POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES

Transcription

1 POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT INCENTIVES - Joint Resolution Adopt/Not Adopt Joint Resolution The Council will consider a proposed joint resolution outlining a plan to address retention and recruitment through loyalty pay compensation incentives for sworn Police and Fire department personnel. If approved, the bonuses for Police would become effective as of January 1, 2018, and the bonuses for Fire would become effective as of July 1, The Administration is proposing the adoption of a strategy to provide loyalty pay bonuses for sworn Police and Fire department personnel. These bonuses are intended to keep compensation packages competitive and to incentivize trained employees to stay for longer periods of time. Competition The competition for qualified public safety officers is challenging. Many jurisdictions in Utah are having a difficult time hiring and retaining officers. Unified Fire in Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City Police Department both have higher salaries than most other jurisdictions. Because the cost of training new recruits is significant, these competing agencies have found it easier and more cost effective to hire experienced officers from other jurisdictions. Ogden Police and Fire Departments For several years, Ogden Police and Fire Departments have had a difficult time keeping all sworn positions fully staffed. This has been particularly true for the Police Department as it currently has several vacant positions and has been put on notice that there may be additional vacancies in the near future. Ogden City Council Meeting: March 27, 2018 Page 1 of 2

2 The City Council will consider a joint resolution to adopt a strategy to improve retention and recruitment of sworn public safety personnel. This includes the implementation of loyalty pay bonuses for years 1-5, and years 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35. Bonuses for Police would become effective as of January 1, 2018, and bonuses for Fire would become effective as of July 1, Funding for Police bonuses January 1 through June 30, 2018, is available through use of existing Police personnel funds. Funds for Police and Fire bonuses beginning July 1, 2018, would be included in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget process. Council Staff Contact: Amy Sue Mabey, (801) Ogden City Council Meeting: March 27, 2018 Page 2 of 2

3 JOINT RESOLUTION NO A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE OGDEN CITY COUNCIL AND MAYOR MICHAEL P. CALDWELL ADOPTING A STRATEGY TO IMPROVE RETENTION AND RECRUITMENT OF SWORN PUBLIC SAFETY PERSONNEL WHEREAS, due to a number of external factors such as retirement of babyboomers, better paying jobs outside law enforcement, competition for qualified applicants, changing career preferences, increasing complexity of police work, and negative public perception of law enforcement, effective recruitment and retention of sworn police personnel is of local, state and national concern; and WHEREAS, changes to the Utah Retirement System for public safety employees from a 20-year to a 25-year retirement structure with a lowered benefit have created additional constraints on recruitment and retention; and WHEREAS, Ogden City has experienced challenges in the recruitment and retention of sworn police personnel for the past several years; and WHEREAS, Ogden has struggled for a number of years to fund the required employer contribution to public safety retirement, eliminate wage compression, and maintain salaries competitive with public safety departments along the Wasatch Front; and WHEREAS, to address retention and recruitment challenges with sworn public safety personnel, Ogden has proactively sought out multiple policy changes, has approved pay increases, has increased funding for uniform and equipment costs and has commissioned a staffing study of the Police Department; and WHEREAS, Ogden desires to enhance existing compensation for public safety personnel retention through implementing a loyalty pay plan to provide sworn public safety employee pay bonuses in years 1-5, and years 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and 35; and WHEREAS, Ogden desires to fund the loyalty pay plan for sworn police personnel effective as of January 1, 2018, to resolve immediate concerns over retention of long-term sworn personnel in the Ogden Police Department; and WHEREAS, Ogden desires to fund the loyalty pay plan for sworn fire personnel during the Fiscal Year 2019 budget process, to remain competitive among local governments along the Wasatch Front and continue to attract and retain the highest quality employees in the Ogden Fire Department; and WHEREAS, Ogden is committed to establishing an ongoing revenue source to fund the loyalty pay plan for sworn police and fire personnel; and 1

4 WHEREAS, Ogden is committed to continue evaluating pay issues for all fulltime employees to remain competitive among local governments along the Wasatch Front and continue to attract and retain the highest quality employees City-wide. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Ogden City Council and Mayor Michael P. Caldwell that: Section 1. A bonus pay plan for sworn police personnel, effective January 1, 2018, is hereby approved. Funding for bonuses January 1 through June 30, 2018, is available through use of existing police personnel funds. Funds for bonuses beginning July 1, 2018, are to be included in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget process. Section 2. A bonus pay plan for sworn fire personnel, effective July 1, 2018, is hereby approved. Funds for bonuses are to be included in the Fiscal Year 2019 budget process. Section 3. The bonus pay plan for both sworn police and fire personnel is outlined in the attached Exhibit A. Section 4. Effective Date. This resolution shall become effective upon passage. APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 27 th day of March RICHARD A. HYER, COUNCIL CHAIR ATTEST: MICHAEL P. CALDWELL, MAYOR CITY RECORDER APPROVED AS TO FORM: LEGAL DATE 2

5 Exhibit A Sworn Police and Fire Personnel Loyalty Pay Plan Sworn Police and Fire Personnel Loyalty Pay Plan* Year(s) Worked at Ogden City Awarded Bonus 1 $1,000 2 $2,000 3 $3,000 4 $4,000 5 $5, $5, $5, $5, $5, $5, $5,000 *Effective January 1, 2018 for sworn police personnel and July 1, 2018 for sworn fire personnel. 3