Chapter 2.12
EMPLOYEE POLICIES1
Sections
2.12.010 Salary and benefits.
2.12.020 Basic pay plan and annual pay schedule.
2.12.030 Pay plan administration.
2.12.040 Holidays.
2.12.050 Vacations.
2.12.060 Sick leave.
2.12.065 Shared leave.
2.12.070 State retirement system.
2.12.080 Health and welfare plans.
2.12.090 Other retirement.
2.12.100 Authority to promulgate personnel policies and regulations.
2.12.110 Fair employment policy.
2.12.120 Benefit coverage.
2.12.130 Eligibility.
2.12.010 Salary and benefits.
(1) It shall be the policy of the city to treat nonunion employees in equity as to salary increases and benefits which are obligated or provided by the city to the benefit of employees represented by a labor union.
(2) For employees not represented by a labor union, salary rates and benefits shall be set according to resolution of the city council.
(3) For employees represented by a labor union, salary rates and benefits shall be set according to the terms provided in a current and valid labor contract.
(4) The salary rates contained in the basic pay schedule shall be established on the basis of full-time services in full-time positions at 40 hours per week. Department directors shall average 42 hours per week on an annual basis. Positions requiring less than full-time services shall be compensated at hourly rates approved by the city manager. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 790 § 1, 1989. Formerly 2.72.010.]
2.12.020 Basic pay plan and annual pay schedule.
(1) Basic Pay Plan. The basic pay plan shall consist of 40 or more salary ranges. Within each range there shall be five steps, A through E, consisting of five percent incremental increases. The differential between Step A in each range shall be four percent.
(2) Annual Pay Schedule. The actual dollar amounts contained in the basic pay plan are designated the “annual pay schedule.” The annual pay schedule for nonunion employees shall be established by resolution of the city council. Such resolution shall establish the annual pay schedule and the period of time (not to exceed three years) during which the schedule shall be effective. The annual pay schedule may not be decreased during the stated schedule period and the stated schedule period may not be diminished; provided, however, nothing contained in this section shall prevent the city council from increasing the annual pay schedule amounts during the schedule period; and provided further, that the scheduled amounts and/or period stated in the annual pay schedule may be decreased by the city council upon the affirmative vote by secret ballot of two-thirds of the total number of nonunion employees. The city manager shall, within 30 days of adoption or modification of the annual pay schedule, execute an agreement with the nonunion employees according to the terms of such resolution. The agreement shall be binding on all parties unless modified as provided in this section.
(3) For employees represented by a labor union, the existing annual pay schedule may be modified only as provided in any current and valid labor contract. [Ord. 1178 § 1, 1996; Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 949 §1, 1992: Ord. 822 §1, 1989: Ord. 790 §2, 1989. Formerly 2.72.020.]
2.12.030 Pay plan administration.
The city manager is authorized to adopt rules and regulations for implementation and administration of the basic pay plan. Such authority shall include the authority to place job positions in the basic pay plan at appropriate range-grades and to reclassify positions; provided, that the director of finance certifies that sufficient funds are available for such purposes. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 822 § 2, 1989: Ord. 790 § 3, 1989. Formerly 2.72.030.]
2.12.040 Holidays.
(1) City employees shall be entitled to the following paid holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday, President’s Day (third Monday in February), Memorial Day (last Monday in May), Independence Day, Labor Day (first Monday in September), Veteran’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, the Friday after Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and one floating holiday.
(2) Any holiday falling on a Sunday shall be observed on the following Monday and any holiday falling on Saturday shall be observed the preceding Friday.
(3) The city manager shall have the authority to administer holidays for part-time employees, floating holidays, and holiday overtime schedules as specified in the city personnel manual. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 790 § 4, 1989. Formerly 2.72.040.]
2.12.050 Vacations.
Annual paid vacations shall be granted to all full-time employees and, on a pro rata basis, to part-time employees. Paid vacation shall be granted according to the following schedule:
0 – 3 years = 8 hrs/month
4 – 6 years = 10 hrs/month
7 – 10 years = 12 hrs/month
11 + years = 14 hrs/month
As compensation for a minimum 42-hour work week, department directors are granted an added eight hours per quarter year vacation time. For purposes of vacation taken, a week shall consist of 40 hours for department directors. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 790 § 5, 1989. Formerly 2.72.050.]
