Title
Amendments to Classification Plan S-5815 in Accordance with Human Resources Committee 612A Recommendations (Ordinance S-48258)
Description
As part of a classification and compensation study, the following amendments to the Classification Plan [S-5815] are proposed in accordance with the recommendation of Human Resources Committee 612A. The proposal will also require modifications to the City’s Pay Ordinance [S-47689] which will be processed under a separate ordinance.
Establish the classification of Assistant Chief Presiding Judge (NC), Job Code: 10580, Salary Plan: 018, Grade: 970 ($92.55 hourly), Benefit Category: 010, Labor Unit Code: 008, EEO-4 Category: Officials and Administrator, FLSA Status: Exempt.
Modify the classification of City Judge (NC), Job Code: 10570, Salary Plan: 013, Benefit Category: 009, Labor Unit Code: 008, EEO-4 Category: Officials and Administrator, FLSA Status: Exempt, from Grade: 880 ($71.818 hourly) to Grade: 880 ($84.14 hourly).
Modify the classification of Presiding Court Hearing Officer (NC), Job Code: 10060, Salary Plan: 001, Benefit Category: 007, Labor Unit Code: 008, EEO-4 Category: Professionals, FLSA Status: Exempt, from Salary Plan: 001 to Salary Plan: 013, Grade: 870 ($71.52 hourly), Benefit Category: 009, EEO-4 Category: Officials and Administrator.
Modify the classification of Municipal Court Hearing Officer (NC), Job Code: 10050, Salary Plan: 001, Grade: 081 ($50.273 hourly), Benefit Category: 007, Labor Unit Code: 008, EEO-4 Category: Professionals, FLSA Status: Exempt, to Salary Plan: 013, Grade: 860 ($58.90 hourly), Benefit Category: 009, EEO-4 Category: Officials and Administrator.
Report
Summary
Background
The City of Phoenix Municipal Court supports nearly 40 judges yet has no official structural alignment to provide management and administrative oversight to those judges. There is one position that has a working title of “Assistant Presiding Judge,” but this position is classified and compensated the same as all other judges. Because this role provides managerial and supervisory functions, it makes sense to establish a separate organizational level for this role and compensate the position appropriately. A new grade would also be established concurrent with the establishment of the classification. These actions are contingent upon changes to the City Code that would authorize such.
During the review of the judicial structure, staff also reviewed the salary and compensation packages for other courts in the local labor market. Without exception, all of the neighboring municipalities allow for a salary review process that provides the flexibility to adjust salaries on a periodic basis to remain competitive in the marketplace.
Phoenix, however, has salary rates for judges specified in City Code at the same rate provided to the judges of the Superior Court of Arizona. As a result, Phoenix judges are compensated at the lowest rate in the local market, and there is no opportunity or flexibility provided by the City Code to resolve this situation. A request for comparable salary information from neighboring municipalities in the local labor market was conducted between August through October 2021.
Municipality Base Salary
Scottsdale $202,384
Surprise $186,803
Mesa $173,430
Tempe $173,348
Chandler $176,008
Glendale $169,635
Gilbert $168,637
Maricopa County Superior Court $149,400
Tucson $119,467
Flagstaff $110,023
It is recommended to exclude Tucson and Flagstaff from further analysis; their salaries are considerably lower than the others, and geographically they are not within the immediate labor market of Phoenix.
A simple average of the neighboring cities (including Maricopa County Superior Court) yields $174,956. Staff recommend adjusting the annual salary up slightly to $175,011. This would move Phoenix to be competitively positioned in the labor market. This action is contingent upon changes to the City Code that would authorize such.
Furthermore, recognizing the supervisory responsibilities of the Assistant Chief Presiding Judge, staff are recommending a base salary calculated at 10 percent above that of the judges. This results in a salary of $192,504. This action is contingent upon changes to the City Code that would authorize such.
City Code currently provides for the Court Hearing Officers and Presiding Court Hearing Officers to receive the same benefits as provided for in the supervisory and professional pay plan of the City of Phoenix. However, because the roles and responsibilities are closely tied to the judges, and their base salary is calculated as a percentage of the judges, it is recommended the benefit package of the Hearing Officers be revised be to the same as that of the judges, namely the same benefits as provided for in the middle management pay plan of the City of Phoenix. These actions are contingent upon changes to the City Code that would authorize such.
The proposed changes to Section 5, paragraph (r) are intended to allow these classifications to receive salary increases consistent with those afforded to other Unit 9 and 10 employees.
These amendments are effective on Jan. 24, 2022.
Financial Impact
The total estimated cost for the entire proposal is $825,000.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
This action was reviewed and recommended for approval by Human Resources Committee 612A on Dec. 9, 2021.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Assistant City Manager Lori Bays and the Human Resources Department.