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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-02-22 - AGENDA REPORTS - REVISED 9 80 WORK SCHEDULE (2)UNFINISHED BUSINESS DATE: SUBJECT: DEPARTMENT: BACKGROUND AGENDA REPORT I February 25, 1994 City Manager Apprc Item to be presented K Pulskam REVISED 9/80 WORK SCHEDULE CITY MANAGER The City of Santa Clarita has the responsibility of implementing and maintaining an Employee Vehicle Trip Reduction Program to meet air quality improvement goals as directed by the South Coast Air Quality Management District's (SCAQMD) Regulation XV requirement. Under this regulation, companies of over 100 employees within the South Coast Basin are mandated to develop and maintain programs to reduce peak hour commuting trips among their employees. In response to this mandate, in January of 1992 staff developed a trip reduction program specifically designed to reduce employee vehicle trips to City Hall during peak morning commute times. The foundation of our trip reduction program centers upon the City's 9/80 work schedule. Implemented in January of 1992, the 9180 work schedule had an immediate positive impact upon our trip reduction program. When the staff submitted the City's Regulation XV Plan to the SCAQMD, 79 weekly vehicle trips or approximately 16 daily vehicles arriving to City Hall needed to be eliminated to meet our mandated Average Vehicle Ridership (AVR) goal of 1.3 employees per vehicle commuting to City Hall each day. In staff's estimation, the implementation of our 9/80 work schedule lead to the reduction of approximately 55 to 60 of those vehicles each week. The elimination of the remaining 20 to 25 vehicle trips has been accomplished over the past two years through the implementation of the additional incentive programs which encompass our trip reduction program (see attached summary of Regulation XV Employee Trip Reduction Program). At their January 11, 1994 meeting, staff recommended to the Council that the City's 9/80 work schedule be modified to one where affected employees have a consistent day off by closing City Hall and other administrative offices every other Friday. At that time, staff was directed to come back to Council at a later date in order to provide additional information regarding this proposed change. Ag z 7hi -'i Item: The January 17, 1994 Northridge earthquake, activation of the City's Emergency Operations Center and, subsequent relocation of City Hall has lead to the temporary suspension of the City's 9/80 schedule. Presently, all City employees are operating under a regular Monday through Friday, 40 hour work schedule. Further, the modification and implementation of such a modified 9/80 work schedule would in no manner reduce the public's availability to service provided by our Earthquake Recovery Unit. The Earthquake Recovery Unit is currently staffed by both City employees and Willdan contractual employees. In the event that such a modification to the City's work schedule is approved, Willdan employees will provide staffirg to the Earthquake Recovery Unit on Fridays when City Hall is closed. As the City has now transitioned into a recovery phase, staff believes the obligation to maintain our SCAQMD approved Regulation XV Program requires that the City resume its 9/80 work schedule. It is important to note that the proposed modification to our 9/80 work schedule does not give City employees any additional days off. Under this proposed system the City would be able to continue to meet the requirement of Regulation XV, while increasing the community's availability to City services. This can be accomplished by adding an additional hour to each working day that City Hall is open during each nine out of ten day period. The attached memorandum proposes an alternative 9/80 work schedule of alternate Friday closures of City Administrative offices which is consistent with many other neighboring municipalities and various departments of the City and County of Los Angeles. Upon approval by the City Council, materials will be developed to publicize the change in schedule, including a press release, calendar and public notices. Implementation of the new work schedule is expected to occur in late March or early April 1994, and will have no negative impact upon the City budget. RECOMMENDATI That the City Council review and approve the change in the work schedule as proposed. ATTACENTENT Memo to George Caravalho on Revised 9/80 Work Schedule Summary of Regulation XV Employee Trip Reduction Program GAC\REP:kmt 980agen CITY OF SANTA CLAR]TA SUMMARY OF REGULATION XV EMPLOYEE TRIP REDUCTION PROGRAM The foundation of the City's Trip Reduction Plan (TRP) centers upon Santa Clarita's 9/80 work schedule. The present schedule has been devised in such a manner to provide quality public service and has been balanced with the South Coast Air Quality Management District's requirement to reduce vehicle com utes and pollutant emissions, while consequently increasing local and regional mobility. Unique to the City's 9/80 plan, Santa Clarita's work schedule provides employees with every other Monday off, unlike most 9/80's which utilize Fridays as their designated off day. By scheduling our employees' off days for Monday, the City has helped reduce the amount of commuter trips in the area for any given week by an additional day. Encompassed within the City's award winning Regulation XV Program = a number of employee incentives, each designed to address the specific needs of our employees and their designated mode of transportation to City Hall. They include: L Preferential Parking: The City has sited and implemented a Preferential Parking Program at City Hall for all carpooling commuters. This program rewards employees for carpooling by providing them with six (6) reserved parking spaces which are directly adjacent to the east entrance of City Hall. 2. Santa Clarita Valley Transportation Management Association (SCVTMA) and Commuter Transportation Services (CTS): Membership: All full and part-time employees are eligible to utilize the services provided to the City by Commute Transportation Services (CTS) and the Santa Clarita Valley Transportation Management Association (SCVTMA). CTS and SCVTMA offer both employees and the City a range of services including: personalized ridesbare matchlists, AVR Calculation Assistance and Employoc Transportation Coordinator (ETC) Assistance. Employee Ridesbare Subsidy Program: In April of 1993, the City implemented an Employee Incentive Program designed to provide monetary subsidies to all employees who commit to ride their bicycle, walk or carpool to work. Our Subsidy Program provide employees with an opportunity to make extra money for doing nothing more than leaving their car at home as often as possible. Through our program, each participating employee cams one dollar for each day that they walk, bike or "Share the Ride" with a friend. Our program's goal is to get each employee out of their car at least one day per week. Our employees have the ability to set their own schedule and carpool, bike or walk as often or as little as they like. With no set minimum requirements, its up to each employee how much they earn each month. 4. On -Site Amenities: The City now provides a number of programs, services and amenities including: 1) On-site bicycle lockers; 2) An Employee Guaranteed Ride Home Program; 3) Subsidized Employee Monthly Metrolink and Local Bus passes and; 4) A 15 % discount on all bicycle purchases, equipment and service through a local bicycle shop. 5. Assembly Bill 2766: Finally, perhaps one of the most important aspects of the City's Employee Rideshare plan is that funding for the program has been accomplished without utilizing any General Fundmonies. The City's program is funded completely through monies made possible by California Assembly Bill 2766. 6. Employee Education Program: From the onset, staff recognized that without a well designed employee education program, our rideshare program could not flourish. Santa Clarita's education element combines the use of our employee newsletter, "Tales From the Inside", informational flyers and an employee transportation center to consistently maintain interest and awareness of the City's Rideshare Program. Additionally, Santa Clarita holds quarterly rideshare events which are both fun and informational to our employees. These events include employee mixers to promote ridesharing, including events such as 'Meet your Match" and "Don't Drive to Work Alone Day", employee Penguin's frozen yogurt parties, annual "Clean Air Week" Transportation Fairs, and most recently a series of employee promotional events designed to recognize the importance of California Rideshare Week.