2.12.060 Sick leave.
All full-time employees shall accrue sick leave benefits at the rate of one working day for each calendar month of continuous employment. Regular part-time and part-time employees shall accrue sick leave benefits on a pro rata basis according to hours worked. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 790 § 6, 1989. Formerly 2.72.060.]
2.12.065 Shared leave.
The city manager is authorized and directed to adopt personnel policies and regulations which will permit voluntary transfer of accrued sick leave from one city employee to another. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 921 § 1, 1991. Formerly 2.72.065.]
2.12.070 State retirement system.
City employees are required to participate in either the state’s Public Employee’s Retirement System (PERS) or the Law Enforcement Officers’ and Fire Fighter’s Retirement System (LEOFF) as long as their compensated hours continue to qualify them for service credit under the appropriate plan. Under terms of state law the city manager has the option of participating in PERS or withdrawing. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 790 § 7, 1989. Formerly 2.72.070.]
2.12.080 Health and welfare plans.
Employees who work on a regular basis 21 hours or more per week are eligible to participate in the city’s health insurance programs. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 790 § 8, 1989. Formerly 2.72.080.]
2.12.090 Other retirement.
In lieu of Social Security all employees shall be covered under a qualified retirement plan chosen by the city and its employees. The city shall contribute a percentage of employee salary negotiated with city employee groups; which amount shall not exceed the then current employer Social Security rate less a percentage amount necessary to purchase a benefit plan to replace Social Security death and disability benefits. To qualify for this program employees must be full-time or regular part-time and work a minimum of 21 hours per week. The employer contribution rate may be modified by council resolution, when such change is not in violation of an employee agreement. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 790 § 9, 1989. Formerly 2.72.090.]
2.12.100 Authority to promulgate personnel policies and regulations.
The city manager is authorized to promulgate and implement all other personnel rules, administrative policies, manuals, or directives including, but not limited to, those necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter. [Ord. 1135 § 2(3)(part), 1995; Ord. 790 § 10, 1989. Formerly 2.72.100.]
2.12.110 Fair employment policy.
(1) Fair Employment Policy Established. It is the policy of the city of Des Moines to promote and afford equal treatment and employment practices to its employees and applicants for employment and to assure equal employment opportunity based upon ability and fitness of any person regardless of sex, age (except minimum age and retirement provisions), race, creed, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status or the presence of any disability, including sensory, mental or physical handicaps, unless based upon a bona fide occupational qualification in relationship to hiring and employment.
(2) Application of Policy. This policy shall apply only to the following: hiring, employment, work assignments, layoff or termination, rates of pay or compensation, and selection for training, with respect to any employee of, or applicant for employment with, the city of Des Moines.
(3) Compliance with Initiative 200. This policy shall be read and implemented consistent with the provisions of Initiative 200, now codified as RCW 49.60.400.
(4) Direction to Implement Policy. Consistent with DMMC 2.12.100, the city manager is directed to modify or implement personnel rules to effectuate the policy established by this section. [Ord. 1279 §§ 1, 2, 2001.]
2.12.120 Benefit coverage.
The AWC Employee Benefit Trust extends dependent eligibility to employees’ domestic partners and their children. In accordance with the policies of AWC Employee Benefit Trust as currently written or hereafter amended, and in compliance with DMMC 2.12.110, the city will provide benefit coverage to domestic partners of the same and opposite gender and dependent children on the same basis as provided to spouses and dependent children. [Ord. 1394 § 1, 2006.]
2.12.130 Eligibility.
Eligibility for domestic partnership status will be established by the presentation of an affidavit of domestic partnership meeting the definition of domestic partner as defined in AWC Employee Benefit Trust policies as currently written or hereafter amended; provided, that the domestic partnership has existed for a minimum of one year. [Ord. 1394 § 2, 2006.]
Prior legislation: Ords. 25, 211, 282, 294, 324, 393, 472, 510, and 538.