5.7. SR 04-09-2001leto ~.?.
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
TO:
FROM:
Memorandum
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
STEPHEN ROHLF, BUILDING AND
ZONING ADMINISTRATOR
DATE:
APRIL 9, 2001
SUBJECT:
INCREASING PART TIME BUILDING
AND ZONING SECRETARIAL ~
POSITION TO FULL TIME AND
RECLASSIFY POSITION
Increase part time Building and Zoning Secretary to full time
The Building and Zoning Department is preparing for the largest workload in its history.
Last year, there was a 50% increase in the valuation of construction in Elk River over the
previous record year and 2001 should even be busier. Thc workload from environmental
and other issues not related to building inspections has steadily increased for the
Department. To help keep up to the demand for inspections, a position that aided in thc
administration of environmental issues was replaced by a building inspector.
As the workload for the rest of the Department increases, so does the demand on our
clerical staff. Increasingly, both the inspectors and myself end up performing tasks that
could otherwise be done by a secretary, if more of their time was available. Therefore, a
lack of secretarial time in the Department also equates to a lower quality of customer
service.
Currently the part time Building and Zoning Secretary is a 25 hours per week position,
which includes one hour per day out of the Department covering lunches for the City Hall
Receptionist. Staff is recommet~ding that this position be made full time. Money for
increasing this position to full time was not budgeted and will probably have to be taken
out of Council Contingency Funds. However, an increased workload in the Building and
Zoning Department means an increase in building permit fees over what was projected,
more than enough to justify this request.
Reclassify Building and Zoning Department Secretary/Receptionist to Building
Permit Technician
Recently, the Personnel Committee reevaluated the Building and Zoning Secretary
position and reclassified it as a Building Permit Technician, requiring a certification as
such. The part time secretarial position discussed previously in this memo has the exact
same job duties as the Building and Zoning Secretary. It is appropriate that this position
be classified as a Building Permit Technician also. The part time position is currently
rated as a Secretary/Receptionist or pay grade 5 with a salary range of $10.67/hour to
Phone: 763.441.7420
Fax: 763.441.7425
www. ci.elk- fiver, mn.us
$15.17/hour. The Building Permit Technician position is a pay grade 7 with a range of
$11.82/hour to $16.81/hour.
Lisa Wolfe is the Building and Zoning Department's part time secretary. She is currently
making $10.67/hour and is scheduled to receive a step increase next July that would
move her to $11.79/hour. Staff is recommending that Lisa be immediately
reclassified as a Building Permit Technician and move to pay grade 7, step A, which
is $11.82/hour. She will not receive her next step increase until July 1st, 2002, but will
receive a normal cost of living increase on January 1 st, 2002. Further we recommend that
she does not receive step increases passed step B, pay grade 7, until she completes her
certification as a Building Permit Technician.