Agenda - Council - 12/12/1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I CASE # I 1996 ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES By: Ryan R. Schroeder, City Administrator Background:" On Septembe~'f 12, 1995, Council directed that the Personnel Committee make recommendations regarding staffing impacts of the proposed 1996 budget. On November 14, 1995, th~ Personnel Committee met and approved all personal services recommendatiogs but for proposals related to impacts to the Environmental Services position, r Currently, the Environmental Specialist is a 0.35 FTE position. The 1996 budget proposes elimination of t~is position. At the November 14 meeting, staff presented four options related to this pq>sition. 1. Eliminate th~ position and lay off the incumbent 2. Utilize fund~ from elsewhere to reinstate the position ' 3. Eliminate ~ position but provide funding for an altered position or create a new position wi~in the budget 4. Eliminate tile full time public works position proposed within the budget to allow the existing pos!tion to retain funding. It was also note4 that elimination of the part-time position does not disallow the opportunity for the incumbent to apply for the created full time public works position. Council directe~ that this issue be revisited with perhaps additional suggestions being forwarded. ~ Our greatest nex~d for itinerant, or part time regular assistance, is in the warm months of the year. Most of c/Ur calls for forestry assistance are in the summer as are inspections in this area. The sameiis tree for public works assistance but for snow emergencies. The same is the case for ac,t~i,'fies such as code enforcement and other inspection activities (building, paving and the l~ke). As our utility ~d park systems grow, the need for staffing in those areas increases. In the utility area we deed licensed staff in order to maintain the system. We have reached the point where cu{rent staffing in this area is overburdened. In the parks area we have extended shifts ~ order to provide the most effective use of part-time staff'mg for ground maintenance in the summer, and rink maintenance in the winter. It has been expected (and it has been occhrring) that the maintenance staff will be cross trained in order to add forestry trimmihg (minor trimming for storm or other hazard situations) and some inspections. It!is thought that much of the educational component would be handled through other ~endors such as the DNR, U of M, and the County Soil and Water personnel. The3e changes then limit the necessity for a position dedicated solely for the purpose of fore~try, given our current level of programming. An elimination of the full- time maintenande position is not recommended given our level of activities in that area. We do, however:, last year, we ha expected, that if term project assi these are summ~ have an ongoing need for code enforcement activities. As was the case ye been expecting to use interns for this activity this summer. We also the part-time budget had room (which is expected) we could bring on short stance much like the Police Department transcriptionist in this year. Since '~r activities, however, we did not wish to request funding for positions