February 28, 2006

SUBJECT:  AMENDMENT TO THE CLASSIFICATION PLAN AND SALARY RESOLUTION:  ADD THE NEW CLASSIFICATION SERIES OF FACILITIES TECHNICIAN I/II/III

REPORT IN BRIEF

This report recommends amending the Classification Plan and Salary Resolution to include the new classification series of Facilities Technician I/II/III.

BACKGROUND

In FY 2002/03, Council approved the concept of flexible staffing for Facilities Technician Workers; budget allocation was adopted in the form of the existing flexibly-staffed classifications of Parks Worker I/II/III.  This proposal to establish the classifications of Facilities Technician I/II/III is modeled after the Parks Worker I/II/III series and will provide employees with an opportunity to promote, based on their demonstrated proficiency of the required education, training and certifications for the higher classification level. The Facilities Technician class concept, if approved, will properly depict the type of work performed within the Facilities Management Division and allow for a more customized future recruitment and selection process. 

DISCUSSION

The activities associated with the Facilities Management Division include the upkeep and maintenance of City facilities through regular maintenance schedules and/or responding to requests from City staff.  Facilities Technician Workers perform a variety of routine, semi-skilled and skilled tasks in the construction, repair and maintenance of City buildings, structures and equipment. Presently, these duties are assigned to one of the following stand-alone classifications (Maintenance Worker, Utility Worker or Senior Utility Worker), depending on the complexity of the job assignment.  A competitive recruitment process is conducted in order to elevate the employee from Maintenance Worker to Utility Worker; and from Utility Worker to Senior Utility Worker.  In addition, assignment of more difficult work is restricted to conform to the official class specification.

The competency-based classification series of Facilities Technician I/II/III is designed to: (a) facilitate assignment of job duties within the Facilities Management Division, and (b) to provide career growth for potential applicants. The class series consists of three job levels that are flexibly-staffed.  Movement between levels occurs when an individual is able to demonstrate proficiency in all areas of competency (i.e., knowledge, skills and abilities) required for the higher class.  The distinguishing characteristics of each of the three levels are contained in the class specification found in Exhibit A. 

Flexible staffing strategy has been utilized in several of Sunnyvale’s job classifications and benefits both the employer and the employee.  The City has the flexibility to assign increasingly difficult duties as the employee acquires the skills necessary to perform them. The employee benefits in terms of job knowledge, and promotional advancement opportunity. Once an employee has demonstrated all the competencies inherent in the next level, advancement can occur from a Facility Technician I to II, and II to III.  Promotions are typically made after the employee has been in the lower classification for a designated period of time (e.g., one year) with a satisfactory performance appraisal.

Upon Council approval of the Facilities Technician series, employees who are now a Maintenance Worker, Utility Worker, or Sr. Utility Worker will be reclassified into one of the appropriate job levels within the new Facilities Technician series, as delineated below, with no impact to their pay; the salary ranges for Maintenance Worker, Utility Worker, and Sr. Utility Worker have a corresponding level to the salary ranges being recommended for the Facilities Technicians. The Sunnyvale Employees’ Association (SEA) has concurred with the classification changes and the assignment of the Facilities Technician Classification series to its bargaining unit for representation purposes.

Current Classification Allocation          Recommended Classification Level

Maintenance Worker	Facilities Technician  I
Utility Worker	Facilities Technician  II
Senior Utility Worker	Facilities Technician  III

ASSIGNMENT OF JOB CODES AND PAY RANGES

The pay ranges and salary steps are based on internal salary relationships to the parallel classification series of Parks Worker I/II/III as follows:

FACILITIES TECHNICIAN I

Job Code	5310	Pay Range	680
Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5
22.1563	23.2641	24.4273	25.6487	26.9311

FACILITIES TECHNICIAN II

Job Code	5315	Pay Range	681
Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5
23.2417	24.4038	25.6240	26.9052	28.2505

FACILITIES TECHNICIAN III

Job Code	5320	Pay Range	682
Step 1	Step 2	Step 3	Step 4	Step 5
25.2155	26.4763	27.8001	29.1901	30.6496