreed upon.
The changes on the part of the Miscellaneous
Employees originally requested by the Salary Committee came to only
an additional, amount of $7, 000 o And when it was indicated that a
$2,000 cut would have to be made for a realistic package so that an
agreement could be made between administration and the Salary
Committee, the group had to more closely analyze the proposal by
Mro Gold in an attempt to decide where the changers could be made in
all fairness to everyone concerned.
From the percentile recommended for Principal
Engineering Aide, Public Works,Inspecto.rs and Building Inspectors,
the Salary Committee recommended a 2.5/ cut from Mr. Gold°s
recommendation. Obviously the persons in those categories were not
exactly delighted over the result of this recommendation-, however
we had found that since the recommended raises were taken from -the
original survey done by the Employees' Association, that our surveys
2
ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71 .Page Three
1970 Mid -Year Salary Adjustments
showed for those positions the,2o5/ was more closely aligned with
what was indicated and as such it was felt that those positions
were not going to be dropped back down into the valley but were
closer to the even ratio attempted forla.11 positions. As a result
this compromise was felt to be in the best interests of the
majority of the employees and it was a difficult task for the
Committee and not one taken lightly. At that point we attempted
to explain to all the employees the thinking and the problems we
were up against.
I think we have an audience here in support
of the recommendations and a sincere interested group appreciating
much of the work gone .into this proposal and I think the proposal
before you is a fine example of the meeting and conferring in good
faith that has gone on between the representatives of the various
associations and management and it was only due to the very fine
cooperation of Mr. Windsor, Mr. Eliot and Mr. Aiassa, that such a
program was able to exist this evening.
The West Covina Employees' Association would
like to thank the City Manager, Mr. Windsor ,and Mr. Eliot for their
time and effort and consideration on our behalf and I appreciate
your giving me this opportunity to make the presentation and we
appreciate the consideration given to the proposal.
Mr.- Aiassa: Mr. Mayor, I would like the members of the
Employees' Association - the Salary Committee,
that negotiated with staff to stand up so
Council will know who worked with use Mr. Butler is the only one not
present. If Council has any further questions staff will be ready to
answer. I believe Council had the opportunity to review the entire
proposal. We have the funds budgeted to cover the amount of money
necessary to put this proposal into effect as of January to
(COUNCIL DISCUSSION FOLLOWED.)
Councilman Shearer: Mr. Aiassa, approximately on a percentage
basis, hors many employees will stand to get a,
raise?
Mr. Aiassa: Roughly about two-thi.rd,s will get between
2.5/ and 5%o The biggest majority will be in
the 2.5% picture. I would say we have about
300 employees not including the department heads and this would
represent about two -•thirds.
Councilman Shearer: A question, perhaps of Mrs. Whelan. What
contact, if any, has been made with the
unfortunate 33/ including the clerical
employees who .are not included in this recommendation?
Mrs. Whelan: We have made attempts to notify those
individuals not receiving raises as to the
breakdown within the 10 City Comparisons
and I have the percentile figures on the number ranking position
for most of those positions and have indicated if they fall within
the 65th to 75th category that because we are attempting to fall
within that breakdown that no raise would be forthcomingo There are
a few positions which do not have comparison positions in the 10
citiesifor which on the present basis/without it becoming a complete
overall Salary Survey/ adjustments would not be forthcoming at this
time and we have indicated that those positions would receive the
top priority in consideration in the coming July in regards to a
full scale salary survey and perhaps reclassifications, if necessary.
Councilman Shearer: Have you had any feedback from these people?
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ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71 Page four
1970 Mid -Year Salary Adjustment____
Mrs. Whelan: Yes, and generally speaking with a couple of
exceptions, I think most people understand.
Councilman Shearer: Thank you. Let me explain why I asked the
question,, Being a civil service employee myself
I can sympathize with both sides. A number of
years ago the State granted a 5/ increase to everyone except the
unfortunate few who only got 205/ and in this case all the facts and
figures backed it up, etc., and you never heard such an out -cry of
anguish from those people and they brought pressure to bear and when
you get into the across-the-board versus class by class, there are
arguments both gays, it depends on where you happen to sit. If you
are left out on the class by class then you are all for the .across-
the-board, and if you are left out on the across-the-board then you
are for the other. So I am interested in what kind of reaction, if
the recommendation.is accepted by Council tonight, that we might
expect from those 33% approximately, including all the clerical
help that are not included. I. think we have to ask ourself all of
these questions before we make our decision, and that is why I ask.
Mr. Aiassa: I would like to answer that one question.
At the time we gave the 6.7% raise a lot of our
positions in the clerical. line went into a
2nd or 3rd differential position. and even in. some of the adjustments
with the comparison cities some of them did. not drop down much,
whereas the Police and .Fire had a distinct markdown. We actually
made this quite apparent to all employees that there was not going to
be a flat raise for everybody. As Mrs. Whelan pointed out we are
knocking off the peaks and the valleys and that.is all we can. do.
We don't have enough funds to do a complete salary classification
at this time and this is not the normal time to do it.
Councilman Lloyd. Mr. Aiassa,
and that is
Obviously we
income?
you brought up the crucial point
how do we stand, financially?
are :now dealing with estimated
Mr. Aiassa: We have closed the six months receipts as of
December 31. And looking at the receipts -
and we have actually now reduced the number of new positions that
were to be established as of January 1, 1.971 - and that will give us
our first nucleus for the salary raises.
