The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About15.E.1. Authorization for Additional Engineering Technician Is-ez./. CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum TO: Mayor & City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: Bruce Loney, Public Works Director SUBJECT: Authorization for Additional Engineering Technician DATE: March 1, 2004 INTRODUCTION: This agenda item is for City Council to consider authorizing an additional Engineering Technician for the Engineering Department. BACKGROUND: The City of Shakopee will have several private developments, from last year and private developments occurring this year, which will require City plan review, City administration and City inspection on these developments. In addition, in 2004, it is anticipated that several large 429 City Public Improvement Projects, such as the Dean Lakes Improvement Project, 2003 Street Reconstruction Project and the River District Reconstruction Project. Staff is anticipating an addition to Park Meadows, approval of Church Addition with associated improvements, Riverside Fields 2nd Addition and ACC 3rd Addition, numerous right-of-way permits and building permits, associated with development, as well as other Engineering project needs, such as traffic studies and stormwater management projects. The Engineering Department also needs to provide mapping and technical assistance for the Public Works Department, in meeting their infrastructure needs, as recommended in the Public Works Organization Study prepared by Short Elliott Hendrickson, Inc. In review of the workload that remains from 2003 and the workload for 2004, both public and private, the City Engineering Department will need to hire additional personnel or consultant inspectors in order to provide the inspection services for installation of public infrastructure. Attached to this memo is a list of Engineering projects, both public improvements and private developments, and the projected cost of the project and inspection costs. From this list of tasks, the Engineering Department will not be able to fully meet the needs of engineering services with its current staff. Additional assistance from Engineering consultants, temporary seasonal inspectors and/or full time technician staff, or a combination of consultant and additional staff. Currently, the City of Shakopee is utilizing temporary staff to meet the needs of its Public Works Department for mapping of the storm drainage and sanitary sewer system. This person has been a City of Shakopee intern for three years and is currently a Graduate Engineer looking for full time employment. Staff is proposing to add an additional Engineering Technician II to its work force in order to meet its growing needs in providing Engineering services to minimize the need for consultant staff. Budget Impact: In the City's 2004 Budget, an additional Engineering Technician was not included, due to budgetary restraints set by the State in 2003. In further review of the 2004 workload, staff has concluded that additional personnel is needed to meet its inspection; plan review; and other Engineering tasks such as permitting and mapping the Engineering Department. This need can be filled by full time staff, City consultant personnel, seasonal personnel or a combination of any of these three. If a full time Engineering Technician II is authorized to be added to the Engineering staff, it is estimated that this person's salary would be approximately $35,000.00 to $36,000.00 per year or at an hourly rate of$16.85/Hr. Utilizing consulting staff for inspection is at a rate of $65.00 per hour. The City does have 2.5 multiplier to its hourly rate to pay for its overhead, which is vehicle, office space and other items that are necessary for Engineering staff to perform its work. However, these additional dollars are paying for the salary, equipment and office space that the City has already purchased. For instance, on the 2003 Street Reconstruction Project, it is estimated that an inspector will be needed for five full months, which equates to 800 hours at $65.00 per hour. This cost would be approximately $52,000.00. For an Engineering Technician II, for the same amount of hours, the salary cost would be $13,500.00. With benefits, this cost could be $16,200.00. This additional person would be available through the construction season and for project design in the fall and winter. This person would also be available for additional traffic and stormwater studies, as the City grows, as well as provide additional mapping and technical assistance to the Public Works Department. In review of the 2004 Budget, staff would propose these cost items could be reduced to support this position