La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 3.36 Classification and Compensation

This classification and compensation plan shall apply to officers and employees in the services of the city who are under the jurisdiction of the city manager; that is, all officers and employees other than city councilmen, city clerk, city treasurer, city attorney, city manager, and members of boards and commissions.

(Ord. 486; June 9, 1953)

The city manager may adopt such reasonable administrative rules and regulations not inconsistent herewith as are reasonably necessary or proper to establish and maintain a high level of public service. Such rules and regulations shall be in writing and shall be maintained in the official files of the city.

(Ord. 486; June 9, 1953)

The city manager shall ascertain the duties, authority and responsibilities of all positions in the city service within his jurisdiction.

(Ord. 486 § 2 (part); June 9, 1953)

The city manager shall prepare a plan of position classification which shall group all positions in the city service in classes, based on their duties, responsibilities, and work requirements.

(Ord. 486 § 2 (part); June 9, 1953, as amended by Ord. 1415, March 24, 1964)

The classification plan shall include a list of classes and shall also contain a description of each class of positions which shall include a class title, a statement of duties, authority, and responsibilities typical thereof, and the qualifications that are necessary or desirable for the satisfactory performance of the duties of the class. It shall be the basis of the pay plan, recruitment procedure, training programs, transfer and promotion policy and the personnel part of the budget.

(Ord. 486 § 2 (part), June 9, 1953, as amended by Ord. 1415; March 24, 1964)

Revisions to class specifications, reallocations, abolition of classes, the establishment of new classes and other changes will be made by the city manager as often as necessary in order that the classification plan will reflect current work situations.

(Ord. 486 § 3; June 9, 1953)

The class title set forth in the classification plan shall be used to designate positions in all official records, vouchers, payrolls, and communications except that working titles acceptable to the department may be used on some occasions.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part), June 9, 1953, as amended by Ord. 1415; March 24, 1964)

No person shall be appointed to, or employed in a position under a class title which is not included in the official classification plan and assigned a salary range as provided herein.

(Ord. 486 § 4 (part); June 9, 1953)

The city manager shall be informed if a department head or an employee believes that a position is improperly classified, or that the classification plan is not accurate in some respect. He shall investigate as often as necessary and recommend appropriate revision as justified.

(Ord. 1415 § 1; March 24, 1964)

The official pay plan for the city service shall consist of a schedule showing established pay grade ranges, the various pay steps of the range, and the titles of classes of positions which are to be compensated within each pay grade range.

(Ord. 486 § 5 (part), as amended by Ord. 934, June 10, 1958 and Ord. 1415; March 24, 1964)

The minimum rate of pay for a class shall normally be paid upon appointment to the class; however, appointment above the minimum rate within a range by the city manager may be made in cases of exceptional qualifications of a candidate or lack of available candidates at the minimum rate.

(Ord. 486 § 7 (part), 1953)

If a former employee is reemployed in a class in which he was previously employed, the city manager may appoint such employee at the same rate of pay which the employee had been receiving at the termination of his service.

(Ord. 486 § 7 (part), 1953)

Any employee, upon promotion, shall be entitled to a compensation increase of at least one pay step.

(Ord. 486 § 7 (part), 1953)

All employees of the city shall be considered periodically by the city manager for within range increases based upon increased efficiency and merit.

(Ord. 486 § 8 (part), 1953)

Salary advances within an established range shall not be automatic but shall be dependent upon specific recommendation by the department head to the city manager.

(Ord. 486 § 8 (part), 1953)

Increases in salary shall not be more than one step and shall not be made more often than once every twelve months, with the exception that increases may be given at six month intervals until employee reaches "C" step of salary range; nor shall salary advances be given to an employee until he has completed a satisfactory working test period, except pursuant to Section 3.36.170.

(Ord. 486 § 8 (part), 1953 as amended by Ord. 1415, 1964: Ord. 2590 § 6; September 24, 1991)

The city manager may grant pay increases of an amount greater than one step or more frequently than every twelve months upon a detailed written statement of the department head specifying the employee's exceptional performance or the unusual employment conditions that make such action necessary.

(Ord. 486 § 8 (part), 1953, as amended by Ord. 1415, 1964)