7.2. SR 10-17-2005
Q..
Item # 7.l.
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Scott Clark, Community Development Director
DATE: October I I, 2005
SUBJECT: Environmental Division Positions
Action for Consideration
Staff is seeking Council action to establish the position and starting salaries of an Environmental
Administrator and Environmental Assistant. These actions would effectively eliminate the
current Environmental Technician position and create a separate Environmental Division, as
part of Community Department, with a lead supervisor and an entry level position for assistance.
This item was discussed at the October 3, 2005 City Council meeting as part of organizational
changes for the new Community Development Department.
Background
The duties of the two aforementioned positions are delineated in the attached job descriptions.
Staff recommendation is to establish a starting salary of $63,050 for the Environmental
Administrator (this is a 10% increase of the current position salary of the Environmental
Technician) and to promote Rebecca Haug into this position. As part of this process, a
compensation worth study would be initiated in six months and after completion of this a final
pay grade would be established and sent onto the Council for action.
Staff is recommending that the existing intern, Mara Anderson, be promoted to full time for the
Environmental Assistant position (non-exempt) with a starting annual salary of $31, 500. Similar
to the other position, a compensation worth study would be completed after six months of
employment.
Recommendation
The aforementioned salary requests will be reviewed by the Personal Committee on Friday
afternoon and a verbal report of their findings will be made at the meeting.
City of Elk River
Environmental Administrator
Position Description
Department: Immediate Supervisor:
Community Development Community Development Director
Pay Grade: I FLSA Status: I Last Updated: (date)
Exempt 10/10/05
Positions Supervised:
Environmental Assistant
Position Summary
The Environmental Administrator is responsible for all phases of City environmental issues, including
wetland conservation, recycling, solid waste, landfill considerations, gravel mining and power plant
station concerns. This position's primary responsibility is to maintain and improve the quality of the
environment as it relates to the health, safety and welfare of the residents of Elk River. This position
performs work to ensure compliance with the City ordinances, policies, and the general direction of
the City Council.
Essential Functions
1. Coordinates Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) activities.
A. Administers the city' s Wetland Conservation Act program.
B. Represents the city on the Technical Evaluation Panel.
C. Prepares notices for the public regarding WCA activities.
D. Coordinates the WCA activities with other governmental agencies.
E. Prepares recommendations regarding WCA requests for the City Council and attends meetings
regarding such issues.
F. Prepares state reports and grant applications on WCA activities.
G. Prepares and disseminates general WCA information to the public.
H. Inspects and monitors wetland mitigation sties.
I. Conducts enforcement of WCA violations.
2. Coordinates recycling and solid waste programs.
A. Administers the city's recycling program and organizes solid waste collection including such
items as annual hauler licenses, refuse franchise negotiations and disposal contracts.
B. Directs development of new landfill abatement programs including business recycling, clean-up
days, etc.
C. Develops public information, education materials and programs for landfill abatement
including recycling education programs in schools.
D. Responds to inquiries and complaints regarding recycling and solid waste issues.
E. Acts as city liaison on Sherburne County Solid Waste Advisory Board and with other
governmental entities regarding waste issues.
F. Represents the City on State, County or other quasi-governmental entities as appropriate on
environmental issues.
3. Performs other environmental and safety issues.
A. Administration of environmental ordinances including Shoreland, Floodplain, Wild and Scenic,
Mineral Excavation and Right of Way Ordinances.
B. Administration of environmental permits such as gravel mining licenses, Elk River Landfill,
NRG's RDF plant and GRE's power station.
C. Assists in the initial investigation and enforcement of environmental violations such as illegal
dumping, spills, etc.
P"O"P 1
D. Assists in the administration of permits for working in the city rights-of-way.
E. Coordinates various environmental education efforts within the city.
F. Serves as liaison to regulatory bodies and citizens on environmental issues.
G. Assists in the preparation of ordinances to regulate environmental issues.
H. Administration of City's NPDES Program.
1. Administer diseased tree programs.
4. Boards and Commissions
A. Responsible for staff administration of the Heritage Preservation Commission and Energy City
Commission.
B. City liaison and related administration duties to the Orono Lake Improvement Association.
5. Supervisor Duties
A. Directs the workload of the Environmental Assistant.
B. Prepares the performance review of the Environmental Assistant.
C. Serves as part of the Community Development Department's management team.
D. Assists the Community Development Director in developing strategic goals and objectives as
directed by the City Council and the City's various boards and commissions.