Councilman Lloyd,.
You have
projected your
income for the
first
half of
the fiscal year
of 1970 and at
the
present
moment with that
projection in
mind
from the sales taxes,
etc., in
the percentage factors
you deal
with
as an administrator,
do you see
where we may or
may not find our-
selves in an extremism
position,
say'.in June of
this year?
Mr. Aiassa: No. As I pointed out to Council, we are
running a tight ship and the reasons I have
curbed additional personnel is for the purpose
to,give it on the salary increases to employees, which is a. one-shot
deal and I won't be increasing vacatibn, sick leave, etc., and all
the other problems if I hired new employees.
Councilman Lloyd: Strictly speaking we have the dough at this
time? I realize if economy falls drastically
we could be faced with a different picture,
but basically we have the dough?
Mr. Aiassa: That's right. The normal run of our receipts
is going to be tight. We have to watch
expenditures and we are estimating the six
months receipts to finish this fiscal year and I think we will have
sufficient funds for this recommendation and also for the Department
Heads salary increases.
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ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71 Page Five
1970 Mid -Year Salary Adjustments
Councilman Lloyd: You are not using.any funds which currently
exist as a cushion or as a May or June
situation to cover this?
Mr. Aiassa: No. We are using no proposed unbudgeted
encumbrances normally used for the un-
usable nonmaterialized receipts.
Councilman Lloyd: In the normal structure of salary classifica-
tions whether we go Column 1 - 2 - 3 - 4, or
Steps A-B-C-D®E m would you say that our
people here tend to fall into the more senior categories? In other
words they are falling in Column 4 or 5, or steps D & E?
Mr. Aiassa: I would say the majority of our employees
have now reached D & .E steps.
Councilman Lloyd: Then should we talk about dollars or percentage
increases? I know in governmental areas they
always go percentage increases. Well if
someone earns $1.0,000 a year, as a Step E employee, there is a whale
of a lot of difference from the employee coming in at Step Ap and
even though the responsibilities are about the same, the disparity
that exists between these two is not that insignificant in other
words I am philosophizing at this point and the question I am asking
is in the normal attrition which occurs as people move sideways or into
other positions or go to other cities, do 'we anticipate that we will
change this pattern fall of personnel classification on the chart?
Will we gain on that or are we going to pretty well remain where we
are?
Mr. Aiassa: I think from now on - from 1971 to 1973 we
probably have reached a degree of stability as
far as the number of employees'working with no
change. I think the average employee, as a whole, has reached the
step of .Ea where there is no place to go other than the, cost -of -living
increases that may be given.
I do want to advise Council that this Committee
is well versed with the economics, the unemployment and all the .rest
of the factors that will be facing us in 1971-72. I think they also
understand that especially the semi -skilled and unskilled positions
are going to be having premium demands, and if we have a vacancy say
in the Street or Parks Departments, we will probably do like the
Gas Company - we have two positions and have 450 responsible responders
to it. This is prevalent due partly to the cutback the President is
proposing in regard to the curbing of aircra.fts,.etco There is really
drastic unemployment at this point, So the employees we do have and who
are loyal employees and most have been with us for 13 years or better,
but I would say generally we will have some fluctuations. We have a
lot of Police Officers looking for better jobs in other areas, also
some rich street boys that have decided to go into private business,
but as a whole we will not have a great turnover of employees,
Councilman Lloyd, One other question. Could you give me a feeling
on the comparative situations for a City of
67,500 with a budget of almost six million dollars - how do we compare
employee -wise with "our comparative cities" - or better yet the cities
that fill this criteria, give or take 5. Do we have fewer employees?
Mr. Aiassa: As a whole, and this is one reason we have paid
the quality differential - because we have a lower
number of employees by comparison to cities of
our size and our population, such cities as Alhambra and a few others
have a larger percentage of total employees than we have. This is
true in certain Public Safety departments also and in certain critical
situations.
® 5
ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71 :Page Six
1970 Mid -Year Salary Atustments
Councilman Lloyd. Is there a reason for this?
Mr. Ai.assa: No, I think it is because they are older cities
and I think there is a tendency that jobs have
been added and there has never been a cutback
made of dead wood.
• Councilman Lloyd: You don't feel that we are running thin on our
operation?
Mr. Aiassa: No, we are running a tight ship with a tight
crew and each person is responsible to do a
certain amount of work and there is no leeway
for dead wood. We do have a few branches but for the number of
employees we have you are bound to have a few but in a very small
number.
Councilman Lloyd., A question of Mrso Whelan. You referred to some
of the grave inequities and you alluded to them
but in my mind you didn't fully clarify what the
inequities were. You people have lived with the problem and talked about
it and I know individuals in this room have personally gone out and
reviewed what is occurring in other cities, but unfortunately, we, up
here, do not have that opportunity, so when you allude to certain things
we are kind of trapped. In the middle of your presentation you indicated
there were certain grave inequities and you . . referred to the in-
equities by the types of jobs, I believe, from .Public Safety versus
Street Maintenance.
