ITEM:		CONSENT CALENDAR
13.	CONSIDER PLACING THE SENIOR WATER RESOURCES ENGINEER POSITION ON THE DISTRICT’S CURRENT SALARY SCALE
Meeting Date:			January 25, 2019	Budgeted:	No
From:			David J. Stoldt,	Program/	N/A
			General Manager	Line Item No.:
Prepared By:			David J. Stoldt	Cost Estimate:	$6,341 annually $2,642 in FY20-21, plus benefits
General Counsel Approval: N/A
Committee Recommendation: N/A
CEQA Compliance: This action does not constitute a project as defined by the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines Section 15378.

SUMMARY: The Water Resources Engineer, Maureen Hamilton, was promoted to Senior Water Resources Engineer in December, with a salary adjustment to occur in the first pay period following the January 25, 2021 Board meeting. When the position was approved by the Board a salary range was not established because recruitment was done for three different authorized positions on the District’s engineering position ladder in hope that we would find a qualified candidate for one or more of them. Ms. Hamilton was hired in August 2016 in the Water Resources Engineer position, hence both the Senior Water Resources Engineer and the Assistant Water Resources Engineer position salaries were never established. The District then revised its salary schedule based on the 2016-17 salary survey. As a result, there is no established salary for the position.

Ms. Hamilton has been an exemplary addition to the District team managing construction of ASR backflush pit expansion and the chemical building, project management for the Pure Water Monterey injection well field (having additional reporting duties to Monterey One Water), manages the IRWM grant process, among other duties. During her time with the District she became a registered Professional Engineer in a discipline in which she was not previously trained.

The proposed salary at Range 44 Step E will result in a 5% annual increase.

RECOMMENDATION: The General Manager recommends the Board place the Senior Water Resources Engineer position at Range 44 Step E on the District’s salary schedule.

BACKGROUND: In October and early November of 2015, the District conducted extensive recruitment for a Water Resources Engineer. Despite one month of advertisement on multiple government, private industry and professional websites, as well as in related publications, this recruitment yielded only three applications. A highly qualified candidate, willing to accept the salary and benefits package was not found. In January and February of 2016, the District engaged in an ever more extensive recruitment at the Senior Water Resources Engineer level. In addition to the advertisement described above, a recruitment brochure was created for targeted mailing to Engineering departments and individuals at twenty-three public agencies involved in projects similar to those conducted at the District. Despite the more aggressive outreach and significantly higher salary, only three applications were received. Of the two candidates authorized to work in the United States, neither had the experience needed to successfully perform at the Senior Water Resources Engineer level without extensive training.

It was determined that finding an advanced journey or senior level Water Resources Engineer may not have been possible. Therefore, in early 2016 staff proposed creating a basic journey-level position as the entry to the District’s Water Resources Engineer career ladder. That position, entitled Assistant Water Resources Engineer would require a degree in Civil Engineering or a closely related field and two years of experience working with other Civil Engineering professionals.

The District then publicized an Engineering vacancy that could be hired at any of the three levels on the career ladder. That search resulted in the hiring of Ms. Hamilton at the Water Resources Engineer position.

EXHIBIT

None

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