Utility Operations Compensation Study

REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL COMPENSATION STUDY CONSULTANT SERVICES I. PURPOSE The City of Coachella is seeking proposals from qualified and experienced consulting firms to conduct a Utility Operations Compensation Study for classifications in its Sanitary and Miscellaneous and Confidential Mid-Management bargaining units. II. BACKGROUND The City of Coachella is a full-service city in the Coachella Valley with an estimated population of 43,582. Incorporated in 1946, as a full-service municipality, Coachella provides water and sanitary wastewater service to over 46,000 people across a 32 square mile service area. The Utilities Department provides for the treatment and distribution of potable water to over 9,000 residential, commercial, and industrial water service connections, as well as the collection, treatment, and disposal of wastewater from more than 8,000 wastewater service connections. The City’s principal water supply is local groundwater pumped from six City-owned and operated wells,

producing approximately 6.4 million gallons per day (MGD) of potable water distributed via 120 miles of pipeline. The sanitary system is comprised of one wastewater treatment plant designed to treat up to 4.5 MGD of wastewater to secondary standards, before being discharged into the Coachella Valley Stormwater Channel. The sanitary collection system that conveys wastewater from customers to the treatment plant consists of 90 miles of pipelines, two sewage pump stations, and over 1,600 manholes. The Utilities Department is managed by the Utilities Manager who oversees the Coachella Water Authority and Coachella Sanitary District. The Department is organized into three key functions: Administration, a Water Division (Water), and Sanitation Division (Sanitation). The Department’s approved 2023 staffing level is 18.0 full-time equivalents (FTEs), including 3.0 Administration FTEs, 7.5 Water FTEs, and 7.5 Sanitary FTEs. The Water Division consists of one Water Superintendent who acts as a Supervisor and provides direction to a team of six water operators and reports to the Utilities Manager. The Sanitation Division consists of one Sanitary Superintendent who acts as a Supervisor and provides direction to a team of six wastewater operators and reports to the Utilities Manager. The City employs approximately 79 fulltime employees and contracts for police and fire. The City has two (2) labor unions, Sanitary and Miscellaneous and Confidential Mid-Management (represented by Teamsters Local 1932). Information regarding the City’s labor agreements may be found at www.coachella.org. The City has a step and grade compensation system. There are six (6) steps per grade, with five percent (5%) between steps. The sixth (6th) step is a “super step” obtained when an employee has demonstrated outstanding performance and service by achieving goals and een the employee and his/her supervisor. The last Compensation Study conducted by the City was completed in 2018. III. SCOPE OF SERVICES The proposed plan should accomplish the following objectives: • Conduct a comprehensive total compensation study using the comparable study agencies provided (Attachment A), or any others mutually agreed upon using not only job titles, but duties and responsibilities based upon the classification specifications from the City of Coachella (Attachment B). • Complete the internal base salary relationship analysis, including the development of appropriate internal relationship guidelines (internal equity). • Develop externally competitive and internally equitable salary recommendations for each job classification. • Assign a salary range to each classification which reflects the results of the market survey and the analysis of internal relationships. • Prepare a written report of possible strategies for implementation of your recommendations, including discussion of methods, techniques and data used to develop the Compensation plan. • Present draft results in a written report to management and other parties as requested, throughout the duration of the process if needed. The written report must also be provided in electronic format • Present final Compensation report to the City Council in a written report. The written report must also be provided in electronic format. PROJECT DELIVERABLES The successful bidder shall provide project deliverables to the City including: • All deliverables shall be provided to the City electronically, using MS Word/Excel and, if requested, in paper format. • Prepare and present Preliminary and Final Reports, respond to questions, and modify as may be appropriate. • All information gathered and prepared by the Consultant regarding the study shall be provided to the Human Resources Manager. IV. SUBMITTAL REQUIREMENTS Firms interested in submitting a proposal must provide four (4) copies in a sealed envelope by no later than 6:00 p.m. (PST) on January 8, 2024 CITY OF COACHELLA - RFP (FINAL)