Mrs. Whelan: If I did that was in e.rroro What I intended to
say was that of the positions that we have job
titles and job descriptions for regarding their
activities, indicated in -our survey that similar and in, fact exact
positions in other cities were being paid substantially more for those
same positions with the same job .responsibilities and we were being
paid considerably less. We came up with a number of positions
actually at the 49th and 48th percentile., Our criteria report, as
suggested by Mr. Gold and approved by Council, even prior to 1970, was
for the 65th and 75th percentile as being an appropriate slot for West
Covina employees to fit in the pay range. So within that, the goal
of the Memorandum of Understanding was to place all the Departments
between the 3rd and 4th position in the 10 City Comparison Group and
not less than 4tho So when we were coming up with the 49th percentile
and of course some came up 60th and 61, which were not.so serious, but
below the 65th, were therefore deserving of a raise.
Councilman Lloyd: Your group then feels that it is essential that
we maintain this agreed on percentage factor?
Mrs. Whelan: Right.
Councilman Lloyd: And another thing you referred to which I
didn't quite understand. You referred to
only $7,000 differential and I don't mean to
minimize $7,000 but $7,000 when you consider the number of employees
is almost a minute figure.
Mrs. Whelan: That's right. The increase we saw as necessary
over and above the report from Urban Associates
is $7,000.
Councilman Lloyd: In other words you are asking for an increase
over and above their recommendation in the
amount of $7,000.
Mrs. Whelan: Right, but that was reduced down to $5,000 as a
result of the compromise.
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ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71, Page Seven
1970 :MID -YEAR SALARY ADJUSTEMTNS
Councilman Lloydv 'then the amount now is $5,000 over and above
what Urban Associates has recommended.
Mrs. Whelan: Right.
Councilman Lloyd: Okay that covers it. I will enter into the
• philosphy and then the rest of the gentlemen
can have their say and we will all go home.
As you, of course, recognize/ we live in a very
difficult time as far as finance.is concerned. 'I don't know what the
term is that we are currently using, when. I was a boy we called it a
depression and then in the immediate postwar era of World War II it
became a recession. We are .in an economic depression, which means
that people in this immediate area are not working and as a matter of
fact we have a number of our own citizens that are unemployed and I am
equally certain that the people here this evening feel very justified
in asking for these increases. I am not going to tel.l you that I am
wildly enthused about any percentage increase whatsoever, because 1. am
not. I recognize the faithful, loyal service and the support this
staff gives to Mr. Aiassao I have seen you at work, I have had the
opportunity to associate with you and I think that without any question
that you people certainly meet the 4th step and I think you do a little
better than that, personally. As a result of my profession and
occupation I am throughout the Los Angeles area and certainly I am in
somebody's city hall besides that of West Covina, on the average of two
times a week, so I have an opportunity to see other people and I do have
some feelings for the thing. There is a attitude on the part of.
government agencies and the people that work for them and we sometimes
forget - and I am reminding you at this point that I too have worked
for the government agencies for some 20 years -7 so I know what it is
like to count on somebody to give a percentage raise. On the other
hand I recognize we are in a difficult position and I think this
Council, as .long as I have served on it,. has really done its very level
best to be supportive of the people that work f:or this City. I think
the percentage raise at this time I would prefer to look at it as a. re-
alignment and if I go to the people of West Covina who elected me and
everyone of these other gentlemen up here, and say we gave a percentage
raise to our employees, no matter what I do I am going to be severely
censored. On the other hand if we don't do this and in view of the
obvious great'deel of effort that has gone into the talks between the
office of the City Manager, not only has the City paid for it but you
also contributed and I am aware of.the fact that we do not have a
strike going on in our City as other cities do have and I think this is
important to the people of our community.
So while I am extremely reticent to say to my
people and I have to justify to my voters and I know some of you are
also constituents, but I have to justify to those people why I, who
don't give it to my own employees,- can say it is okay for them but
when it comes to Lloyd's Public Relations you just are not going to
get anymore, you can negotiate till. your blue in the face but I am sorry
I just don't have it. The answer is how can I do it and then sometimes
people say to me, it is not your money you are spending. So .it is
very difficult for me to say okay let's go forward but on the other
hand the point made is that we have fewer employees - so in this case
you might have to work a mite harder because we have fewer people
pulling the load. I think when it comes to efficiency in government
I am going to be quick to say that I think Mr. Aiassa has, over the years/
demonstrated his ability to financially get monies into this City,
and the fact that I am willing to go forward with the recommendations
as -have been presented is in a great measure directly the responsibility
of your City Administrator. I think this man has brought a lot of
dough .in here, made it possible for me to be very generous with monies
which I didn't raise. As pointed out to you
eit is your responsibility
as citizens of this community) to reflect on the problems -.that we all
face and that is the end of my lecture. I do appreciate all the
problems you face and I think you have been loyal employees and. created
7 .y
ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/1.8/71
1970 MID -YEAR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS
a City we are proud to be representative ofo
.Page Eight
Councilman Young: I intend to support the recommendation of staff
this evening„ I am concerned about the fact
that a portion of the funding arises out of not
filling positions which were authorized and asked for, urged for, and
lobbied for in the spring budget sessions, and now we are not filling
these positions and they were essential at that time. Perhaps
Mr. Aiassa will expound somewhat on what we are not filling and what we
will do in the future.
I think the Salary Committee and the staff., and
I,have worked on the Personnel Boardp and I am aware of Mr. Gold°s
diligent efforts over the years, and I have every confidence in the
report made and furthermore I think the employees have shown a very
commendable restraint in the demands they have made upon the
budgetary processes of West Covina, so I intend to support this.
We are here to serve, the only reason -we have Government is to serve
and to render services to the people who live here and I think
employee morale is very important to that. I think sufficiency of
staffing is very important to that and this is the area of latent
concern which I think we evidently have to deal with. As Mr. Lloyd
says, the City Manager and all of the staff have done a great job of
providing this service and maintaining budgets. Every other
municipality and county agency around including the State agencies and
Federal agencies, except West Covina have called for increases in taxes.
West Covina has not done so in a long time and I think we may well have
to take a look at that in the near future, because we are obviously
borrowing somewhat from the future when we raise salaries at the
expense of increasing the service which we commended ourselves to
when adopting the budget this year.
So I think we do face some tough decisions in
the future, but as of now I think we see nothing here but commendable
restraint and I.think the increases we are giving, or I 'hope we will
tonight if the other Councilmen join me3 nonetheless, we are not at
the top or the bottom. I don't think we are overdoing it by any
means and I hope we are not underdoing it because it .is the ultimate
service that counts. The City Manager m.y want to comment; on the
positions we are not filling.
Mr. Aia.ssa.m We are holding open .for further consideration
of the City Manager and the Department Heads
one police officer position and one maintenance man and one
communications supervisor, and we have filled the custodian vacancy
as of January 1, 1971. We have dropped the Police Cadet and the
promotion of three firemen to Fire Engineers. One promotion :is
predicated on the opening of fire station :No. 6, and I think the
one .Police Officer and one Cadet position was subject to the
economics anyway. If we didn't have the money these positions
wouldn't be filled and I think I discussed this with the Department
Heads, that these'positions would have to be determined whether we
give salary or personnel, I will say that the city staff will not
be diminished that badly.
Councilman Young. Yes, but you can only stretch it so thin, but
I suppose we will have to face that sooner or
later.
Councilman Nichols: I have observed for the last two or three
years and. many of you in the audience have
observed the same thing, that is in order
to attempt to maintain our reasonable competitive salary structure
we have had to cover leaner and leaner in germs of other types of
expenditures in the City in the way of extra equipment for the various
Departments. Each year - from conventions to tuitions, to extra
hoses for the Fire Department, etc., - - you name it, we have cut it
leaner and leaner. It is rather apparent to me and I am sure apparent
- 8 -
ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1./18/71
1970 MID -YEAR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS
Page Nine
to many of you employees that the day of reckoning is pretty nigh.
upon use The Council. voted to apply a 603% raise across-the-board
in July and made a commitment' to review salaries again at this time
of the year and this commitment's to review salaries h.as.gradually been
taken to.mean adjust salaries. Although in retrospect, I think it was
probably a mistake for the Council to go on .record ,six months ago that
it would in fact attempt to reopen salaries during the year but that
• commitment_ was made and again for myself, I say that the Council,
can't do anything more but follow through on that implied commitment
So I am also prepared to vote for these recommendations.
T, frankly, don°t�attach all that to it, I
don't think it is such a noble act to take all of the dollars that
are available and split it up in such a way so that a riot doesn't
break out among the city employees, but rather that it is a
political act that has been going on in the city in the last weeks
than an act of nobility.
I want to leave one thought only and that is
that all of this talk about salaries - what we are getting and what
we are not getting - is tied totally to this 10 City Comparison and
your representatives can stand before the Council and say we must stay
with the 10 City Comparison and the City Manager can say that we are
trying to stay with the 10 City Comparison, but remember it has been
about seven years now since those 10 Cities were adopted as our
comparison cities and all, of the cities have changed since then. Some
are better off financially and some are a little worse, and I think
West Covina is a little worse financially. What am I heading for -
I am heading for the thought that probably before very long the great
issue that is going to face the City Council is can we continue to
try and keep all of our salaries in the upper 3rd or 4th of these
10 Cities? I think you City employees will be the ones that will
have to help us decide that.
Last July and again tonight, the decision is
being made to take every blessed penny that, can be scraped together
and pay it out in salaries. Once and awhile as I go about the City
I hear an employee say - well if the Council would just give us this,
or if we could just get this new piece of equipment we could do a
much better job. I hope as we go about our jobs that we will remember
that your Council is taking available monies that might be used for
just that thing you want in your .Department and putting it in your
pockets, because we too feel when the money is there it should go to
pay our employees. Likewise when the day comes that we just don't
have the money I hope that you folks will join with us and help keep
our City on the track even though that money may not be there on that
date. When the money is here I feel you people should have it, and
so it has been recommended and I. think it has been .recommended
equitably and I will support it.
Councilman Shearer. I guess I will make my negative comments and
then go positive, which seems to be the way
things are going this evening. I feel like a
person on a merry-go-round or caught in a whirlwind - trying to
catch up with things and I think I can appreciate the attitude and
feelings of the employees - they go to the store and of course I am
now talking about the cost of living, but it is all tied. in with what
• we can buy. Last week a canof beans was 15t and now it is 1°�� and
next week it is 18�, so we are all in this maid, whirlwind. We have
a recession but we have inflation. I guess it is a situation unique
and I am not an economist so I can't explain it and I am not going
to try,
I echo the sentiments of Councilman Nichols.
I would like to see the Recreation Building built at Del Norte Park
that has been in the budget. At the last Recreation & Parks Com-
mission meeting they talked about that and you people in the Parks
Department, I am sure you would like to see it built too. I would
like to see Vine Street resurfaced, it is in miserable condition.
9
ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71 Page Ten
1970 MIDYEAR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS
You people in the Street Department can appreciate that. There are
probably other streets just as bad, but that is the one I drive quite
a bit. There are a lot of things I would like to see in the City,
but the money just isn't there and one of these days, as Councilman
Nichols says, there is going to be a day of reckoning.
I would like to go on record now as saying
that I. will .in the future take .a very dim look at mid --year salary
adjustments. I will take a very dim look at further .readjustments
based on internal inequitiesibecause perhaps what we are doing
tonight will create other inequities. I just happen to see before
me in the Engineering Department, I see that all of the classifica-
tions down from Public Works Inspector 2.5%, Senior Aide 5% and the
other two no increase. Now what is going to happen in six months
from now when the Engineering Aide and the Engineering Aide Trainee
says we are out of line because in January everybody else above us
got 5% and this makes, a spread of 10 or 15 or 20% therefore this
justifies me moving up and the man above says you are too close to
me because I have so much more responsibility, etc. So we are in
the whirlpool not only of inflation but of this constant readjust-
ment because I should earn more than him and I am not - so there we
go round and round. So in the future, and I will be around for a
minimum of 3 years, I think we are going to have to faceup to
further internal adjustments which are one thing and the cost of
living is something else and I think the cost of living is about the
most city employees can expect in the future as far as my vote is
concerned.
Mayor Chappell: Since .March I have been attending two or three
meetings a month with Mayors of the seventy-
seven cities ,'of the County area regarding
midyear pay raises. After a tremendous amount of meetings we met
with the supervisors about a month ago and they promised us there
would be no more mid' -year pay raises in the County.;Mid-year pay
raises cause a tremendous amount of problems,, those of you getting
the raise are happy and those not getting the raise are .really not
going to be happy no matter what you say.. It just happens to be a
way of life.
There are several positive ways that we can
continue to keep West Covina on the 4th and 3rd step and the 350
employees of this City are the ones that will have to start it and
initiate it if for nothing more than to protect your pay and your
salaries in comparison to the .10 other cities, You are going to have
to spend your money in West Covina and encourage your friends and
neighbors to spend money in West Covina. As many of you may know
and others may not know, we only had %% increase in sales taxes in
the past year. Covina had 22% and city after city around us had 17%,
18% and 19%o My concern is if we spend our money here and our
citizens do and we don't knock our businesses and say they are
second class but try and be positive and think in a positive way and
spend our money in West Covina and keep the sales taxes rising then.
the West Covina City Council will be able to continue'to pay you
on -the 3rd and 4th step. And if you don't do these things then come
July we will have a real problem because there are a lot of things
that have been cut out.of the -budget this past year that will have
• to be donee We have been told by the City Manager we are growing.
As you know some 39,.000 people will be added to our City in the
next 4 or 5 years and this will take more employees and they will
not generate a lot of taxes to us unless they too spend their money
here. So all I can say is if you are positive and you really want to
work with this City Council then you employees will have to spend
your money here, buy your cars here, buy.your suits here and
everything else you buy, and then I don't think Mr. Aiassa will have
to look at a .5% sales tax increase at the end of 197.10
10
ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71 Page Eleven
1970 MID -YEAR SALARY ADJUSTMENTS
I am going to support this because we com-
mitted ourselves in 1969 to keep you on the 3rd and 4th steps® I
was on the Council at that time and I voted to do this and then in
July I voted to 'reevaluate the pay situation in January and adjust,
no pay raises just adjustments. A tricky word but it will have to
serve when I talk to the.33 people that called me Saturday and
. Sunday after reading the articles in the newspaper. Roughly 7% in
West Covina, and these are -the statistics given me, are out of work
and those are probably.the ones calling .me or a good portion of them.
But I like to think positive in my business and I don't think I am
going to be out of business., the same thing with Councilman Lloyd and
Councilman Young. So we are asking you from now on to put your hats
on and work that extra 5 or 10 minutes necessary to get 'the work done
so we don't have to hire the extra people to get that work out.
We will then all be happy and you will be earning the amount of money
you should be earning as employees of our City. Is there anyone else
that would like to say something?
Councilman Young: Yes, Mr. M.ayoro Just a comment and maybe I am
out of line, I don't mean to be rude or
impertinent at all. I think everything said
here has been said in good faith and I think probably we are rah-rahing
just a little too much. I think we are tending to lecture a .little too
much. I think this staff is doing an outstanding job and deserves to
be recognized. in every way including salary adjustments. While I
appreciate the sincerity of your remarks and certainly my own and
those of the other Councilmen, I don't think we want to leave the
impression that we are doing a great big favor but I think we are doing
what we conscientiously .feel should be done in the light of the
services rendered and in, light of arrangements elsewhere. I think we
have a good staff and a loyal staff and it is a duty on our part from
my thinking.
Motion by Councilman Lloyd, seconded by Coun.ci.l.man. Young, to accept and
approve -the mid -year salary adjustments recommended by the ,Personnel
Board and instruct the City Attorney and staff to amend Resolution
No. 1277 accordingly, Motion carried on .roll call vote as follows:
AYES. Councilmen Shearer, Nichols, Young, Lloyd, Mayor Chappell
NOES. None
ABSENT: None
RESOLUTION NO. 4285 The City Manager presented.
