Minutes 01/24/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 24, 2017 “ORDINANCE TO AMEND ARTICLE III OF CHAPTER 2 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA (2006) (OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES GENERALLY) BY AMENDING AND REORDAINING SECTION 2-112 (ANNUAL LEAVE) AND SECTION 2-113 (SICK LEAVE) TO REFLECT THE ACCRUAL OF CERTAIN TYPES OF LEAVE ON A PAY PERIOD RATHER THAN MONTHLY BASIS AND TO MAKE CERTAIN ADDITIONAL MODIFICATIONS.” Ayes: Cherry, Clark, Lucas-Burke, Moody, Psimas, Whitaker, Rowe Nays: None 17 - 55 - Adoption of an ordinance to amend the City of Portsmouth Classification and Pay Plan for FY 2017 to approve payment of a conditional, one-time $1,000 stipend to eligible sworn employees, paramedics and dispatchers in the Police Department and the Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services. Vision Principle: Efficient Service Delivery. Background:  The city of Portsmouth seeks to retain current employees in Police Department and Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services Department positions including police, fire, paramedics and dispatchers. The city is recommending providing a $1,000 retention stipend to all sworn Police and Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services officers, dispatchers and paramedics in the month of February to encourage continued employment with the city of Portsmouth.  A team has been working on strategies to retain current employees and attract potential employees for Police, Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services positions. Approaches are multi-faceted, mainly concentrating on hiring practices and salary structures. Some strategies are already underway but others require more budget analysis. One recommendation, to retain current employees, is to provide a retention stipend in February 2017 with the stipulation that the funds would be returned to the city if the employee left employment prior to July 1, 2017. Discussion:  Like other agencies, both locally and nationally, the city of Portsmouth needs to attract and retain a full well-trained complement of Police and Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services employees.  The training for Police and Fire, Rescue & Emergency Services positions is extensive and time consuming. It benefits the city to retain current employees in positions for which the timespan to hire and train a recruit is lengthy.  There are currently numerous vacancies in these departments that will take months to fully staff so it is important to retain personnel for appropriate coverage.  Therefore, the city is recommending to City Council a stipend for FY 2017 with the expectation that further salary recommendations will be submitted as part of the FY 2018 budget process.  The stipend will be paid in February 2017. To receive the stipend, an employee will be required to sign an acknowledgement that the stipend must be paid back to the city if the employee voluntarily leaves employment prior to July 1, 2017. Financial Impact:  Based on current staffing, the stipend and FICA would cost approximately $860,000 and would not require an increase to the city's operating budget. While the city budgeted $2,006,000 for employee bonuses in FY 2017 there remains $860,000 of savings for the general fund. This funding can be used for the $1,000 (net) stipend . Staff Recommends:  Adoption of the ordinance. Vision Principle: Efficient Service Delivery. Next Steps Following Council Action:  Human Resources, Finance and IT will work with the departments of Police and Fire, Rescue, & Emergency Services on the communication to employees. A test run will be completed in the new payroll system and the stipend will be distributed in mid- February.