6. Performs other essential job duties.
A. Regular and timely work attendance.
B. Follows all safety procedures.
C. Participates in safety training.
7. Other duties as assigned.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
o Knowledge of local, state and national laws pertaining to municipal operations.
o Knowledge of local, state, and national environmental laws.
o Ability to effectively communicate city policies and procedures to other public agencies and the general
public.
o Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
o Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city staff and the public.
o Ability to prepare and manage multiple work programs in an efficient and productive manner.
o Ability to effectively review and analyze various applications and permits.
o Ability to work independently and assume responsibilities with minimal direct supervision.
o Ability to efficiently process proposals and to ensure the completeness and accuracy of
recommendations made to the developers, Boards and Commissions, and the City Council.
Minimum Qualifications
o College degree in an environmental discipline.
o Three years governmental or professional experience in an environmental field.
Preferred Qualifications
o More than five years experience.
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Environmental Supervisor
City of Elk River
Environmental Assistant
Position Description
Department:
Communi
Pay Grade:
Development
I FLSA Status:
Exempt
Immediate Supervisor:
Environmental Administrator
I Last Updated: (date)
10/10/0S
Positions Supervised:
N/A
Position Summary
The Environmental Assistant provides assistance and reports to the Environmental Administrator
on a variety of environmental-related issues. This position's primary responsibility is to maintain
and improve the quality of the environment as it relates to the health, safety and welfare of the
residents of Elk River. This position performs work to ensure compliance with the City ordinances
and follows up on code violations.
Essential Functions
1. Assists with the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) activities.
A. Assists with the city's Wetland Conservation Act program.
B. Participates on the city's Technical Evaluation Panel.
C. Prepares notices for the public regarding WCA activities.
D. Assists with coordination of the WCA activities with other governmental agencies.
E. Assists in the preparation of recommendations regarding WCA requests for the City
Council and attends meetings regarding such issues.
F. Assists with preparation of state reports and grant applications on WCA activities.
G. Assists with providing general WCA information to the public.
2. Coordinates recycling and solid waste programs.
A. Administers the city's recycling program and organizes solid waste collection including
such items as annual hauler licenses, refuse franchise negotiations and disposal contracts.
B. Assists in the development of new landfill abatement programs including business
recycling, clean-up days, etc.
C. Develops public information, education materials and programs for landfill abatement
including recycling education programs in schools.
D. Responds to general inquiries and complaints regarding recycling and solid waste issues.
3. Performs other environmental and safety issues.
A. Assists and acts as back-up to the Environmental Administrator in the administration of
environmental ordinances including Shoreland, Floodplain, Wild and Scenic, Mineral
Excavation and Right of Way Ordinances.
B. Assists and acts as back-up to the Environmental Administrator in the administration of
environmental permits such as gravel mining licenses, Elk River Landfill, NRG's RDF
plant and GRE's power station.
C. Assists and acts as back-up to the Environmental Administrator regarding environmental
programs.
D. Assists in the initial investigation and enforcement of environmental violations such as
illegal dumping, spills, etc.
E. Assists in the administration of permits for working in the city rights-of-way.
F. Coordinates various environmental education efforts within the city.
G. Serves as liaison to regulatory bodies and citizens on environmental issues.
H. Assists in the preparation of ordinances to regulate environmental issues.
1. Assists in the administration of the Oak Wilt Program
J. Assists with administration of the Heritage Preservation Commission, Lake Orono
Improvement Association, and Energy City.
K. Assists with City's Storm Water Program.
L. Provides content information for the City's website.
4. Performs other essential job duties.
A. Regular and timely work attendance.
B. Follows all safety procedures.
C. Participates in safety training.
Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
o Knowledge of local, state and national laws pertaining to municipal operations.
o Knowledge of local, state, and national environmental laws.
o Ability to effectively communicate city policies and procedures to other public agencies and the
general public. .
o Ability to express oneself clearly and concisely both orally and in writing.
o Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with city staff and the public.
o Ability to prepare and manage multiple work programs in an efficient and productive manner.
o Ability to effectively review and analyze various applications and permits.
o Ability to work independently and assume responsibilities with minimal direct supervision.
o Ability to efficiently process proposals to developers, the Boards and Commissioners, and the City
Council.
Minimum Qualifications
o College degree in an environmental discipline.
o Six months governmental or professional experience in an environmentally-related field.
Preferred Qualifications
o More than one-year experience.
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Environmental Assistant