Council eyes pay raise for development post

Following an unsuccessful first round of recruiting, Lodi City Manager Blair King is recommending a 5 percent pay bump for the city's unfilled community development director post.

That would increase the position's monthly salary to a minimum of $9,848 and a maximum of $11,916.

Based on 12 months of pay, that calculates to at least $118,176 per year or as much as $142,992 annually.

King said the base salary for the director position is 18.6 percent below average compared with pay for similar positions in nearby cities.

Thirty-three applications were received this spring. Six of the top applicants were invited for interviews.

None, however, was offered the job.

The lower salary likely kept some strong candidates from applying, King noted.

"We weren't quite as competitive as we need to be," he said. "This is an important job. We have high expectations."

The Lodi City Council will consider the raise at its Wednesday night meeting at Carnegie Forum.

The job has been vacant since Randy Hatch left the city at the end of May, citing a mutual desire between he and King to part ways.

Lodi's community development director oversees three city divisions: building, planning and community improvement.

Job description for Lodi's community development director

"Under administrative direction, manages, plans, organizes, coordinates, and directs the planning, code enforcement, building, and development review functions of the City. Responsible for two citizen commissions and maintaining effective public relations; performs related work as assigned.

This single position class has department head level responsibility for overall policy development, program planning, fiscal management, administration and operation of the Code Enforcement, Building Inspection and Planning divisions. The incumbent is responsible for accomplishing departmental goals and objectives, supervising staff, administering the annual budget, and directing the day-to-day operations and activities of the Community Development department. Assignments allow for a high degree of administrative independence in their execution."

Source: City of Lodi, Human Resources department Web site

While building plans have slowed dramatically in Lodi and across the region, the position is still key to guiding current efforts like Lodi's General Plan update. Once complete, that document will outline the city's growth plans for the next 20 years. It's expected to be up for council approval sometime next year.

City Councilman Bob Johnson called the director position a "pivotal" one for Lodi.

He and Councilwoman Susan Hitchcock sit on a committee that screens applicants for the job.

Whoever is chosen, Johnson said, will represent the city in numerous settings, from meetings with builders and industry leaders to talks with local service clubs.

And while the city is working as fast as possible to find a new director, that candidate "has to be a person who is a good fit," for Lodi, Johnson noted.

Hitchcock could not be reached for comment.

At least one local businessman said raising the position's salary is premature.

"Why doesn't (the city) bring 'em in, give 'em a job, see how they perform — and then give them a raise," said Frank Alegre, of Frank Alegre Trucking and a former member of the city's budget and finance committee.

He added that city leaders should make replacing outdated playground equipment a priority, not salaries for department heads.

"One of the most important things to the people, or should be, is the upbringing of our kids," he said. "It seems to me the city doesn't have that in mind."

Salaries for development directors in 10 cities were used to compare to Lodi's director position, said city spokesman Jeff Hood. They include: Folsom, Livermore, Manteca, Modesto, Rocklin, Roseville, Stockton, Tracy, West Sacramento and Woodland.

Lodi paid Long Beach-based Alliance Resource Consulting $10,000 to recruit for the position earlier this year. Once the council votes Wednesday, the city will decide how to proceed with further recruiting, Hood said.

Pay for the director's job likely deserves an even greater boost, King noted in a staff report to the council. Anything more than 5 percent, however, would trigger raises for all management positions because their salary structure is tied together.

The city manager has the final say on the new director's hiring.

Lodi Planning Commissioner Steve Hennecke said the move can't come too soon.

"We look forward to somebody being placed in that position, because the existing staff is pretty well taxed," he said.

Contact reporter Chris Nichols at chrisn@lodinews.com.

Reader Feedback

lodidian wrote on Jul 17, 2008 9:52 AM:

" Bob Johnson says one of the applicants interviewed "looked good on paper" but appeared comatose during the interview. This can happen in interviews but what about the other 32 applicants?
If this agency sent 33 unqualified applicants the city did not get what it paid for and is entitled to a 10k refund---Right? "

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OTH wrote on Jul 15, 2008 8:30 PM:

" What the hay the CC got a raise. Not as as big as this one but it's only the citizen's money. Live a little! "

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ccinlodi wrote on Jul 15, 2008 9:42 AM:

" Re: Whoa Nellie 8:18 am remarks. I was also surprised by the comparison cities- Lodi has not been as aggressive as the comparison cities in pursuing or keeping businesses. IMHO.
On the other hand our residential growth was well modulated and it does not appear we will suffer the blight Manteca for instance is having. We need a CDD that will have the reputation and expertise to attract national companies and the integrity and foresight to protect our city's characteristics. All the while with his/her employment being at the whim of the city manager, city council and developers - pretty tall order. I suppose this person also has xray vision and the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound. "

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T&C wrote on Jul 15, 2008 9:22 AM:

" Nellie, 10 grand is a drop in the bucket to these big spenders. Just over 2 years ago, they were lighting their cigars with those $100 bills from the housing market scam. "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jul 15, 2008 8:24 AM:

" With all of that being said, how can you spend $10K for a head hunter, advertise, review resumes, interview candidates, and then tell the citizens that none were good enough because you weren't offering enough money in the first place. Hello, it's called "Doing Your Research FIRST." It sounds as if Silly Hall is being "reactionary" and not "proactive."

C'mon, this is "Human Resources 101" stuff.

Of course, with the salary being so low this totally explains the hiring of Randy Hatch. rofl. "

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Whoa Nellie! wrote on Jul 15, 2008 8:18 AM:

" Again... and this is an old complaint by many bloggers: why can't the posts from last nights "preview" article be transferred ???

Where was the quote from King King about the comparison review from other cities of this salary.

More importantly, HOW did the cities listed for these comparison salary reviews get selected?? Sure, I can drive there in less than an hour, but...

Many of these cities have had MUCH more residential development in the past 10yrs, and many also have huge industrial parks with giant warehousing facilities. Lodi does not. I don't see the parallels. "

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LODI-LAW wrote on Jul 15, 2008 6:23 AM:

" "We look forward to somebody being placed in that position, because the existing staff is pretty well taxed," he said.

What dept. isnt.
Hire more indians not cheifs. "

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