Sebastopol Municipal Code Ch. 2.60 Personnel

This chapter shall be known as the “City of Sebastopol Personnel Ordinance.”

It is the intent and purpose of this chapter to establish a method and procedure for the determination of a uniform classification of positions in the City employment, and a uniform procedure for the determination of compensation of City employees.

Definitions of terms: The words and terms defined in this section shall have the following meanings in this chapter and in any other ordinance or resolution classifying and fixing the salaries and compensation or authorizing the employment of personnel in any department or office of the City of Sebastopol.

“Allocation” means the official determination of the class in which a position shall be deemed to exist and the assignment of an individual position to an appropriate class.

“City service” or “service of the City” means all positions in all departments as herein defined, that are subject to control and regulation by the City Council of the City of Sebastopol.

“Class” or “class of position” means a definitely recognized kind of employment in the City service designed to embrace all positions having duties and responsibilities sufficiently similar so that the same requirements as to education, experience, knowledge and ability may be demanded of incumbents and so the same schedule of compensation may be applied with equity.

“Classified service” means all positions in the City service except those specifically placed in the exempt service.

“Compensation” means the salary, wage, allowance and all other forms of valuable consideration earned by or paid to any employee by reason of service in any position, but does not include any allowances authorized and incurred by incidents to employment.

“Continuous service” means employment with the City without break or interruption. In computing continuous service for the purpose of this chapter, neither military leaves nor leaves of absence on account of illness whether with or without pay shall be construed as a break in employment service. Other absences aggregating in excess of 90 days in any period of 12 months, including layoffs on account of lack of work, lack of funds, or abolishment of positions shall be construed as breaking continuous service.

“Employee” means a person legally occupying a position in City service.

“Exempt service” means all positions of elective and appointive officials and those specifically exempted by the City Council from the classification plan.

“Position” means a group of current duties and responsibilities assigned or delegated by competent authority, requiring the full- or part-time service of one person.

“Reallocation” means a reassignment or change in allocation of an individual position by raising it to a higher class, reducing it to a lower class, or moving it to another class at the same level on the basis of substantial changes in the kind, difficulty, or responsibility of duties performed in such position.

“Title,” “class title” or “title of class” means the designation given to or name applied to a class or to each position allocated to the class and to the legally appointed incumbent in each position allocated to the class. Its meaning is set forth in the corresponding definition and the class specification, and it is always to be used and understood in that sense, even though it may previously have had a broader, narrower, or different significance.

The City Council shall by resolution determine and adopt a classification plan for all the positions in City employment in conformity with the following except where otherwise provided. A written specification shall be prepared for each class of positions which sets forth the appropriate class title; a description of the typical duties and responsibilities of positions; a statement of training, experience and other desirable qualifications necessary for the efficient performance of the work; and such other pertinent material as the City Council may require.

All positions shall be allocated to an appropriate class in the plan. Allocation of a position to a class shall be determined by the duties and responsibilities of the position and shall be based on the principle that all positions shall be included in the same class when:

A. The duties and responsibilities are sufficiently similar that the same descriptive title may be used.

B. Substantially the same requirements as to education, experience, knowledge and ability are required of the incumbents.

C. Substantially the same tests of fitness may be based in choosing qualified appointees.

D. The same schedule of compensation may be made to apply with equity.

Class specifications shall be interpreted in their entirety and in their relation to others in the classification plan. The specifications are descriptive and explanatory and not restrictive, and should not be construed as limiting or modifying the right of any appointing power or the City Council to assign duties to, and to direct and control the work of, employees.

The City Council shall by resolution fix and determine a salary range for each classified position of City employment.

The City Council shall by resolution fix and determine a schematic schedule of salary ranges applicable to all classes of positions in the classified service.

The City Council shall determine, by resolution, the appropriate step within a designated salary range at which each employee in the classified City service is to be compensated. Said resolution may be amended by the City Council in order to establish a new step for any employee within a designated range.

Ordinance Nos. 380, 390, 405, 416, 428, 524, 543, 550 and 560, and all other ordinances insofar as the same are in conflict herewith, are hereby repealed.