REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Side Letter Agreement between the City of Santa Clara and the Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (Unit 10) that provides a pilot program for training pay for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers who are assigned to train newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers.
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Enhance Community Engagement and Transparency
BACKGROUND
The City has experienced significant recruitment challenges for the position of Public Safety Dispatcher in the Police Department. Public agencies across the State are experiencing similar recruiting challenges. In the Fiscal Year 2024/25 Adopted Operating Budget, there are 21.0 budgeted Dispatcher positions (16.0 Public Safety Dispatcher and 5.0 Senior Public Safety Dispatcher positions). As of October 2024, the City has 7.0 Public Safety Dispatcher vacancies. The City is continuously recruiting for these positions. While many applications are received, many applicants are screened out during the Police Department’s background process. For this reason, it is essential for those hired to be trained comprehensively by our Senior Public Safety Dispatchers and meet the standards set by the department and the City of Santa Clara.
The City has taken several steps to ensure efficient supervision and operation of the Communications Dispatch Center during the current time. Further, the City has implemented several efforts to attract candidates to apply for the Public Safety Dispatcher positions. This includes, but not limited to: increased emphasis on the benefits of working for the City and Police Department; implementing the Public Safety Dispatcher Retention Bonus Program; implementing the Lateral Public Safety Dispatcher Hiring Incentive Program; and revamping and updating the new employee training program.
Since these efforts have been implemented, the City has hired two lateral Public Safety Dispatchers with an 18-month probationary period and anticipates hiring another lateral Public Safety Dispatcher. A lateral hire is someone hired into the City as a Public Safety Dispatcher who has experience working as a Public Safety Dispatcher with another agency, and was considered a permanent employee in the Public Safety Dispatcher classification in the other agency. During this period, the employees undergo a rigorous training program and are regularly evaluated to determine if they will succeed in the position.
Currently, employees in the Public Safety Dispatcher classification receive a premium training pay of approximately 5% for actual hours spent training newly hired Public Safety Dispatchers. Given the anticipated influx of employees requiring training, the Department would like to extend the training premium pay to the Senior Public Safety Dispatcher classification for 12 months only when training lateral Dispatchers, and only for time spent training newly hired laterals. Upon the implementation of the Training Pay Pilot Program for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers, these employees will be compensated for their additional responsibilities of training lateral Dispatchers.
To ensure the success of our newly hired Public Safety Dispatchers and the safety and well-being of the community, the City and the Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (Unit 10), reached a Side Letter Agreement to provide a pilot program for a training pay for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers who are assigned to train newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers.
DISCUSSION
The recommended action authorizes the City Manager to execute the Side Letter Agreement that will provide a Training Pay Pilot Program for the premium training pay for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers who are assigned to train newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers. As noted above, employees in the Senior Public Safety Dispatcher classification will be eligible for an approximate 5% premium training pay for actual hours spent training newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers for the 12-month term of the Training Pay Pilot Program.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(5) in that it is a governmental organizational or administrative activity that will not result in direct or indirect changes in the environment.
FISCAL IMPACT
The cost of providing the pilot program for training pay for Senior Public Safety Dispatchers totals an estimated $23,000, anticipated to be funded by the existing Police Department budget. This estimation assumes three (3) Senior Dispatchers would be training laterals for every hour worked for the twelve (12) month program length. This cost would be spread across two fiscal years based on twelve (12) month program length.
Staff will continue to monitor the Police Department budget and bring forward a budget amendment at year-end, if necessary.
COORDINATION
This report has been coordinated with the Finance Department and City Attorney’s Office.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov> or at the public information desk at any City of Santa Clara public library.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize the City Manager to execute the Side Letter Agreement between the City of Santa Clara and the Public Safety Non-Sworn Employees Association (Unit 10) that provides a pilot program for a training pay for Senior Public Safety who are assigned to train newly hired lateral Public Safety Dispatchers on the terms presented and in a final form approved by the City Attorney.
Staff
Reviewed by: Aracely Azevedo, Director of Human Resources
Approved by: Jovan D. Grogan, City Manager
ATTACHMENTS
1. Side Letter Agreement between the City and Unit 10 (Senior Public Safety Dispatcher Training Premium Pilot Program)