Staff Report
PREPARED BY: Lisa Velasco
Human Resources Director
Reviewed by: Town Manager, Assistant Town Manager, Town Attorney, and Finance Director
110 E. Main Street Los Gatos, CA 95030 ● (408) 354-6832
www.losgatosca.gov
TOWN OF LOS GATOS
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
MEETING DATE: 12/03/2019
ITEM NO: 6
DATE: November 21, 2019
TO: Mayor and Town Council
FROM: Laurel Prevetti, Town Manager
SUBJECT: Approve an Amendment to the Classification Plan to Create a Flexibly Staffed
Engineering Technician Job Series
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve an amendment to the classification plan to create a flexibly staffed Engineering
Technician job series.
BACKGROUND:
The Town of Los Gatos Personnel Rules and Regulations (Section 4.4) and the Municipal Code
(Section 2.30.925) require that amendments and revisions to the classification plan are
effective upon approval by Town Council. Typically, these changes are presented to Council for
approval as part of the formal budget adoption or through the labor negotiations process.
DISCUSSION:
The Town has an existing Engineering Technician classification that was created in November
2000. In the process of reviewing the classification in conjunction with a reclassification study,
it was determined that a flexibly staffed classification series will better meet the needs of the
Parks and Public Works Department to provide a vehicle for succession planning and a career
ladder for existing and future employees.
In accordance with the Town’s existing Flexibly Staffed Classes procedure, flexible staffing is the
alternate use of two or more classes in a designated series. Flexibly staffed classes allow
departments to hire at the entry-level and provide a career incentive as employees become
proficient and gain more experience which ultimately benefits the Town through retention and
reduced training time. Alternatively, departments may hire new employees at the more
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SUBJECT: Approve an Amendment to the Classification Plan
DATE: November 21, 2019
DISCUSSION (continued):
advanced levels within the series depending on the complexity of assignments and experience
needed when vacancies exist.
The revised Engineering Technician series would contain the following classifications:
Engineering Technician, Associate Engineering Technician, and Senior Engineering Techni cian. If
approved, the Associate Engineering Technician and Senior Engineering Technician will be
added to the Salary Schedule for TEA Classifications (Attachment 1) with appropriate advancing
salary ranges that have been calculated using external and internal compensation data to
ensure equity.
Since this is a Town Employees’ Association (TEA) represented classification, staff has met its
obligation to meet and confer regarding the proposed classification and salary range changes.
CONCLUSION:
Staff is requesting the approval of an amendment to the classification plan to create a flexibly
staffed series for the Engineering Technician classification that will result in the addition of
Associate Engineering Technician and Senior Engineering Technician to the plan. The Town’s
Personnel Rules and Municipal Code require Council approval of classification plan
amendments. The California Public Employees’ Retirement System (CalPERS), that provides the
Town’s employee pension benefits, requires that any changes proposed to Town salary
schedules are formally approved by a municipal agency Governing Body.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Staff is not requesting funding of a full-time equivalent position at this time. If a vacancy occurs
or a need is identified to promote an existing approved full-time equivalent into a higher level
class within the series during the 2019/20 budget year, the cost will be absorbed into the
Department’s existing operating budget.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT:
This is not a project defined under CEQA, and no further action is required.
Attachment:
1. Salary Schedule for TEA Classifications