Title
GRU Com Organization and Job Classification Approval (B)
Explanation
The City Commission in 1996 established GRUCom, the City's telecommunications utility. GRUCom's primary business is the transport of private line and special access data circuits utilizing the City's High Speed Fiber Optic Network. Other business lines include antenna space leasing on City communication and water towers, GRUNet Internet access services and trunking radio services. Additional business lines are being evaluated and will be proposed as GRUCom grows.
As a new utility, GRUCom has relied primarily upon existing City employees to fill open positions. Existing job classifications and salary ranges, borrowed from other utility departments, were also used to recruit and compensate GRUCom personnel. However, GRUCom has now reached a level of maturity where it is necessary to formalize the organization structure and create job classifications relevant to the telecommunications business with wage levels that are competitive in the external market.
Telecommunications is currently the fastest growing industry in the world. The technology is changing constantly and personnel with telecommunications experience and skills are in high demand. GRUCom has not been immune from the significant personnel challenges that are affecting the industry. In several cases other companies offering higher pay and benefits have recruited GRUCom employees. Due to the small size of the GRUCom department, certain employees are critical to the ongoing stability of operation of the utility. Therefore, interim measures were implemented to retain these key employees. GRUCom continues to experience difficulty retaining and attracting skilled employees. We believe that the organization, job classifications and salary changes defined in the attachments hereto position GRUCom for continued growth and minimize, to the greatest extent possible, the need for reactionary measures in the future.
In FY2000 GRUCom had 17 approved personnel positions. Four additional personnel positions were approved in the FY2001 budget for a total of 21 positions as shown on the organization chart. GRUCom revenue has increased to $3.9 million (annualized). GRUCom staffing requirements are expected to grow as customers, sales and revenues continue to increase. However, new staff will only be added when absolutely necessary. GRUCom must remain responsive to change and extremely cost conscious to compete effectively in the highly competitive telecommunications market.
Fiscal Note
The additional personnel positions and the salary implications of proposed reorganization and job classifications were accounted for in the FY2001 budget.
Recommendation
The City Commission approve changes summarized on the organization chart by adding GRU Com Engineering and Technical Manager (pay grade to be determined), Reclassify the Power System Control Specialist and Senior Power System Control Specialist positions in two new telecommunications job families: (Telecommunication Specialist job family and a Network Cabling job family). The GRUCom positions (pay grade to be determined) will be addressed in the City wide pay study, which is currently in progress.