94-0419_CC_Minutes_Adjourned Regular Meeting301
' APRIL 19, 1994
ADJOURNED REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, CALIFORNIA
The Adjourned Regular Meeting of the City Council of the City of San Juan Capistrano, California was called to order
by Mayor Campbell at 6:04 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, for a presentation on the Classification and Compensation
Study. The meeting was held jointly with the Capistrano Valley Water District.
PRESENT: Collene Campbell, Mayor
Carolyn Nash, Mayor pro tem
Gary L. Hausdorfer, Council Member
Gil Jones, Council Member
Jeff Vasquez, Council Member (arrived at 6:10 p.m.)
ABSENT: None
STAFF PRESENT: George Scarborough, City Manager; Richard K. Denhalter, City Attorney; Cheryl Johnson, City
Clerk.
e:
Opportunity for Ralph Andersen &Associates to provide Council Members with an overview of classification
and compensation issues and to address specific questions on the Study being undertaken for the City and the
Capistrano Valley Water District. The consulting firm of Ralph Andersen & Associates was authorized to
conduct the Classification and Compensation Study for the City and the Capistrano Valley Water District on
February 1, 1994. Douglas Johnson, lead consultant on the Study was in attendance to make the presentation.
Written Communications:
Report dated April 19, 1994, from the Management Assistant 11.
Pr sese enLation
Mr. Johnson advised that a Classification Plan describes the duties and responsibilities of the positions and jobs
within an organization. All positions were evaluated through questionnaires and interviews to discern if duties
and responsibilities fit the current job classification. The objective was to structure the Classification Plan to
maximize flexibility and the employer's ability to get the job done. The Classification Study results in a list of
job duties, responsibilities, qualifications, knowledge, skill, and education used as a basis for recruitment
Mr. Johnson advised there are several aspects to setting compensation. The market pricing approach sets
compensation according to what outside employers are paying. The second aspect reviews the City organization
to assure there is equity and a structure that fns the organization and recognizes differences in duties and
responsibilities. He advised that any salary changes identified through the Study would be based on a distinct
difference from the prevailing wage or market place practice for that job or on an internal equity issue. He
further noted that a cost analysis would be performed and options identified for implementing the results of the
Study.
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Mr. Johnson advised that draft classification recommendations would be available within the next week; the
compensation work would be available thereafter. —
Council Discussion/(llestio .c;
Council Member Vasquez asked about the methodology used to evaluate benefits. Mr. Johnson advised that
hard cost items were critical in the review; qualitative benefits were briefly reviewed. Through trend analysis
categories can be identified where the City may be competitive and it may be weak. Differences in benefits
between the City and the market place will be reported, including leave and non -dollar benefits. Mayor
Campbell felt that the City's environment, lack of traffic and parking problems for employees and general
conveniences were benefits that should be a factor in the Study. Mr. Johnson stated that the Study makes
comparisons with competitors in the client's locale, which will pick up those intangible qualities. He felt the
qualitative issues will be of benefit to the City if there is no difficulty in recruiting or retaining employees.
Council will need to determine the importance of the qualitative issues in deciding salary levels.
Council Member Vasquez stated his desire for the Study to quantify every benefit offered in order to compare
the total cost of benefits. Council Member Hausdorfer felt it would be most helpful to know where the City fits
in relation to other public and private agencies; that there needs to be a quantitative analysis of all costs and how
they line up.
Council Member Jones felt that it was important that the Study consider that the very uniqueness and complexity
of the City's processes required certain skills and knowledge of employees; that those skills should be
acknowledged.
Council Member Nash felt a good identification of employee benefits was vital, stating that the Council's basic
goal was to know where the City stood relative to the rest of the County; that the emphasis should not be just
on classification. Council Member Vasquez inquired if the ability to pay was a factor in the Study. Mr.
Johnson advised that the ability to pay is a key factor; that their goal was to produce recommendations that were —
technically sound and would not cause the City to extend itself, while at the same time assuring employees that
the salary plan was fair and did recognize their skills and abilities.
Lei •y 34 1 ••
There being no further business before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:43 p.m., to the next regular meeting
date of Tuesday, April 19, 1994, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
Respectfully submitted,
CHERYL JOH990NCCITY
ATTEST:
Adjourned City Council Minutes -2- 4/19/94