Title
Add Positions in Planning and Development Department to Meet Increased Construction Activity (Ordinance S-46288)
Description
Request to authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to add 15 new positions to the base staff level in the Planning and Development Department. No General Fund dollars are requested to support this request; Development Services funds are available.
Report
Summary
Development activity continues to steadily increase over the past several years and staffing has not maintained equivalent levels. The Planning and Development Department continues to utilize innovation, efficiency improvements, technology and contract staff to meet the increasing demands, but there remains a need to increase the base level of staff. The requested positions are in areas of the department that have been most impacted by the increase in construction activity, specifically in Plan Review and Inspections. This targeted increase in staff will help ensure that development activity is not negatively impacting development customers/stakeholders. See Attachment A for the positions being requested.
Financial Impact
The estimated cost for the positions for the remainder of the FY 2019-20 is estimated to be $888,227, with full year costs for FY 2020-21 is estimated to be $1,401,276. The total costs for the 15 positions is estimated to be $2,289.503 for Planning and Development. Community and Economic Development will be responsible for half of the cost of the Attorney IV position in the amount of $23,151 for FY 2019-20 and $46,301 for FY 2020-21, which will be paid for from the Downtown Community Reinvestment Fund. No General Funds are requested to support this request and Development Services funds are available.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant Deanna Jonovich and Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua, and the Community and Economic Development and the Planning and Development departments.