Salary Updates for Two Positions on Monday’s Consent Calendar

As part of the Pasadena City Council’s agenda consent calendar, the council on Monday will consider establishing new classifications for some employees and giving raises to two current administrators. 

“As part of a recent review, Human Resources recommends establishing two new classifications to meet the changing operational needs of the Fleet Maintenance Division in the Public Works Department and the Planning and Community Development Department, as well as updating existing salaries for two employees in the City Manager’s office and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Services,” according to a city report on the proposal.

The resolution would establish a $139,940 annual salary control rate for the Public Information Officer position.

The PIO, which is a critical position in the city’s efforts to provide transparency, develops and coordinates the city’s public affairs program and advises management on public activities.

According to a compensation survey, the city is currently paying below the market average compared to similar positions with the same scope of authority and responsibility. 

“Increasing the control rate provides market-based compensation and improved retention for this critical role,” according to the staff report.

Also by a single motion for approval and a sweep vote by the council, the annual salary for a Parks, Recreation and Community Services Administrator would be set at $151,690. 

A senior-level manager reports to Brenda Harvey Wiliams, director of Parks, Recreation and Community Services, and serves as the department’s primary point of contact for all recreation programs and services. 

Increasing the salary of this position, according to the report, will create internal alignment with the Parks Administrator, a position that has a similar scope of responsibility, supervision and required qualifications. This classification is part of the Pasadena Management Association (PMA). 

Two new employee classifications would also be created, one of them calling for a senior equipment mechanic, SEM, who would be responsible for the inspection, diagnosis, repair, and testing of a variety of specialized light, medium and heavy-duty fire and emergency medical services vehicles, as well as other equipment in the city fleet. The position includes an $84,500 annual salary.

“None of the current mechanic classifications in the city require experience and expertise related to fire apparatus. As a result, it has been difficult to recruit and retain qualified technicians to maintain the city’s emergency vehicle fleet,” according to a staff report contained in Monday’s City Council agenda.

Maintenance and repair of the city’s fire vehicles are currently outsourced to vendors under contract lengthening the time it takes to complete repairs and return vehicles to service. 

The addition of the SEM position would build a more robust in-house career path for mechanics and reduce the city’s reliance on contract work, the report states. The result is expected to be improved internal customer service, cost-effectiveness and timeliness of repairs. 

The council is also being asked to create a new classification for a Neighborhood and Business Services Administrator.

The person in this position would make $170,000 and report directly to the director of planning and community development, David Reyes. The administrator would manage the customer-facing functions of code compliance and permitting in the newly established Neighborhood and Business Services Division. 

“This position will oversee approximately 23 employees,” the report reads. “This senior-level manager will be responsible for managing the city’s built environment through the administration of a variety of federal, state and local neighborhood preservation and improvement programs, vacant lot and property abatement, housing and zoning code enforcement, and property-based complaint tracking and resolution. 

Other items on Monday’s consent calendar include a review of the city’s annual financial report and its quarterly investment report.