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Report regarding a resolution approving Amendment 1 to the City’s wage and salary schedule for fiscal year 2025-26 to establish the salary range for the new classification of Crisis Response Clinician I/II (Leah Lockhart, Human Resources Director)
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RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Approve a resolution approving Amendment 1 to the 2025-26 Wage and Salary Schedule to establish the salary range for the new classification of Crisis Response Clinician I/II.
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BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
In accordance with the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations, the City maintains a salary and wage schedule (“salary schedule”) for all positions of employment with the City, and any amendments to the schedule are subject to City Council approval. The salary schedule is typically updated at the beginning of each fiscal year, and as needed to implement negotiated rate increases or other recommended additions or changes to job classifications and wage/salary ranges.
In 2021, the City of South San Francisco partnered with the cities of Daly City, Redwood City, and San Mateo, the San Mateo County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (“BHRS”) and StarVista to pilot a Community Wellness and Crisis Response Team (“CWCRT”) program. As part of this program, a mental health clinician was assigned to each participating Police Department with the purpose of creating an integrated response model where the clinician co-responds with law enforcement to emergency calls within the City involving suspected mental health or behavioral health concerns with the goal of improving outcomes for individuals experiencing psychological distress. Impact reports indicate that this program has successfully led to a reduction in the number of involuntary psychiatric detentions and mental health-focused calls for service among the pilot cities.
With the sunsetting of the two-year pilot program and the end of the CWCRT program extension approved by City Council for fiscal year 2024-25, staff developed a new job classification that would allow the Police Department to directly hire a mental health clinician to deliver these critical services. This will enable the department to continue providing community benefits, including early intervention, crisis de-escalation, mental health evaluations, referrals to additional services, follow-up visits, and support for the involved individuals and their families.
In conjunction with the Police Department, Human Resources staff developed the classification description for the Crisis Response Clinician I/II as a regular, full-time position. The proposed classification creates a I/II level structure and allows for positions to be flexibly staffed to allow an incumbent Clinician I to promote to a Clinician II upon obtaining the requisite qualifications, subject to verification and approval. The sole distinction between a Crisis Response Clinician I and a Crisis Response Clinician II is that a Clinician I is considered in pre-licensed status and must work under supervision to fulfill the clinical experience hours needed for full licensure and a Clinician II has met all requirements and is fully licensed. This position would be included in the classified service under the City’s Personnel Rules and Regulations and is considered a non-sworn professional and FLSA exempt position represented by the Mid-Management Unit, Teamsters, Local 856.
To establish the recommended wage range for the position, staff conducted a salary survey of the City’s benchmark cities of Alameda, Daly City, Hayward, Mountain View, Palo Alto, Redwood City, San Bruno, San Leandro, and San Mateo. Of the 9 comparator agencies surveyed, two had a comparable classification - Daly City and Redwood City. In addition to external benchmarks, staff reviewed existing City positions to ensure appropriate internal alignment with positions of similar scope and complexity of duties and required qualifications. As a result of this analysis, staff recommends that the Crisis Response Clinician I/II position be benchmarked to the Management Analyst I/II position, with a range of $9,228.27-$11,214.67 monthly for the Clinician I and $10,172.93-$12,365.60 monthly for the Clinician II. This range is in line with the compensation for the comparator agencies identified. Staff met and conferred with representatives of Teamsters Local 856 and reached tentative agreement on the proposed salary range and employment terms, subject to City Council approval.
FISCAL IMPACT
The Crisis Response Clinician I/II position was included as a regular full-time position in the Police Department’s fiscal year 2025-26 operating budget and will be funded with the remaining Opioid Settlement funds and the General Fund. By creating this classification as a full-time position within the department, they will eliminate the need for an interagency agreement with the County of San Mateo, which previously acted as the administrative agent for the program. The cost for salary and benefits for this position is approximately $21,800 less than the amount included in the adopted budget for the current fiscal year for this program.
RELATIONSHIP TO STRATEGIC PLAN
This item supports strategic plan focus area of Quality of Life - promote community safety and preparedness by enabling the appointment of a permanent, full-time Crisis Response Clinician services within the Police Department, ensuring continuity of this program.
CONCLUSION
If approved, the amended wage and salary schedule will allow the City to fill the position of Crisis Response Clinician I/II on a regular full-time basis and ensure that the City maintains competitive and equitable compensation for the position. Staff recommends that City Council adopt the resolution to amend the City’s wage and salary schedule for these changes to take effect.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Crisis Response Clinician I/II - Class Description