ADOPTED °"A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, AMENDING CERTAIN
PROVISIONS OF RESOLUTION NO, 1277 RELATING TO AUTHORIZED 1POSITIONS
AND SALARIES."
Mayor Chappell; Hearing no objections waive further reading
of the body of said Resolution.
Motion by Councilman Lloyd, seconded by Councilman Young, adopting
said Resolution. Motion carried on roll call vote as follows..
AYES., Councilmen Shearer, Nichols, Young, Lloyd, Mayor Chappell
NOES. None
ABSENT: None
Councilman Nichols: Mr. Mayor, I have one more observation. I
didn't think the chair was lecturing. I
thought the chair made some very excellent
points to our family, to all of us, which I hope are taken by all
in the constructive spirit, that in fact we are all in the same
boat and that our City does face lean days ahead and we do all need
to pull together in order to accomplish all the things that need to
be accomplished. I don't mean to say it as taking exception to the
remarks of Councilman Young, but perhaps .rather to be a hair more
supportive of the chair.
Councilman Young; I would join Councilman Nichols' remarks.
- 11
ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71 Page Twelve
ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COMMITTEE
CONSULTANT'S RECOMMENDATIONS
Mr. Aiassa: Last year as of
and on which we consulted with Mr® Gold.
Mr. Windsor report on this because this
of the action from the Personnel Board.
July 1 we bad four
items not resolved
I believe I will let
is part of the carryover
Mr. Windsor: Mr. Mayor and members of. Council, I. would like
to preface this by saying this is not a part
of the salary adjustments that you just made a
decision on. The Administrative Review Committee is a group of
employees selected by the City Manager. It meets annually to review
employee grievances on classifications and similar problems. If you
recall, the last salary survey and classification study was conducted
in 19690 We did not have one in 1970 and therefore used just the
Administrative Review Committee to look into some of the employee
problems. There were a number.of requests made before the ARC and
you received a report which outlined these. These in turn were
recommended on by the Committee and passed. to the Personnel Board who
in turn referred back to the City Manager and the salary consultant.
You approved hiring Mr. Gold who reviewed these problem areas and he
came forth with certain recommendations. Some of these recommendations
are such that will require administrative review and we have not
asked you to act on these but just given you a brief summary. What
we are asking for is four specific actions as stated in my memorandum
of January 13, 1971. Mr. Gold is present if you have any questions.
COUNCIL .D.ISCUSSION,
Councilman Shearer: I have a question on each of the four items,
Starting with Item 4 on the call-back situation.
In Mr. Golds report, the last page of the
report dated December 3, 1970, second page of the recommendations
1 (a): "Present rate can vary from approximately $5.50 (Clerk -Typist
at A Step) to $7.75 (Clerk -Stenographer at E Step)oa° I think these
rates are a little high. Using our figure of 168 hours per month
which is usually the average monthly hours, the $5.50 figures out to
$924. a month and the $7.75 figures out to $1302. I don't think we
have any Clerk -Stenos in the City of West Covina receiving that rate
of pay.
Mr. Gold. Those rates apply to the 2 hour rate minimum.
They are for the matron .service on a 2 hour
basis and inasmuch as the 2 hour minimum is
used we quoted the amount of money they might earn.
Mr. Windsor: May I point out the problem here was that you
had two classifications paying different
amounts of money depending where you are on
the range for either one yet you do the same work, in that you are
asked to go in between the hours of 12:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. in the
morning to assist as a matron and although you are a clerk -typist
or a clerk -steno you receive the rate for that position although you
do the same duties.
Councilman Shearer: Well I think this is a fact of life that we
have to accept when we .are talking about
the 5 step civil service - that somebody is going to be paid. more
for doing the same job as somebody else. I. am at -the -top step in my
classification, a man next to me may only be in the job one year and
doing exactly the same work, but because of the timing I am getting
more for the same work than he is getting. In a couple of years he
will be up to me. It is a matter of timing. So I don't think we can
tie it in with m well we are getting .paid the same because of the
steps. It does clarify my question. I am a supporter of extra pay
for this type of a call back. We recognize this, a man gets paid a
4 hour minimum regardless of what he works. I wasn't disputing that.
I just wanted to make sure the figures justified .in the recommendation
were correct and not as stated.
12 m
ADJ. REG. CITY COUNCIL 1,/18 71
ARC - CONSULTANT'S RECOMMENDATIONS
:Page Thirteen
Mr, Aiassa. These girls are normally called on a polling
basis. Their names go up on a list and
if the first person can't do it then they go
on. down the line, but it .requires somebody getting up and coming in.
at.2 or 3 a.m. in the morning. We feel, it is quite an imposition
to not pay them a minimum of 2 hours at equal rates°
Councilman Shearer. That answers my question on that. On Items 2
and 3, reclassifications, the same question applies
to both. Is this changing from one job to
another job require an examination to see if the person who is now,
in one case a clerk -typist, is comparable to other engineering aide
trainees, or is it just going to be an automatic movement from one
class to the other, and if so, is this legal within the City of West
Covina's personnel rules?.
Mr. Windsor: yes that is correct,, As a reclassification.
it does not require a promotional examination.
What the salary consultant determines is that
the person deserving reclassification is actually doing the duties
involved. with the higher class.
