Title
Adopt a Resolution to Authorize the City Manager to Add One Temporary Fully Cost-Covered 0.8 Full-Time Equivalent Position for HVAC Mechanic II Classification to the Public Works Department Adopted Budget Staffing Allocation
Staffreport
COUNCIL PRIORITY
• Infrastructure
SUMMARY
In order to be highly responsive with the more technical aspects of City buildings’ HVAC equipment, and to retain an available contract personnel, the Public Works Department would like to add a two-year temporary 0.8 FTE HVAC Mechanic II position. There is funding available for the position in the adopted budget for fiscal year 2022-2023, resulting in no General Fund impact.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution authorizing the addition of a two-year temporary HVAC Mechanic II position to the Public Works Department adopted budget staffing allocation. The position is budgeted at 0.8 FTE and is included in the Building Maintenance Fund budget for fiscal year 2022-2023.
BACKGROUND
The Facilities Maintenance Section of Public Works is staffed with eight full-time employees responsible for maintaining approximately 490,000 square feet of building space within 50 City-owned buildings. The section is comprised of one supervisor, one Facilities Maintenance Worker III, two Facilities Maintenance Worker II, and three Facilities Maintenance Worker I positions, and a Maintenance Worker Entry. The section is continually challenged with fulfilling the maintenance needs of the City’s internal customers, while managing contract services, and performing preventative maintenance on City buildings and fixed equipment. Because of the low staffing level, the section operates in a reactive manner most of the time.
The section has not had a dedicated HVAC Mechanic on staff since 2017 when the HVAC Mechanic I, Gary Sclafani, was promoted to Building Supervisor.
Analysis
The Facilities Maintenance Section has a preventative maintenance program for all HVAC equipment in City facilities. The program schedules routine maintenance of HVAC systems including the quarterly replacement of air filters. Proper maintenance of HVAC systems is critical for the air quality and comfort of users of City facilities, and increasingly important because of wildfire season and the COVID-19 pandemic. It is also important for the longevity and optimal performance of the systems. The Public Works Department has historically used contract service to maintain systems at a basic level, but it is important to have a City staff person who knows and understands the intricacies of the City’s various HVAC systems, that can be responsive to immediate diagnostic service and repair needs, and is dedicated to performing regular maintenance on the City’s HVAC systems.
In addition to the ongoing maintenance needs of the HVAC systems, the position will be responsible for overseeing the installation and commissioning of HVAC equipment installations currently planned by Climatec at 14 City facilities, including the full replacement of the HVAC system at the San Leandro Senior Center. Overseeing the work is time-intensive and important to ensure that the new systems are installed properly, working according to specification, and will be functional through their expected lifespan.
The position is proposed as a temporary, two-year position while Public Works staff evaluate the effectiveness of having a dedicated HVAC mechanic on staff, rather than using contract HVAC services.
Financial Impacts
The cost to add the 0.8 FTE HVAC Mechanic II is $157,149. There is sufficient funding available in the Building Maintenance Fund for FY 2022-2023 to fully cover all costs for the position. Funding is budgeted in 687-18-001-5335, which will require an adjustment into the salaries and benefits line items of the account.
ATTACHMENT(S)
Att A: Resolution for HVAC Mechanic II Position
PREPARED BY: Jennifer Auletta, Deputy Public Works Director, Public Works Department.