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Adopt a resolution to amend the Alphabetical Listing of Classes and Salaries to retitle the Civil Engineer (Entry) and Civil Engineer - Environment (Entry) to Engineer Assistant and Engineer Assistant - Environmental
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Published Notice Required? Yes ____ No _X _
Public Hearing Required? Yes ____ No _X _
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Department of Human Resources recommends that the Board of Supervisors adopt a resolution to amend the Alphabetical Listing of Classes and Salaries to retitle the classifications Civil Engineer (Entry) and Civil Engineer - Environmental (Entry) to Engineer Assistant and Engineer Assistant - Environmental.
SUMMARY:
The proposed adoption to the Alphabetical Listing of Classes and Salaries to amend the titles of the Civil Engineer (Entry) and Civil Engineer - Environmental (Entry) classification specifications are in accordance with the Professional Engineers Act effective January 1, 2019 (Business & Professions Code §§ 6700-6799), which no longer permits these classification titles to include the term “civil” as neither classification holds a Registered Professional Engineer license. On June 12, 2019, the Civil Service Commission amended the classification descriptions. The final step is to amend the titles within the salary schedule.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
There is no final impact in adopting the resolution as the recommended action does not change the salary ranges for the classifications. The costs associated with preparing the agenda item are nominal and absorbed by the department’s FY2018/19 Adopted Budget.
DISCUSSION:
The proposed adoption to the Alphabetical Listing of Classes and Salaries to amend the titles of the Civil Engineer (Entry) and Civil Engineer - Environmental (Entry) classification specifications are in accordance with the Professional Engineers Act effective January 1, 2019 (Business & Professions Code §§ 6700-6799). “Section 6732. Use of seal, stamp, or title by unlicensed persons; titles restricted for use by licensed persons - It is unlawful for anyone other than a professional engineer licensed under this chapter to stamp or seal any plans, specifications, plats, reports, or other documents with the seal or stamp of a professional engineer, or in any manner, use the title “professional engineer,” “licensed engineer,” “registered engineer,” or “consulting engineer,” or any of the following branch titles: “agricultural engineer,” “chemical engineer,” “civil engineer,” “control system engineer,” “electrical engineer,” “fire protection engineer,” “industrial engineer,” “mechanical engineer,” “metallurgical engineer,” “nuclear engineer,” “petroleum engineer,” or “traffic engineer,” or any combination of these words and phrases or abbreviations thereof unless licensed under this chapter.” Section 6787 states that it is a misdemeanor violation of California State Law to use a restricted title or a title that could misrepresent the person’s license status.
Civil Engineer (Entry) and Civil Engineer - Environmental (Entry) require an Engineer-In-Training certificate, but do not required a Registered Professional Engineer License. Consequently, the titles of those classifications can no longer contain “civil” in the title since it would be misleading that the individual would have a Registered Professional Engineer License. In review of the classification specifications of surrounding public agencies that are comparable in minimum qualifications and job duties, the title of Engineer Assistant was most prominent. Therefore, the new proposed amended titles are Engineer Assistant and Engineer Assistant - Environmental. There is no change to the existing salary provided to either classification.
On June 12, 2019, the Civil Service Commission amended the classification descriptions, including renaming the classifications to Engineer Assistant and Engineer Assistant - Environmental. The proposed action before the Board of Supervisors is to amend the titles within the salary schedule to align with the classification titles adopted by the Civil Service Commission.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could elect not to amend the Alphabetical Listing of Classes and Salaries to retitle the Civil Engineer (Entry) and Civil Engineer - Environmental (Entry). However, this is not recommended as this would put the County in violation of the Professional Engineers Act and the Civil Service Commission adopted the new classification names.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Human Resources worked with staff from the Resource Management Department in retitling the class specifications. On May 15, 2019, the County notified SEIU of the County’s intent to retitle and modify the existing classifications. The Union did not respond to the County’s invitation to meet and confer. The Civil Service Commission approved the revised classifications at the June 12, 2019 Commission meeting.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION