Request to Convert One Maintenance Worker Position to an Assistant Horticulturalist Position for the Park DivisionCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Consent Items # 023.
Copyrighted
June 20, 2022
ITEM TITLE: Request to Convert One Maintenance Worker Position to an Assistant
Horticultural ist Position for The Park Division.
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending approval of an adjustment in FTE by
revising one year-round part-time Maintenance Worker position to a full-
time Assistant Horticultural ist position for the Parks Division.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Type
Park Division Convert One Year -Round Part -Time to
One Full -Time Position Request and Change City Manager Memo
Maintenance Worker to Assistant Horticulturalist,
Change in FTE for Park Division-MVM Memo
Staff memo Staff Memo
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Park Division Convert One Year -Round Part -Time to One Full -Time
Position Request and Change Maintenance Worker to Assistant
Horticulturalist, Change in FTE for Park Division
DATE: June 14, 2022
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware is recommending City Council approval of an
adjustment in FTE by revising one year-round part-time Maintenance Worker position to
a full-time Assistant Horticulturalist position using funding from temporary short, limited
term employees all within the Parks Division.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Marie Ware, Leisure Services Manager
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
SUBJECT: Park Division Convert One Year -Round Part -Time to One Full -Time
Position Request and Change Maintenance Worker to Assistant
Horticulturalist, Change in FTE for Park Division
DATE: June 13, 2022
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is request approval in FTE to change one year-round
part-time Maintenance Worker position to a full-time Assistant Horticultural ist position
using funding from temporary short, limited term employees all within the Parks
Department. For a change in FTE, City Council action is needed.
BACKGROUND
The Park Division currently has a vacant part-time Maintenance Worker position (.8
FTE). The position is 32 hours per week and includes health benefits. This position is
represented by the Teamsters Union Local 120.
DISCUSSION
Steve Fehsal, Park Division Manager is requesting to change this year-round part-time
Maintenance Worker position to a full-time. He also requested changing the position to
an Assistant Horticulturist to better fit the needs of the Division. The number of and
responsibilities for landscaped areas and the variety of plants, shrubs, and trees that the
park division manages continues to grow. The level of expertise is better suited to an
Assistant Horticulturist job description and duties. The individual that formerly held this
part-time position performed a lot of duties related to maintenance of landscapes. The
wage scale of a Maintenance Worker is the same as the wage scale of an Assistant
Horticulturist (GD-06 $24.73-$27.73 per hour in FY 23).
Steve is recommending using funding from temporary employee salaries currently
budgeted to cover the difference needed for the full-time position. These temporary
employee expense funds are used for hiring approximately five positions (typically
college students) for a limited term from June through August. In the past five years,
the park division has only been able to fill one or two of these positions each season.
There is currently 1.28 FTE's budgeted for the above mentioned temporary employees
in FY23. This a total of 2673 hours in the amount of $43,311. The funds required to
convert the part-time position to a full-time position is .20 FTE in the amount of $12,137.
This would reduce the 1.28 FTE's budgeted for temporary employees by .36 FTE since
these positions are a lower wage. The re -allocation of these funds would still allow the
division to hire approximately three temporary positions as described above. This
recommendation does not impact the funds budgeted for the longer -term temporary
employees that work from May through October.
The park division greenhouse activity budget would add .8 FTE Assistant Horticulturist
employee complement and the park division downtown maintenance activity would
reduce .8 FTE Maintenance Worker employee complement to move the current part
time position to the correct budget area and employee complement. The funding
required from the short-term temporary employees would reduce the park division park
areas and maintenance activity budget .36 FTE Park Groundskeepers employee
complement and add .2 FTE Assistant Horticulturist employee complement to the park
division greenhouse activity.
Steve reached out to Shelley Stickfort, Director of Human Resources and
Kecia Dougherty, Strategic Workforce Equity Coordinator. They approve this request.
Steve also reached out to Jenny Larson, Director of Finance and Budget and she does
not have any concerns with his request.
BUDGETIMPACT
The amount budgeted in FY23 for the part-time maintenance worker is $61,401 and
health benefits are included in the current and FY23 budget. A full-time position
requires $73,538 for a GD-06 Step A. The balance of funds needed is $12,137.
Remove from Downtown Maintenance
10030430 61310 Wages
10030430 61320 Social Security
10030430 61310 IPERS
10030430 61410 Health Insurance
10030430 61416 Life Insurance
Total
ivitv- Maintenance Worker - PT
$41,309
$ 3,160
$ 3,900
$13,032
46
$61,401
Remove from Park Areas and Maintenance Activity -Parks Groundkeepers
10030400 61310 Wages $10,366
10030400 61320 Social Security $ 793
10030400 61310 IPERS 978
Total $12,137
6
Add to Greenhouse Activitv- Assistant Horticulturist - FT
10030430 61310 Wages $51,636
10030430 61320 Social Security $ 3,950
10030430 61310 IPERS $ 4,874
10030430 61410 Health Insurance $13,032
10030430 61416 Life Insurance 46
Total $73,538
If approved, this budgetary change will be made in FY 23 budget amendment number 1.
ACTION STEP
City Manager Mike Van Milligen approved changing the part-time maintenance worker
position to a full-time position using funding from temporary short, limited term
employees. He approved to change the position of Maintenance Worker to an Assistant
Horticulturist based on the facts above. City Council approval is required to authorize
the change in FTE for the Department.
Prepared by Steve Fehsal, Park Division Manager
cc: Jenny Larson, Finance and Budget Director
Shelly Stickfort, Human Resources Director
3