Councilman ,Shearer: So who ever is filling the Clerk -typist posi-
tion, she then becomes an engineering aide
trainee without taking the same examination
that someone who is already an engineering aide trainee takes, :she
took the Clerk -typist examination?
Mr. Windsor: We have no such examination. This is a new
position we are creating. We do have an
engineering aide trainee on a part-time basis,
on what we call our limited service clays and even in that we do not
require an examination. We hire merely on the possession of certain
college credentials. In this case the consultant has determined
the person is doing duties aboTB the Clerk -typist position and
therefore deserving of the different class.
Councilman Shearer. If the person is in the audience who we are
talking about, believe me :I am. not talking
about personalities because I don't know who
she is. The same type of question holds true with the welder -
mechanic.
Mr. Aiassa. This problem has been with us for about a. year
and it was through the Committee that we
finally came to this process and through
Mr. Gold's analysis and review. Normally I think it would be a big
problem to give an in-house test to :see .if they meet the minimum
requirements, and as you know they are all on probation everytime
they change from one classification to the other and we continue the
probation until they meet the minimum .requirements. These are not
the higher type positions that would have requirements such as
Civil Engineering Associates and Assistants.
Councilman Shearer. .Basically then the answer to the question is
that this is within the allowable?
Mr. Aiassa. Right
Councilman Shearer-. My last question has to do with Item to It
is not so much a question as a position.
I realize this is a small amount - 205% of
whatever this particular engineering classification pays, and again
I don't know the individuals, so nothing I say is personal. I am a
registered civil engineer. I was motivated to become registered not
because the minute I passed the examination I got 5 _ V-2 ® or 10%,
because I got nothing. I think the motivation is there. The person
who takes any particular field as a career and to advance and progress,
13 -
ADJ. REG. CITE' COUNCIL 1/1.8/71.
ARC - CONSULTANT'S RECOMMENDATIONS
Page Fourteen
and if it happens to be a field where a license is obtainable to
advance further and make him eligible for promotion or another
position, well I fail to see where the City will "benefit by
increasing from 5 to 7%/ the incentive pay or .reward or whatever
you want to call it, for a man who happens to be in aprofession
where he can avail himself of a professional license° I don't see
• where that will motivate an indi:�iidua.l to do it. I don't see where
the City will benefit and for that reason I seriously question that.
Again we are probably talking pennies compared to the $55,000 we
voted just a few minutes ago, but I can't quite see the justification
to that.
Mr,, Windsor: All I can say in answer is that the Engineering
Department had .requested an increase in both
the EoloT. and the Registered .Engineer licenses.
The only recommendation -that Mr. Gold .felt was reasonable was the
increase in the Registered Engineer. If you want his justification.
I would have to ask'M.r® Gold to speak to that
Mr. Gold., I would like to say something first in a. general
way. :L think -that there is a beginning of a
philosphy on pay as it might modify the
salary schedule which all. cities, and many other jurisdictions will,
be coming to face with and deciding whether they want to adopt or not,
which will emphasize the area of incentiVes for employees. I would
be inclined to agree that there is a, slight conflict in logic, perhaps,
if someone is in a profession and he tyrants to go to the top, etc., he can,
without any monetary reward or any other things, but the push this
City is making and many other cities, is on improving qualifications
and getting the best qualified people possible and once in -the
service to improve themselves, usually at their own time and at their
own convenience or lack of convenience, and is a direction of reward
that I think is becoming more and more important.. You will find it
in the Police Departments, for example, and perhaps in the Fire
Departments and other areas that are not now covered. It is imperative
that one hire - let us say certain people for certain positions, such
as the entering Level Police Officer with a high school graduation
but it isn't imperative that they stay at that level of education all
the time, it is very desirable that they increase their qualifications.
In your City there are not a large number of engineering positions, such
as in the City of Los Angeles, where once a person gets registered he
is automatically going to qualify for a Civil Engineer position or a
class, there isn't such a thing available. However, a, section head who
is an associate and is registered., becomes much more useful and
effective employee for the City, He can do certain things that he
wasn't able -to do previously in the approval of plans and other things
required. If you can retain such employees with -the City and not
treat it as a point where they have reached this nouveau of :having
registered and now they must go some other place to get their .reward..
I think it is relatively a good idea from everyone's point of view
that they would be so rewarded. If there is any logic to that
argument then that means something but it doesn't say whether 2.5 or
12.5% would be the right amount. This is an area of fringe benefits
in which your City is pioneering and about a year and a half ago I
recommended . a little more pioneering in the Police'Department
and I think it is a coming area where there is some variation from
•the rigidities of the 5 step scale. Now I think it has to be on
specific criteria and definite and it can't always be as ideal as
everyone might want, but I think .it is the right direction to go in.
It .is something, of course, that the teachers have done on their
salary schedule for a long time. I had some questions about. the
very precise, automatic steps of the teachers system that go by
units and number of years, but nevertheless something in this area
is desirable. I think it doers add to the employee's motivation
and it may add to the reduction of turnover.
Councilman Shearer: Well then placed in that content., the reason,
and perhaps then I can justify the vote, is not
-. 14
ADJ. CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71
ARC ® CONSULTANT°S RECOMMENDATIONS
Page Fifteen
just to motivate the man to become licensed but the benefit to the
city is to retain that employee once he becomes licensed.
