04-23-2025 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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STAFF REPORT TO:Mayor Fischer and Members of the City Council FROM:Heidi Heller, City Clerk/HR Manager Bill Dircks, Public Works Director DATE:April 23, 2025 RE:Promote Public Works Apprentice to Public Works Maintenance 1 BACKGROUND: At the February 12, 2025 Workshop, staff and the Council discussed short and long-term staff and structure changes in the Public Works Department and staff reviewed the staffing changes that were anticipated for the rest of 2025, including two retirements. At the regular meeting on February 12, the Council approved a new full-time Public Works position focused on buildings and stormwater. Additionally, the promotion of the current Public Work Apprentice to a Public Works Maintenance I position was discussed as part of the departmental staffing changes. Currently there are only four active employees in the Public Works Department - the Utilities Supervisor, Buildings and Stormwater Supervisor, one PW Maintenance employee, and the Apprentice. Two full-time equivalent (FTE) employees are currently not working due to medical reasons, creating operational shortages for the Public Works Department, that is likely to remain. The current Public Works Apprentice, Jim Mayer, has been in the position since May 8, 2023. The city’s apprenticeship is planned as a two-to-three-year training program, with potential to hire permanently if there is an open position and they are a good employee. This has been a very successful program and Jim is the fourth apprentice in the position. Public Works Supervisor Alex Evenson also came through this program and has remained with the city. Jim has done a great job for the city and fits in well with all of the city staff. The Public Works Director has wanted to hire him permanently when there was an opportunity. Jim will have been employed with the city for two years and with the department being short-staffed now, and two retirements coming before the end of 2025, staff is recommending the promotion of Jim Mayer from Apprentice to Public Works Maintenance 1 on May 14, 2025. Staff intends to hire one new Public Works Maintenance worker at the end of 2025 after both employees have retired and will keep the apprentice position open for now and evaluate whether to hire a new apprentice during the 2026 budget discussions later this year.