Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - July 19, 2017 I-01CITY OF LODI COUNCIL COMMUNICATION TM AGENDA ITEM 2 - 1 AGENDA TITLE: Adopt Resolution Approving Incentive Pay for Certified Playground Safety Inspector MEETING DATE: July 19, 2017 SUBMITTED BY: Human Resources Manager RECOMMENDED ACTION: Adopt resolution approving incentive pay for Certified Playground Safety Inspector. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Services (PRCS) Department is responsible for the maintenance of 26 public parks within the City of Lodi; of which 17 have playground structures that must be inspected on a regular and routine basis to ensure the playground equipment and grounds are free from hazards and are in compliance with playground -related standards and guidelines. Out -of -compliance, broken, or damaged playgrounds can place children at risk of injury or death and places the City in a position for litigation. California law (Health and Safety Code section 115725-115735), requires that new playgrounds open to the public built by a public agency shall conform to the playground -related standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the playground -related guidelines set forth by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission. Additionally, all public agencies operating playgrounds shall have a playground safety inspector, certified by the National Playground Safety Institute. The Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) program provides comprehensive and up-to-date training on playground safety and trains professionals to: • Identify hazards on public playground equipment and grounds; • Rank hazards according to injury potential; • Apply knowledge gained to remove hazards, and; • Establish a system of inspections and maintenance. Playground inspections for the City of Lodi were previously performed by the Park Superintendent and the CPSI certification is a requirement of that classification. With the recent retirement of the Park Superintendent, the City has not had an employee certified to perform these functions. Additionally, the PRCS Director's restructuring plan does not provide for replacement of the Park Superintendent in the foreseeable future due to a lack of financial resources. As such, the City proposed to have a lower level classification perform the inspection duties and obtain the required certification. This requires appropriate compensation for these additional duties and responsibilities. The alternative option would be to pay a third party vendor to conduct the inspections at a substantially higher cost to the City. The City wishes to provide a monthly incentive of $100 for employees who are assigned to conduct such inspections on behalf of the City, and who successfully complete the CPSI program and obtains certification. The PRCS Director will determine how many employees may be eligible for the incentive, APPROVED: S ep en Schwabauer, City Manager based on operational needs. Recently, the Parks Supervisor successfully completed the CPSI program and obtained the certification to perform playground safety inspections. It is staff's recommendation that a new incentive for Certified Playground Safety Inspector of $100 per month be approved. City staff met with representatives from AFSCME and they are in concurrence with the proposed monthly incentive. Staff recommends Council approve the new incentive to be paid on a prospective basis. FISCAL IMPACT: The fiscal impact in FY 2017/18 would be approximately $1,200. There is minimal on-going impact to the General Fund. FUNDING AVAILABLE: Increased expenses will be absorbed within existing appropriations. adth, d)a Adele Post, Human Resources Manager Andrew Keys, Deputy City Manager/Internal Services Director RESOLUTION NO. 2017-141 A RESOLUTION OF THE LODI CITY COUNCIL APPROVING INCENTIVE PAY FOR CERTIFIED PLAYGROUND SAFETY INSPECTOR WHEREAS, California law (Health and Safety Code section 115725-11535), requires that new playgrounds open to the public built by a public agency shall conform to the playground -related standards set forth by the American Society for Testing and Materials and the playground -related guidelines set forth by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission; and WHEREAS, all public agencies operating playgrounds shall have a playground safety inspector, certified by the National Playground Safety Institute; and WHEREAS, the City of Lodi is responsible for the inspection and maintenance of 17 playgrounds; and WHEREAS, the City does not currently provide additional compensation for possession of playground safety inspection certification for members within the AFSCME Maintenance and Operators (M&O) bargaining unit; and WHEREAS, representatives from the City and AFSCME M&O have met and conferred and tentatively agreed that the City will provide compensation for members of the bargaining unit who obtain and maintain certification as a Certified Playground Safety Inspector and who are assigned to perform playground safety inspections; and WHEREAS, the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director has sole discretion on the number of Certified Playground Safety Inspectors required to perform playground inspections. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Lodi City Council does hereby approve incentive pay in the amount of $100 per month for employees in the AFSCME M&O bargaining unit who become Certified Playground Safety Inspectors and who are assigned to perform playground safety inspections by the Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services Director. Date: July 19, 2017 I hereby certify that Resolution No. 2017-141 was passed and adopted by the Lodi City Council in a regular meeting held July 19, 2017, by the following vote: AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — Chandler, Johnson, Mounce, Nakanishi, and Mayor Kuehne NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS — None NNIFER . FERRAIOLO ity Clerk 2017-141