09-10-2018 BPU RPT 07 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

VII A i I. H I IJ I R Y 1. 1� E RIVERSIDE PUBLIC UTILITIES Board Memorandum PLJIBLIC U r I L I T I E S BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2018 ITEM NO: 7 SUBJECT: UPDATE ON ENERGY DELIVERY DIVISION'S OVERTIME HOURS AND EXPENDITURES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017/18 ISSUE: Receive an update on Energy Delivery Division's overtime hours and expenditures for Fiscal Year 2017/18. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Public Utilities receive and file this update on Energy Delivery Division's overtime hours and expenditures for Fiscal Year 2017/18. BACKGROUND: In May 2017, following Transparent California's annual report on public employee salaries, Riverside Public Utilities (RPU) had an employee who was in the top ten overtime earners statewide for calendar year 2016. In October 2017, the City hired MGO, a CPA firm, to conduct an audit on overtime hours and expenditures and their findings were presented to the Board of Public Utilities and City Council in April 2018. MGO found no evidence that overtime hours and expenditures were falsified and determined that overtime was due to persistent department understaffing. DISCUSSION: The Energy Delivery Operations and Field Divisions experienced increased levels of overtime during previous fiscal years that were unsustainable. There were several factors that contributed to the high overtime levels, including low staffing levels. In order to mitigate excessive overtime, several new policies and procedures were implemented by RPU to ensure that overtime is managed and monitored regularly moving forward: Electric Field Section —Actions Implemented • Refined recruitment process • Reviewed and adjusted Troubleshooter's schedule • Changed procedure for Troubleshooter requests for sick or vacation • Provided periodic overtime reports for the last 12 months • Weekend stand-by crew assigned only when necessary, rather than every weekend of year • Reviewed and clarified overtime approval process Page 44