as follows: . $5,500.00 for an Engineering Intern, as the Intern would not be hired this summer. . Reduction in consultant inspection for private developments in the City Budget of $8,000.00 for a total reduction in the 2004 Budget of$13,500.00. . Also, it is anticipated that this Engineering Technician II position would not be filled until the middle of April or May, thus the position impact to the 2004 Budget would be at 75% of a full12-month position or less. . A workstation is available in the Engineering print room and a vehicle can be utilized in the fleet for inspection purposes. Thus, the budget impact at this time are wages and benefits of an employee. The disadvantage of adding full-time staff to the City, at this time, would be the unknown budget limitations for 2005 by the State Legislature. Staff does feel the need for additional Engineering personnel, to meet the needs of the Engineering Department, as well as the Public Works Department. The workload needs for the year 2004 is such that even with this additional hire, there will be times when City consultant inspectors will be needed, as well. Staff would like to discuss this issue with the City Council and obtain direction or approval of how to meet the needs for the Engineering Department. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Authorize an additional Engineering Technician II position for the Engineering Department. 2. Do not authorize an additional Engineering Technician II position at this time. 3. Table for additional information. RECOMMENDATION: Staff would recommend Alternative No.1. However, discussion with City Council is necessary on the addition of a full-time position not included in the 2004 Budget and the potential impact in the 2005 Budget. ACTION REQUESTED: Authorize an additional Engineering Technician II position for the Engineering Department. ~~ Public Works irector BUpmp ENGRlEMPLOYEEFOLDERfP ATPENNINGTONICOUNCllJTECHII Public Projects Utility/Street Costs Inspection Costs (4-4.5%) 4th A venue Reconstuction $ 2,300,000 $92,000-103,500 River District Sewer Replacement $ 1,250,000 $50,000-56,250 17th Avenue Extension (CRI5-CR79) $ 1,000,000 $40,000-45,000 Vierling Drive Extension $ 1,000,000 $40,000-45,000 Valley View Road Reconstruction $ 600,000 $24,000-27,000 17th A venue Extension (Independance-CR83) $ 540,000 $21,600-24,300 Weinandt Acres Reconstruction $ 300,000 $12,000-13,500 Prairie View Overlay $ 200,000 $8,000-9,000 East Dean Lake Outlet Control Structure $ 200,000 $8,000-9,000 Fuller Street (Ist -Levee) $ 150,000 $6,000-6,750 Pheasant Run Storm Sewer Replacement $ 130,000 $5,200-5,850 Boat Landing $ 120,000 $4,800-5,400 Holmes Street Overlay $ 100,000 $4,000-4,500 Huber Park Improvements $ 100,000 $4,000-4,500 Chateau Ridge Outlet Control Structure $ 40,000 $1,600-1,800 Dominion Hills Outlet Control Structure $ 35,000 $1,400-1,575 Total Costs $ 8,065,000 $322,600-362,925 Private Projects Utility/Street Costs Inspection Costs (4-4.5%) Park Meadows $ 1,000,000 $40,000-45,000 Church Addition $ 1,000,000 $40,000-45,000 Riverside Fields 2nd Addition $ 700,000 $28,000-31,500 ACC 3rd Addition $ 500,000 $20,000-22,500 Whispering Oaks (Remaining Work) $ 400,000 $16,000-18,000 Thomas A Phillip Addition (Remaining Work) $ 200,000 $8,000-9,000 Southern Meadows (Remaining Work) $ 200,000 $8,000-9,000 Riverside Fields 1st Addition $ 100,000 $4,000-4,500 ACC 2nd Addition (Remaining Work) $ 100,000 $4,000-4,500 Total Costs $ 4,200,000 $168,000-189,000 Grand Total (public+Private) $ 12,265,000.00 $490,600-551,925 - . -- /'''''~ ~. .:r~1" -- - .~ 0 h ' '-' - ","""'" "\ " ?".W.\I'- - . 1'-1>1'- - (1 IANIIASSEN CARVER'" - -- SCOTT '- CO_ ~ ,jJ. 1, :'t'" ~~,. - "" C"~ /r: F II 'r;, Boot Lg:~~~ ~" 0' c f;;. ,,-'>, " " SF' ",000>:s fl ~~ 0 ~ 'c C '-' 0'{; _ HENNEPIN _ ~~ e' ..,7 ~" ;4f'i'" - ,,~' ,ff/if};"' 0 SCOTT CO _ ff/ifffi"{{fffb f'-< ~'>>.. ///;(<f.'tf1]::///~ (1ffV ItJJfffh-iYifff! ; '-' ~fff{fff/,~ ifJjr~J;z,. 'I ~ __,d.<.ug t///////p//f;~(~ ..... f?ffJf{I}ffi~1:{jf{?;~ j """ V'1jjf11fjffIJfJf;f}p, g /fffffft/3kY(}'.l?; 7ff/f/!P>. ...:l /. //-' / //.// Z/~q '0,;;;;'" __ 0J4l_/~1rt& , '" >0<;;;, '"'- --r-'- '0!tif{fffj]ffffJf!ffff; J I! '0;;';"___ 11 \ .{jfjjffffffffffff:V d ~ E ~~~ ......._ ast ShaK "xff/ -... Industrial S '" ~ @;._ J' ~ ewe :c// __ _4f. "_ f~f/~/; 1 ~ , ~jf' ~/ n~ ~)' m. ~'1f ,d" . Jlr -:;;: -. - "" w ~ [j (~ ! II ~ '" "'~ , ~ eft a1'F'&. f';~r < ~ ! ,'- , 1 _ ~.__" .~... _. jl .'. PRIOR LAKE , l ,_. w +=. ~ ' I .';. . -- j 2004 P r . _ "' r\I\I\I\I\I\I\I Public 1m provements _> '" ~ p _ provements . w n. "vote D '1l NQQQQQSl evelopment & Othe I 1m r mprovement provements ,.." s ........ - ,.. SCN.-' . ' E.1 - 1~' REVISED: FEBU RAAY,_2004