Mr. Gold. I think so, definitely/ a.nd I would say all
incentive plans on this type of additional
compensation would have to benefit both.
There might be an -'individual -case where it didn°t for some reason
• because the man really wasn°t any better or just flukely passed,
or something, but in general it would have to benefit both. It
would have to benefit the City before you pay more money and you
would have to assume by the criteria set up that the employee had
benefited also.
Councilman Shearer. Under this proposal it would become automatic?
Mr. Gold: Yes, once achieved. The 5/ is already automa-
tic and this would become automatic also.
It is another area where one can achieve
something where the initiative can be left with the employee, Most
other things, the initiative is somewhere else or just a matter of
existing long enough to get to the right ,step and this at least
turns the focus into the employee to become more qualified and if he
is getting some additional reward then maybe the turnover will be
reduced. When you are dealing with four section heads and one is
registered, how do we know what the turnover would have been whether
he got 2.5/ more or not, but we are speaking in principles and not
isolated individual cases, and I think it does contribute in that
direction.
Motion by Councilman Young, seconded by Councilman Lloyd, adopting
the recommendations of the salary consultant and Personnel Board
relating to the bonus pay for possession of a Civil Engineer's
Registration; the Clerk -Typist position in the Engineering Department
reclassified to Engineering Aide Trainee o the position of the
Welder Mechanic in the Street Department. and the compensation for
matron duty call -hack for Clerk -Stenos and ClerkmTypists in the
Police Department. Motion carried on roll Call vote as follows,.
AYES: Councilmen Shearer, Nichols, Young, :Lloyd, Mayor Chappell
NOES None
ABSENT'. None
FIRE DEPARTMENT WORK FOURS Mr. Aiassa*q This is a Resolution
REDUCTION gradually reducing the
work hours of the Fare
Department from 60 hours a
week to 56 hours and we are doing it under actl,on adopted last julye
I made one variation to it, that as of january 1, 1971, we are
planning to move the Fire Department work house t0 5994 and instead
we would like to use the factor that we were going to make effective
on July 1, 1971, 68o5 hours per week. We require a Resolution_ of
the City Council to amend this change and establish the hours of work
for the Fire Department,,
RESOLUTION NOo 4286 The City Manager presented:
ADOPTED "A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE
CITY OF WEST COVINA, ESTABLISHING THE
HOURS OF WORK FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EMPLOYEES .AND AMENDING
RESOLUTION NOS 1277 ACCORDINGLY.
Mayor Chappell: Mr. Aiassa, we have a question from Councilman
Shearer,
Councilman Shearer: In view of the fact that we have already talked
about not hiring 3 firemen, and correct me if I
am wrong, however there was some reduction in
what was anticipated to be the staffing of the Fire Department, and
now we are talking about the reduction of an hour a week. How do we
- 15
t ADJ REGo CITY COUNCIL 1/18/71 \ P age•.Sixteen
1 FIRE "DEPT. WORK HOURS REDUCTION
make up for the coverage? Is it increased overtime? Do we-havelessfiremen on duty? We ,have less people and less hours which means less
i' coverage m
Mr, Aiassa: The additional firemen listed in the:•1-1-71
' schedule for.the Fire Department were predi-
cated on the actual opening and functioning
of Station No. 6. We can see that we are not going to get
_station No.'6 open until probably July 1 and at that time we will
have.,to make adjustments. This is the station for the Bren Develop-
`" mment and we have not yet determined the exact site. ..So by the time
we get.it setup and graded it will be July.
y Councilman Shearer: How do we compensate each fireman working
less time per week?
1Kra Aiassa: Over a period of time they used to accummulate
extra hours they owed the City so men were
called back to fill the shifts with the extra
hours. Since we have been reducinghours we will eventuallyhave to
pay some overtime. We have budgeted,the.amount of overtime to cover
:'.this. There are only 2 holidays affected by this small percentage
change.
Councilman Shearer: So then it will be made up by increased over-
time. So when we say this eliminates a pay -
raise it still costs us money because instead
of giving 1/ of his salary he gets one extra hour in overtime and it
:still costs the City more money.
Mr. Aiassa: A little more but less,. than giving the Fire
Department 5/0
Councilman Shearer.: Okay, but we are not getting away with this
for nothing,
Mr,' Aiassa:
Oh no. When you deal with the Fire Department
you will not get away with anything. They are
very professional..and know .every .turn:.,I•would
also like to say the
people I worked with in the Fire .Department
have.a reasonable challenge when they negotiate with me, too.
ut..
Mayor Chappell.
Hearing no objections, waive further reading
_
of the body of said Resolution.
,Motion by. Councilman
Shearer, seconded by Councilman Lloyd, -adopting
said. Resolution.
"
w
tz .
Councilman Young:
Mr. .Mayor, I would like the record to shorn that
{
sometime in the past I did assist the Fire
i
Department in my capacity as an attorney in
organizing an employee organization, but I don't think there is any
conflict involved, and I am voting °' aye "o
Motion carried on roll call vote as follows,
AYESo`Councilmen
Shearer, Nichols, Young, Lloyd, Mayor Chappell
NOES: None
-ABSENT: None '
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Councilman.Lloyd, seconded by Council-
y
man Young, and carried, adjourning meeting at
8:57 P.M.
APPROVED:
ATTEST,
MAYOR
CITY CLERK
� ■
16
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