City Council
MEETING DATE: 3/9/2016
TITLE:
Title
Creation of an Enterprise Applications Engineer for the MIS Department.
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FROM:
Tami Scott, Administrative Services Director
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends the City Council approve an increase to the authorized staffing in the MIS Department of one position in lieu of a Permit Specialist and authorize staff to recruit an Enterprise Applications Engineer.
Body
BACKGROUND:
The City Council recently authorized the recruitment of a Permit Specialist in the Community Development Department to be better able to accommodate the requirements of Solar Permitting and Medical Marijuana Dispensaries and Cultivation sites permits.
DISCUSSION:
Through discussions with the City Manager, Community Development Director, Administrative Services Director and Police Chief it is recommended that the Business License Revenue function, once handled by the finance department, now again be absorbed by the finance department using existing staff. At the same time, the current Business License Revenue Officer and Office Assistant in Community Development would both be reclassified to Building Permit Specialist providing both permits and counter assistance. Staff believes this reorganization is more productive and fills the gap more efficiently at the counter. At the same time, the MIS department is fielding more than 180 calls for service monthly to include not only IT related activities but audio visual, telephonic Voice over IP and testing of new software for various departments of the City. Almost 90% of the time, support is provided to the public safety departments. At one time, the MIS depart was staffed with 4.25 FTE and now has 2 FTE, while at the same time technology needs have tripled in the last 5 years. Most recently, the MIS department will have the added demand of dealing with launching the new Body Worn Camera technology, which involves extensive new software and hardware technology. This implementation process will be a critical component to successfully launching this new BWC technology for the Cathedral City Police Department. The new IT position will be at the level of an Enterprise Applications Engineer, a non-rep position. This function will be responsible for web or desktop application and GIS systems development to include but not limited to design, develop, implement, maintain, update, debug, or test web or desktop applications using programming languages, scripts, databases, software development tools, web technologies, and application development standards/best practices/methodologies. This position will also test and manage, under the direction of the IT Manager, firewalls and other security related software features required by DOJ and Homeland Security.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The Permit Specialist function was set to be partially funded with future revenues received from solar permitting and medical marijuana dispensary and cultivation permits and general fund reserves. With the reorganization and funding from these sources, the net increase in funding from general fund reserves is approximately $87,640 although in time we believe there will be sufficient new revenue to cover this added cost and the organization will become more efficient.
ATTACHMENTS:
None