REPORT TO CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
SUBJECT
Title
Action to Abolish the Eligible List for Senior Civil Engineer (Job Code 322)
Report
ACTION AND AUTHORITY
Eligible lists generally shall remain in force for a period of one year (if not extended) for non-sworn positions, pursuant to Civil Service Rules, Sec. 4.3. The Water & Sewer Utilities Department and Department of Public Works is requesting to abolish the Senior Civil Engineer (Job Code 322) eligible list based on the authority of Civil Service Rules, Sec. 4.8, “Eligible lists may be abolished by the Director of Human Resources under the following conditions: a) If the list contains fewer than five (5) names.” If the eligible list contains more than five names, and the list is proposed to be established, the action is brought to the Civil Service Commission for approval.
Under direct supervision, the Senior Civil Engineer performs difficult professional civil engineering field and office work in the planning, designing, constructions and/or maintenance of programs; may work with the public and consultants to provide professional direction and information on specific programs and projects, performs engineering assignments on a wide range of municipal projects of moderate to high complexity and provides leadership and supervision to professional and paraprofessional engineering staff.
DISCUSSION
The Senior Civil Engineer (Job Code 322) classification is used in the Department of Public Works (DPW) and the Water & Sewer Utilities Department (Water & Sewer). Both departments conducted a continuous recruitment in March 2024 to fill two (2) vacancies; one (1) in DPW (Traffic Division) and one (1) in Water & Sewer.
An eligible list comprised of eight (8) candidates was created in May 2024. One (1) candidate was selected for the DPW (Traffic Division) vacancy, and a verbal offer was issued, but the candidate did not accept due to a misalignment in salary expectations. Another candidate was selected to fill this vacancy and accepted the offer. Water & Sewer did not select a candidate from the eligible list.
Since this recruitment was posted as continuous, and a new vacancy occurred in the DPW (Design Division), additional qualified applicants were invited to oral board interviews in December 2024 for the vacant positions in both departments. This resulted in the placement of one (1) additional candidate on the eligible list, which then comprised eight (8) candidates.
Since the establishment of the eligible list, all candidates on the list have been invited to department second-round interviews, and all candidates participated, except for one (1) candidate, who responded to the interview invitation that they were not available to interview with the Department but requested to remain on the eligible list.
Although the remaining seven (7) candidates on the eligible list meet the minimum qualifications of the position, which consists of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in civil engineering office and field work performing professional level engineering work, they do not possess the desirable qualifications for the vacant positions for the following reasons:
• Insufficient experience in either Water & Sewer Operations and Maintenance, regulatory compliance, Traffic Engineering, Design, or Capital Improvement project delivery
• No or insufficient experience in a public utility and/or the public sector, including experience with other public agencies
Although the desirable qualifications were listed on the job announcement, the candidate pool was small, and the departments interviewed all candidates that met the minimum qualifications. This is a journey level position, and the desirable qualifications are essential in order for candidates to be successful in the job and possess the ability to effectively work in the position during their probationary period as they are expected to have a strong baseline of the experience in one of the aforementioned desirable qualification areas. The eligible list is currently set to expire on May 29, 2025.
Abolishing the eligible list would allow Human Resources to conduct another recruitment and create a new eligible list for Senior Civil Engineer (Job Code 322).
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
There is no additional cost to the City other than administrative staff time and expense.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Civil Service Commission 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
Approve abolishing the eligible list for Senior Civil Engineer (Job Code 322)
Staff
Reviewed by: Ashley Lancaster, Deputy Director
Approved by: Aracely Azevedo, Director of Human Resources