7.3. SR 01-18-2011 - Laserfiche WebLink

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~i Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION ....~: River TO ITEM NUMBER Ma or and Ci Council 7.3. AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY Administration anua 18, 2011 Lori ohnson, Ci Administrator ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By Parks and Recreation Director REVIEWED BY ACTION REQUESTED Consider revised Parks and Recreation Director position description and authorize staff to begin recruttment process. BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION At the January 10 worksession, the Council directed the Parks and Recreation Commission to review the Parks and Recreation Director position description. The Commission reviewed the position description at its meeting on January 12. The Commission recommended several changes that are made in bold, underlined and lined through type in the attached position description labeled "Commission changes." I have reviewed the Commission's recommended changes and have attached a proposed position description incorporating most of the changes. In some cases, the Commission's changes have been moved when appropriate to fit into the City's format. The changes eliminate the director's role as liaison to the Library Board, Ice Arena Commission, and YMCA Board and adds a separate duty titled perform grant securing duties. Previously grant writing was included under the "performs short and long-term planning and budgeting" duty. The Commission also recommended that the years of service requirements under the minimum qualifications section be eliminated. While I understand the Commission's concern that there may be a good candidate with less experience, I recommend that the years of service remain in the position description for several reasons. This is a department head position that requires enough experience in the field to be knowledgeable and effective as a department head. All of the City's department head positions require seven years of progressive experience in the field along with five years of supervisory experience as minimum requirements. Division manager positions require five years of position related experience. That consistency of requirements has been strongly supported in the past and has not been detrimental to filling positions. Additionally, the City's pay system relies on years of experience in the field as a factor in determining where a position fits in the pay plan. If the years of service are eliminated, the position would be reevaluated to a lower pay range. The other changes recommended would not trigger a review of the position. Finally, for the last recruitment process the position was advertised through the City's website and cable channel, the League of Minnesota Cities, Minnesota Parks and Recreation Association, and Elk River Star News. Additional advertising opportunities include the National Parks and Recreation Association and N:\Public Bodies\City Council\Lori\2011\Park & Rec Director 1 18 lt.docx