SR 08-24-2021 3I
City Council Report
City Council Meeting: August 24, 2021
Agenda Item: 3.I
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To: Mayor and City Council
From: Lori Gentles, Chief People Officer, Human Resources Department
Subject: Adoption of Salary Resolution for Motor Coach Operator Trainee
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Salary Resolution to provide
an equity adjustment for the Motor Coach Operator Trainee.
Summary
The Santa Monica Department of Transportation operates as a regional transit system
with a fleet of approximately 200 buses. Currently, the department has 35 vacancies in
this classification of Motor Coach Operator Trainee. Employees hired in this
classification participate in an eight-week training program administered by the Santa
Monica Department of Transportation and promote to become Motor Coach Operators
upon successful completion of the program.
As part of our efforts to improve our ability to recruit Motor Coach Operator Trainees,
the Human Resources Department and the Santa Monica Department of Transportation
recommend an equity adjustment for the classification from $16.63/hour to $17.81/hour.
The cost associated with the increase will be absorbed by the department’s enterprise
fund. Adoption of the salary resolution is time-sensitive given current, on-going
recruitment efforts to fill Motor Coach Operator Trainee vacancies.
Discussion
Recent recruitment efforts for the classification of Motor Coach Operator Trainee have
been unsuccessful in attracting a sufficient number of qualified applicants to fill all of the
current vacancies in the classification. As part of our efforts to attract qualified
applicants, the Human Resources Department conducted a salary study to determine if
the current salary rate of $16.63 is competitive. The salary data indicated that the
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subject classification is currently compensated at approximately the 41st percentile of
the surveyed market.1 The proposed equity adjustment increases the salary to the
median of the surveyed market of $17.81 which both the Human Resources Department
and the Santa Monica Department of Transportation believe will enhance the City’s
ability to attract qualified applicants.
Transit Agency Starting Hourly Wage
City of Ventura/Gold Coast Transit $15.00
Culver City $19.10
Gardena $19.54
LA DOT - Metro $16.90
Long Beach Transit $15.00
Montebello $22.44
OCTA $18.72
Torrance $14.00
Santa Monica $16.63
Surveyed Market Median $17.81
Past Council Actions
June 22, 2021 Adoption of the FY 2021-2023 Budget, including Salary
Resolution
Financial Impacts and Budget Action
The financial impact of approximately $26,000 will be absorbed by the Santa Monica
Department of Transportation’s enterprise fund and will not impact the department’s
ability to maintain a positive fund balance over the five-year forecast.
1 In addition to surveying the Moss Adams comparator cities, the Human Resources Department collected data
from other transit agencies for the purpose of obtaining a sufficient sample size.
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Prepared By: Sasha Sargent, Executive Administrative Assistant
Approved
Forwarded to Council
Attachments:
A. Salary Reso Staff Report FY 21-23 Summary MCOT Equity 8 24 21 MA
B. Proposed Salary Resolution
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City Council Meeting: August 24, 2021
Agenda Item: Consent
To: Mayor and City Council
From: Lori Gentles, Chief People Officer, Human Resources
Department
Subject: Adoption of Salary Resolution
Recommended Action
Staff recommends that the City Council adopt the attached Salary Resolution to provide
an equity adjustment for the Motor Coach Operator Trainee.
Summary
The resolution presents an equity adjustment for the classification of Motor Coach
Operator Trainee. Adoption of the salary resolution is time-sensitive given current, on-
going recruitment efforts to fill Motor Coach Operator Trainee vacancies.
Discussion
Recent recruitment efforts for the classification of Motor Coach Operator Trainee have
been unsuccessful in attracting a sufficient number of qualified applicants to fill all of the
current vacancies in the classification. As part of our efforts to attract qualified
applicants, the Human Resources Department conducted a salary study to determine if
the current salary rate is competitive. The salary data indicated that the subject
classification is currently compensated at approximately the 41st percentile of the
surveyed market.1 The proposed equity adjustment increases the salary to the median
of the surveyed market which both the Human Resources Department and the Santa
Monica Department of Transportation believe will enhance the City’s ability to attract
qualified applicants.
Past Council Actions
October 27, 2021 FY 2019-2020 Year-End Budget
June 22, 2021 Adoption of the FY 2021-2023 Budget, including Salary Resolution
Financial Impacts and Budget Actions
The financial impact of approximately $26,000 will be absorbed by the Santa Monica
1 In addition to surveying the Moss Adams comparator cities, the Human Resources Department collected data
from other transit agencies for the purpose of obtaining a sufficient sample size.
Consent Item
3.I.a
Packet Pg. 439 Attachment: Salary Reso Staff Report FY 21-23 Summary MCOT Equity 8 24 21 MA [Revision 1] (4705 : Adoption of Salary Resolution MCOT)
Department of Transportation’s enterprise fund.
Prepared By: Michael Arnoldus, Human Resources Manager
Approved Forwarded to Council
__________________________________ _____________________________
Attachments:
3.I.a
Packet Pg. 440 Attachment: Salary Reso Staff Report FY 21-23 Summary MCOT Equity 8 24 21 MA [Revision 1] (4705 : Adoption of Salary Resolution MCOT)
City Council Meeting: August 24, 2021 Santa Monica, California
RESOLUTION NUMBER ________(CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA
ADOPTING A SALARY RATE FOR MOTOR COACH OPERATOR TRAINEE
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DOES RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The following salary level is hereby established, effective August
29, 2021, for the indicated permanent classifications:
Motor Coach Operator Trainee $17.81/hour, Step 1
SECTION 2. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution, and
thenceforth and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
George S. Cardona
Interim City Attorney
3.I.b
Packet Pg. 441 Attachment: Proposed Salary Resolution (4705 : Adoption of Salary Resolution MCOT)