HomeMy WebLinkAbout08. Approve proposed salary increases of five percent (5%) for the classifications of instrument technician and electrical technician; and two and one-half percent (2.5%) for the classification of electrical/instrumentation supervisorO��ENTRAL S.
MEETING DATE: NOVEMBER 21, 2024
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
POSITION PAPER
Page 1 of 3
Item 8.
SUBJECT: APPROVE PROPOSED SALARY INCREASES OF FIVE PERCENT FOR
THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF INSTRUMENT TECHNICIAN AND
ELECTRICAL TECHNICIAN; AND TWO AND ONE-HALF PERCENT FOR
THE CLASSIFICATION OF ELECTRICAL/INSTRUMENTATION
SUPERVISOR
SUBMITTED BY: INITIATING DEPARTMENT:
TEJ I O-MALLEY, HUMAN RESOURCES AND
ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
MANAGER
Roger S. Bailey
General Manager
OFFICE OF THE GENERAL MANAGER -
HUMAN RESOURCES
ISSUE
Board approval is required for salary adjustments for job classifications.
BACKGROUND
Recruiting for the Electrical and Instrument Technician classes has been historically difficult. The skill set
is in high demand across our industry while the number of qualified candidates is low resulting in a very
competitive environment for hiring and retaining these employees. Recent recruitments for these positions
have been unsuccessful as detailed below:
The Instrument Technician recruitment has been conducted twice in 2024. During the first
recruitment, only five candidates out of the 35 who submitted an application met the minimum
qualifications and passed the testing process. Two of these candidates were offered the position,
however both declined due to the low salary and the requirement to be on-call. The second
recruitment, which is currently open on a continuous basis (open until filled), has only attracted five
minimally qualified candidates. There is currently one vacant position and two filled positions.
2. The Electrical Technician recruitment has yielded similar results. The first recruitment produced only
November 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 52 of 164
Page 2 of 3
a few minimally qualified candidates. The second recruitment was recently opened on a continuous
basis and to date, no qualified candidates have applied. There are currently two vacant positions.
The impact of an Instrument Technician or Electrical Technician position going unfilled has a severe and
significant impact to plant reliability and performance. The District has over 6,300 assets organized into 75
asset classes. The Instrument shop's three technicians process 19 percent of all work orders at the
treatment plant. This is the largest volume of work orders per shop/employee. The instrument shop work's
orders have a direct impact on our permits. I n the last year the instrument shop completed 1,040
regulatory -related work orders. Example of critical tasks performed by the Instrument technicians include:
• Inspect, Maintain, Repair and Calibrate all Emissions and Compliance Analyzers
• Inspect, Maintain and Repair Combustion Controls on Mhf
• Inspect, Maintain, Repair, Test and Calibrate All Steam Generation (Cogen) and Steam Powered
(Turbine) Equipment
• Inspect, Maintain, Repair and Test all Fixed Gas Safety Monitoring Equipment
• Inspect, Maintain, Calibrate Fuel Gas Systems
• Assist With Scada, Hmi and Plc Program Development
The electrical shop maintains the entire electrical distribution system originating at the 12kv source
provided by the utility including its interface with our standby power facility and our cogeneration unit. The
shop's five technicians process about 10 percent of the treatment plant's work orders. These are all
related to critical electrical infrastructure which is part of a highly complex system that consists of medium
and low voltage switchgear, feeders, and protective relaying.
Both shops support not only the treatment plant but also the pumping stations and other District facilities in
addition to the unprecedented additional workload resulting from the capital projects in planning and
currently underway.
Not being able to recruit qualified candidates significantly decreases the ability to respond to issues as
they arise which can be critical in an emergency where time is of the essence. The impact of an Electrical
and Instrument Technician position going unfilled has an immediate and severe impact to plant reliability,
equipment availability and capital project execution.
I n summary, the inability to fill positions is creating a staffing shortage and putting additional strain on the
remaining technicians which affects the level of service provided to other areas maintained by the shop.
Due to the difficulty in recruiting and the criticality of the functions performed by these classifications, a
salary increase is warranted.
Although the impetus for the adjustment was the difficulty in externally recruiting for both the technician
level classifications, staff is also requesting an adjustment for the supervisor classification to ensure that
there is enough of a differential between the two levels to alleviate compaction while also making this level
more competitive for recruiting internally and externally.
ALTERNATIVES/CONSIDERATIONS
Deny salary increases for the Electrical Technician, Instrument Technician, and the
Electrical/Instrumentation Supervisor classifications.
FINANCIAL IMPACTS
If approved, this action will result in an annual cost of $74,780.
November 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 53 of 164
Page 3 of 3
COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION
The Administration Committee reviewed this matter at its meeting on November 5, 2024 and
recommended Board approval.
RECOMMENDED BOARD ACTION
Approve Human Resources recommendation to increase the salary of the Electrical Technician and
I nstrument Technician classifications by five percent and the Electrical/I nstrumentation Supervisor by two
and one-half percent.
Strategic Plan re -In
GOAL THREE: Workforce Diversity and Development
Strategy 2 - Engage employees and conduct labor relations in a transparent, effective and collaborative
environment, Strategy 3 - Retain skilled workers by investing in resources and opportunities for all employees to grow
and thrive
November 21, 2024 Regular Board Meeting Agenda Packet - Page 54 of 164