To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: APPOINTMENT OF TWO PLANNER III INCUMBENTS TO A NON-CONFORMING SALARY STEP IN THE PRINCIPAL PLANNER A JOB CLASS
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution No. 2023/591 to appoint, effective November 1, 2023, Planner III incumbents 71393 and 79502 to the class of Principal Planner - Level A (5AHD) at Step 7 of the ZA2-1871 salary range, in the Department of Conservation and Development.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The estimated annual cost of $16,800 is associated with this action is budgeted in the Land Development Fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Department of Conservation and Development will promote two DCD Planner III incumbents to the class of Principal Planner-Level A, as a result of competitive recruitment. The employees currently receive differential pay of ten percent on a regular basis as allowed under the Local 21 MOU (Section 42.19) in recognition of complex and special Planner III assignments. The differential pay is not available to Principal Planner classifications. Based on the Salary Regulations rules on promotion, the specialized differential is not used to calculate step placement upon promotion, which, if strictly interpreted, will result in the employees receiving a reduction to pay. This serves as a disincentive for competent employees to take promotions. Consequently, the County Administrator is recommending that an exception to the Salary Regulations be made to allow both employees (Employee Identification Numbers 71393 and 79502) to be appointed to Step 7 of the Principal Planner - Level A classification.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this action is not approved, the listed incumbents will be adversely impacted by having to accept a reduction in pay with the current promotional opportunity.
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
and for Special Districts, Agencies and Authorities Governed by the Board
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IN THE MATTER OF appointing two Department of Conservation and Development Planner III incumbents to the class of Principal Planner - Level A at nonconforming salary steps.
WHEREAS, the salary regulations state that “Any employee who is appointed to a position of a class allocated to a higher salary range than the class he previously occupied shall receive the salary in the new salary range which is next higher than the rate he was receiving before promotion”; and
WHEREAS, Planner III incumbents 71393 and 79502, in the Department of Conservation and Development currently receive on a regular basis a salary differential of ten percent (10%) in recognition of their special and complex Planner III assignments as provided under the IFPTE Local 21 MOU (Section 42.19); and
WHEREAS, the County Salary Regulations, if strictly applied with these promotions to Principal Planner - Level A, would result in a reduction in pay for both employees; and
WHEREAS, as recommended by the appointing authority, there is a need to recognize and compensate these employees for the complex work assigned to the Principal Planner - Level A classification;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT effective November 1, 2023, Planner III incumbents 71393 and 79502 are appointed to the class of Principal Planner - Level A (5AHD) at Step 7 of the ZA2-1871 salary range.
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