BOARD MEETING DATE: October 8, 1999 AGENDA NO. 5


PROPOSAL:

Approve Salary and Benefit Adjustments for Noncontract Management, Confidential, and Attorney Employees

SYNOPSIS:

A proposal to approve an MOU with the SCAQMD Professional Employees Association is scheduled for consideration by the Board at this October 8, 1999, meeting. Approval of this MOU would result in salaries and benefits for employees in the Professional Bargaining Unit being adjusted as provided for in the new contract. This action is to approve adjustments, for FY 1999-00, for noncontract management, confidential, and attorney employees.

COMMITTEE:

Not Applicable

RECOMMENDED ACTION:

  1. Approve salary and benefit adjustments for noncontract management, confidential, and attorney employees as described herein

  2. Adopt the attached Resolution amending AQMD’s Administrative Code and Salary Resolution
  3. Appropriate $271,500 from the Undesignated Fund Balance to the Salary and Employee Benefits Major Object and transfer $128,300 from the FY 99-00 Budget’s Services and Supplies Major Object, Professional and Special Services Account, to the Salary and Employee Benefits Major Object to fund these additional costs for FY 99-00

Barry R. Wallerstein, D.Env.
Executive Officer

Background

On May 8, 1998, the Board approved salary adjustments for noncontract management, confidential, and attorney employees for FY 1998-99. A member-ratified three-year labor agreement for the Professional Bargaining Unit is scheduled for consideration by the Board at this October 8, 1999, meeting. This recommendation would grant salary adjustments similar to first-year adjustments for Professional Unit employees to noncontract management, confidential, and attorney employees for FY 1999-00. Adjustments for these groups have in the past tracked those for union-represented employees, and thus are recommended to take effect July 12, 1999, which is the first pay period following expiration of the most recent MOUs and the effective date recommended for Professional Unit increases. With expiration of labor contracts, salaries for represented and nonrepresented employees were uncertain pending ongoing labor contract negotiations.

In addition, a correction to the deferred compensation contribution and an increase to travel reimbursements are proposed as described below. Finally, no change is proposed in the health benefits package (i.e., continuance of the same level of coverage, with no increase to the cash-back cap).

Proposal

The following adjustments for noncontract management, confidential and attorney employees are recommended:

  1. Salary increase of 3% on July 12, 1999

  2. An increase, effective the pay period following Board approval, in AQMD’s match of employee deferred compensation contributions from 33% of the employee’s contribution to 33% of the maximum total regular annual contribution permitted under Internal Revenue Service requirements, which, as of this date, is $8,000. (This adjustment is in recognition of a prior commitment made to noncontract management, confidential, and attorney employees that, through an error, was not correctly stated in the action approved by the Board in May 1997. This change will increase the maximum annual AQMD contribution per employee, under current IRS provisions, by approximately $655).

  3. The same ability to make employee contributions to retirement on a pretax basis that is recommended for Professional Unit employees.

In addition, AQMD travel reimbursements have not been increased since 1988. Cost-of-living adjustments are recommended, effective November 1, 1999, to keep pace with CPI increases during this period. The lodging rate is recommended to increase from $75 to $90 per night, and the maximum daily meal allowance to increase from $31 to $35.50. It is also recommended that the mileage reimbursement rate be adjusted annually based on the Internal Revenue Service Standard Mileage Rate. The first change would take effect November 1, 1999, when the rate would increase from $0.28 per mile to $0.31 per mile. These changes would apply to Board Members and to all employees except those in the two bargaining units represented by the Teamsters, since no contract agreement has been reached with the latter groups.

Resource Impacts

The cost of these fiscal year changes for all management, confidential, and attorney employees, including designated deputies, is approximately $399,800. Consistent with the Three-Year Budget Forecast, $271,500 would be appropriated from the Undesignated Fund Balance. The remainder would come from cuts to the approved FY 1999-00 Budget, with $128,300 being transferred from contract expenditures to Salaries and Benefits.

Attachments
Salary Resolution Revision
Administrative Code Revision
Resolution

 

RESOLUTION NO. 99 -

        A Resolution of the South Coast Air Quality Management District Board amending the AQMD Salary Resolution and Administrative Code to adopt new salaries for noncontract management, confidential, and attorney classes as contained in Salary Resolution Section 54, and to revise applicable provisions as required by this action.

        WHEREAS, the Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District exercises its duty to review and determine appropriate wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment provided to noncontract management, confidential, and attorney employees;

        NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of the South Coast Air Quality Management District, State of California, in regular session assembled on
October 8, 1999, establish the salaries shown in Salary Resolution Section 54 and revise applicable provisions of AQMD’s Salary Resolution and Administrative Code.

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

Dated:________________- _________________________________________________

                                            Jackie Dix, Clerk of the Boards

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URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/hb/1999/99105a.html