Sharon Duca

Thank you, Mr. President. Mayor, and members of council, tonight's uh recommendation is regarding the uh reallocation of budgeted personnel resources. It involves two departments: the Electric Department and the Police Department. Starting with the Electric Department, in the fiscal year '27 budget uh there was a groundworker position frozen. Since that time, we've had a lineman resign from the city. We have also lost two electrical engineers, and we have received the uh paperwork for the retirement of the local electric director. We evaluated the budgetary and staffing implications of these personnel changes and the resulting needs of the department. It's been determined that these four positions leaving the city could result in $311,000 savings. We then looked at the replacement of these positions, which will happen, uh but some of them will take some time to recruit the uh appropriate pools. And in light of these staffing implications, I apologize for long paragraphs. Um we are uh we are requesting to unfreeze the groundworker position, as well as, open the electrical director position to allow for mental overlap uh training with the current director. The estimate for these adjustments is projected at $271,000. Due to these projections, the proposal will stay within approved budget levels for the Electric Department.

The second request is regarding to the Police Department. They have also had uh varying uh vacancies within the department. Um one position of particular concern for the police is uh they've been notified about the intent for the accreditation manager to retire. And as a result, um they're looking for an overlap to allow for us to hire a manager sooner so that they can train for a few months before the other one leaves. Uh we have analyzed with the staff at the Police Department the savings within the department due to vacancies. Uh we've also included estimates related to overtime and the additional costs that are associated there uh resulting in overtime as a result of the vacancies. Um is currently seen a differential of $700,000. Uh while staff, the Police Department, is actively trying to replace vacancies, we did do an estimate on the savings and found an overlap cost of $58,000 uh which would be covered by available funds at this time within the budget. It should be noted that uh any overlap for either position uh either department would not occur until official documentation is received of their retirement.

As a result, staff recommendation is to authorize the City Manager to unfreeze and hire the groundworker position in the Electric Department, as well as start the hiring process for the Electric Director and accreditation manager positions upon receipt of required resignation/retirement paperwork. Thank you.

Are you particularly concerned about the Police Department side of it?

Um in terms of the proposal here, um I guess it should first be noted, the Electric Department is funded out of the electric fund, the police is the general fund, so neither of these proposals are crossing the government lines, so to speak. Um so for the Electric Department side, uh we looked at how much uh the positions would have that before they were vacated, how much we would have had to spend on them.

Um we projected the time period that it would that we've already been short those positions this fiscal year uh to look at those savings, uh which no which hiring anybody after this current date, everything in the past is savings because we didn't spend it. Um so that's where we came up with uh savings from these four positions going forward would be the $311,000 on the Electric Department side.

But the proposal to replace those positions in certain timing aspects uh is $271,000.

The um The Police Department um they have various vacancies on the civilian side as well. This analysis that we did included officers and civilians. Um but in general, uh for this one overlap on the accreditation manager, uh they've been without one of their civilian positions this entire fiscal year, and just that position alone, there's past savings um that would cover this request for an overlap of a few months.

Unfortunately, I have the civilians all grouped together, so I have more...