The Soldotna City Council amended a position title in the Parks and Recreation Department that would reclassify the position from a salary Range 7 to a Range 11. In passing the resolution, it also amended the authorized staffing table in the FY22/FY23 operating budget to reflect the changes.
Soldotna City Manager Stephanie Queen said that this was a new position that was added to provide better customer service at the Parks and Recreation Department. It also became vacant:
“Prior to readvertising that position, we reviewed the existing job duties and responsibilities, and my opinion was that they were low the way it had previously been classified at a Range 7 and that the actual work that was being performed by that person was more similar to an administrative assistant that we have in many different departments – public works, finance, streets and maintenance – those were all Range 11 positions. I’m requesting that the council reclassify that to a Range 11. This resolution has the effect of essentially amending that staffing table in the operating budget. It would reclass that from a Range 7 to a Range 11. It would update the position title. We’re not proposing to make changes to the job description itself because, I think, already it’s fairly aligned with what administrative assistants are doing in other departments within the city. We are not asking for additional funding for the current fiscal year we’re in for the remainder of this year, however, if this was approved at the mid-biennium prior to the start of the fiscal year that begins July 1, this would potentially of one of several updates that we bring back to the council for consideration.”
Queen says that reclassifying the position will allow the city to be more competitive in attracting qualified applicants and will improve internal equity among similar roles throughout the organization. The annual financial impact of the increase will be approximately $7,000.
Resolution 2022-001 unanimously passed the Soldotna City Council.