Received Council: Miscellaneous*

The Board of Supervisors, and each city council, should: Demand that plans be put in place to ensure all existing employees have been or will be trained in SEMS and the Emergency Recovery Plan for the county, and/or their city. The training should be completed by year-end 2005. Document the reporting steps employees must take as support ٠ individuals in the event of a disaster. Endorse that the most effective use of most employees is to focus on business resumption. Response: Agree with recommendations. The Department of Public Safety has been assigned the role to ensure all city employees are trained in SEMS (Standard Emergency Management System) and NIMS (National Incident Management System). In addition, the City will be adding SEMS/NIMS training and emergency reporting procedures to the orientation process for all new employees. Finally, the City Council recently took action to relocate its 6750 Commerce Boulevard • Rohnert Park CA • 94928 • (707) 588-2226 • Fax (707) 588-2263 www.rpcity.org current City Hall to an upgraded building, which will greatly enhance the City's ability resume operations after a disaster. HOUSING ASSISTANCE FOR SWORN OFFICERS In consultation with the City Council and City staff, I have prepared the following responses to the Grand Jury's recommendations. Prior to responding specifically to the Grand Jury's recommendations. I would like to clarify some information that does not accurately reflect Rohnert Park's circumstances. The Grand Jury's report indicates that the average take home pay for officers is $3,000 - $4,000 a month. In the case of Rohnert Park, this information is not correct. An entry level officer starts at $5,083 per month and after 31/2 years can earn $6,169 per month (with normal career progression). However, the salary figures do not provide complete information on the compensation of the City's sworn officers. Based on existing specialty pay and using the departmental overtime rate average an additional 4.5 hours of overtime per week, mid and senior level career Public Safety Officers can earn approximately $109,000 per year; on a monthly basis this amounts to $9,083.33 per month which is substantially higher than the $3,000 - $4,000 per month referenced by the Grand Jury report. This amount increases to approximately $120,000 per year for Public Safety Sergeants, or $10,000 per month. In addition to differences between pay cited in the Grand Jury report and the pay Rohnert Park officers actually receive, there are two more issues described by the Grand Jury that do not represent Rohnert Park's actual situation. These issues are employee vacancy and turnover. First, the Grand Jury report states the following in regards to vacancy: "Some of the law enforcement agencies have vacancies in excess of 20% of their targeted headcount." While Rohnert Park was not specifically mentioned in this statement, I believe it is important for me to clarify that at the present time, the City has zero (0) vacancies for its Public Safety Officer position. Due to the size of our workforce and the regular turnover rate from retirement, the City continuously recruits for Public Safety Officers to ensure adequate staffing at this critical position. Second, the Grand Jury report stated the following on recruitment and retention: "Agencies were having a difficult time recruiting and retaining sworn officers." Again this statement does not reflect Rohnert Park's recent experience. In the last four years, Rohnert Park has not lost an officer to another agency and as I have indicated above Rohnert Park does not have any current vacancies. Because of the differences I have outlined above between the information 6750 Commerce Boulevard • Rohnert Park CA • 94928 • (707) 588-2226 • Fax (707) 588-2263 www.rpcity.org cited by the Grand Jury report and the actual experience of the City of Rohnert Park, it is difficult to respond fully to the Grand Jury's recommendations. However, recruiting and maintaining quality employees that serve the citizens of Rohnert Park is one of the highest priorities of the Rohnert Park City Council and the City is committed to providing compensation to accomplish this effort.