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REVISED CLASSIFICATION SPECIFICATION AND OPEN AND COMPETITIVE RECRUITMENT BULLETIN: FIRE PREVENTION SPECIALIST
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Contact Person/Dept: Amy Webber/Human Resources
Phone Number: 310-253-5640
Fiscal Impact: Yes [] No [X] General Fund: Yes [] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: [X]
Public Notification: E-mail Meeting Agenda, 4/28/16
Department Approval: Serena Wright, Human Resources Director, 4/27/16
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RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Civil Service Commission approve the revised classification specification and open and competitive recruitment bulletin for Fire Prevention Specialist.
BACKGROUND
In anticipation of conducting an open and competitive recruitment for Fire Prevention Specialist, Human Resources staff met with Fire Department management to review the class specification and recruitment bulletin. In addition to reviewing these documents, we discussed the needs of the department. It was determined that revisions are needed prior to conducting a recruitment and filling the pending vacancy.
DISCUSSION
The Fire Department is comprised of six divisions: The Office of the Fire Chief (Administration), Fire Suppression, Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Preparedness, Fire Prevention, and Telecommunications.
The Fire Prevention Division is responsible for maintaining a reasonable level of life and property protection from fire, explosion, and hazardous materials through conducting field inspections for conformance with the Fire Code. These inspections include businesses, schools, apartment buildings, public assemblies, new construction projects, tenant improvements, all businesses that use or store hazardous materials, and automatic fire protection systems.
The Fire Prevention Specialist classification is part of the Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division. The Fire Prevention Specialists are assigned one of two functions: Fire Systems Plan Review and Inspection or Public Education and Hazardous Materials Program. Since 2002, the Fire Prevention Specialist assignments have been organized in this fashion to meet the division’s operational needs. These assignments allow for the most efficient staffing to ensure fire protection inspections, regulatory compliance reviews, and hazardous materials program are completed, and the public education and outreach programs are provided.
Classification Specification
The most significant changes proposed are within the Training and Experience and License and Certificates (Attachment A, page 3) sections of the minimum requirements. New construction, specifically high-rise construction, is increasingly complex. One primary responsibility of this classification is reviewing the fire system plans and conducting on-site inspections throughout construction and up to occupancy. Currently, the Fire Plan Systems Review and Inspection assignment completes 900+ plan reviews and inspections annually. Due to the life safety nature and complexity of fire systems as well as volume of reviews and inspections required annually it is critical that an incumbent is technically competent to perform the essential job duties. Therefore, the following revisions are being proposed:
• Training and Experience has been clarified and updated by reordering the most directly related degree and by increasing the number of years of experience from two to three years.
Fire Management, as the subject matter experts, with Human Resources’ staff support recommends that three years of practical fire prevention experience will allow an individual the expertise and scope of experience needed to successfully perform the full scope of duties on day one. In the past, the Fire Department has relied upon internal staff to train and bring new hires with minimal experience up to speed; however, with the pending retirement this will no longer be the case.
• Licenses and Certificates have been updated to include mandated certification within one year of appointment and incorporate the desirable certificates that would assist an incumbent in preforming the essential job duties depending upon the position assignment.
The PC 832 certification is required for an incumbent to issue a notice of correction for compliance with Fire codes. The authority for this classification to issue an administrative citation is provided for in PC 830.37 (Attachment C) and is necessary, if and when, required to obtain business and building owner compliance with the Fire code.
As part of the routine review the following changes are being proposed to update and clarify throughout the class specification.
• Definition, Distinguishing Characteristics, and Supervision Received and Exercised have been updated to reflect current terminology used when referencing Fire Department employees who have no active firefighting responsibilities as well as clarifying the current reporting structure within the Fire Prevention Division.
• Essential Job Duties and Marginal Job Duties have been revised to clarify the work actually performed by this classification in both assignments.
• Physical Requirements and Working Conditions have been updated based upon a review of the medical exam profile and job analysis to include the required ability to climb ladders.
These additions and clarifying language align the position with the minimum requirements that are needed to satisfactorily perform the job duties. The current incumbents possess all the minimum requirements reflected in the revised classification specification.
Recruitment Bulletin
Throughout the recruitment bulletin (Attachment B) proposed changes reflect the revised classification specification.
Since there are two assignments within this classification, Human Resources Staff is recommending that both assignments appear on the recruitment bulletin. The proposed recruitment bulletin allows staff flexibility to advertise one or both assignments based upon the Fire Department’s needs.
The Culver City Employees Association (CCEA) has been provided copies of the revised classification specification and recruitment bulletin for Fire Prevention Specialist. In addition, CCEA is in agreement with the proposed changes.
FISCAL ANALYSIS
The salary was reviewed during the 2014/2015 Salary Study and in light of the pending recruitment. The current approved salary range, listed below, is appropriately aligned within the labor market and should allow the City to attract and retain qualified applicants. Therefore, we are not recommending a salary adjustment.
Range $6,364.24 - $7,768.32 monthly $76,370.84 - $93,219.88 annually
AUTHORITY
According to Civil Service Rules 3.3(a) and 6.4, the Commission:
• Must approve major changes to classification specifications; and
• Must approve job bulletins prior to recruitment, including the examination components and the examination categories.
3.3(a) Processing:
The establishment of a new classification or a reclassification may be requested by any member of the City Council, Commission, appointing authority or any employee of the City. The request shall be prepared and submitted to the Human Resources Director and the affected department head, and attached thereto shall be a description of the duties to be performed, and such information or attachments as may be necessary to consider the case. The Human Resources Director shall review the requested action with the requesting party and make such recommendations to the Commission as the Human Resources Director deems appropriate.
The Human Resources Director’s recommendations shall be communicated to the originator, the affected appointing authority and employee organization. If any party disagrees with the Human Resources Director’s recommendations, such objection may be presented in writing or verbally to the Commission at the time for consideration of the recommendation. The Commission shall make the final decision on the establishment of a new classification or revisions to an existing classification.
6.4 Commission Approval: Where an examination is required, the Human Resources Director shall prepare a Job Bulletin and forward it to the Commission for approval. It shall not be necessary to obtain additional Commission approval of a Job Bulletin if there have been no changes to the minimum requirements or examination components.
ATTACHMENTS
1. 2016-05-04 - ATT A - Revised Class Specification Fire Prevention Specialist
2. 2016-05-04 - ATT B - Revised Open & Competitive Recruitment Bulletin for Fire Prevention Specialist
3. 2016-05-04 - ATT C - California Penal Code 830.37
4. 2016-05-04 - ATT D - Fire Department Organizational Chart FY 15/16
MOTION
That the Civil Service Commission:
1. Approve the Revised Classification Specification for Fire Prevention Specialist; and
2. Approve the Revised Open & Competitive Recruitment Bulletin for Fire Prevention Specialist