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RESOLUTION NO. 2014-182 OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF CHULA VISTA AMENDING THE FISCAL YEAR 2014-15 AUTHORIZED POSITION COUNT FOR THE LIBRARY DEPARTMENT BY ADDING 1.0 LIBRARIAN I POSITION AND ELIMINATING 1.0 LIBRARY ASSOCIATE POSITION
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommended Action
Council adopt the resolution.
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SUMMARY
The Chula Vista Library currently has 5.00 Librarian I/II budgeted positions and 8.5 Library Associate positions. As of August 31st 2014, one Library Associate position is vacant due to a retirement. The Library would like to replace this vacant Library Associate position with a Librarian I position. This will improve retention of Librarians within the organization, provide adequate Librarian coverage on the schedules, and also aid succession planning within the Library.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The Development Services Director has reviewed the proposed activity, amending the General Fund Budget of the Library Department, for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has determined that the activity is not a "Project" in accordance with Section 15378(b)(2) of the State CEQA Guidelines because it is a personnel/budget related action; therefore, pursuant to Section 15060(c)(3) of the State CEQA Guidelines the activity is not subject to CEQA. Thus, no environmental review is necessary.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
The Library Board of Trustees considered this proposal at their meeting on August 20th 2014 and approved this action on the basis that it will improve operations and services with no increase to the library operations budget.
DISCUSSION
The Chula Vista Library has 5.0 budgeted Librarian I/II positions and 8.5 budgeted Library Associate positions. These employees are currently spread across three library locations, which are open a combined total of 160 hours a week. For every hour a library facility is open, a schedule is developed that assigns at least one librarian as a librarian-in-charge. This small number of budgeted Librarian I/II positions means that to ensure adequate facility management and supervision, the Library Department must depend on a roster of hourly librarians. Increasingly the Library Department has found that recruitment and retention of hourly librarians is an ongoing challenge, as hourly librarians often pursue full-time opportunities elsewhere. In addition, the small number of Librarian I/II's on staff will not allow the Library Department to conduct succession planning, if and when senior library staff retires.
The annual salary of a Library Associate is $42,054 and the annual salary of a Librarian I is $46,260. The difference in hourly pay between a Library Associate and a Librarian I is $2.03.
With the recent retirement of a Library Associate, the Library Department would like to convert this position to a Librarian I. The annual budgeted difference between the two positions is $4,206 and will be covered by salary savings while the position is vacant and the recruitment takes place. The ongoing fiscal impact in future years will be covered by an offsetting reduction in the Library's budgeted hourly wages. There is therefore no ongoing fiscal impact to the Library's operating budget.
DECISION-MAKER CONFLICT
Staff has reviewed the decision contemplated by this action and has determined that it is not site specific and consequently, the 500-foot rule found in the California Code of Regulations section 18704.2(a)(1) is not applicable to this decision. Staff is not independently aware, not has staff been informed by any City Councilmember, of any other fact that may constitute a basis for a decision maker conflict of interest in this matter.
LINK TO STRATEGIC GOALS
The City's Strategic Plan has five major goals: Operational Excellence, Economic Vitality, Healthy Community, Strong and Secure Neighborhoods and a Connected Community. Converting a Library Associate position to a Librarian I/II position supports the goal of Operational Excellence, as it will ensure that the Library can provide professional librarians in each library facility as librarians-in-charge, capable of assuming responsibility for facility management and daily supervision.
CURRENT YEAR FISCAL IMPACT
There is no current year fiscal impact as the difference in annual salary between a Library Associate and a Librarian I will be covered by at least one month of salary savings.
ONGOING FISCAL IMPACT
There is no ongoing fiscal impact to the Library Department's operating budget as the difference in salary costs associated with making this staffing change will be covered by a corresponding reduction in the Library's allocation for hourly employee's wages.
Staff Contact: Stephanie Loney, Principal Librarian