HomeMy WebLinkAbout21 - Fire Department Timecare Software AcquisitionCITY OF
°� mz NEWPORT BEACH
C9C /Fp0.N`P City Council Staff Report
Agenda Item No. 21
November 27. 2012
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: City Manager's Office
Rob Houston, IT Manager
949-644-3033,rhouston@newportbeachca.gov
PREPARED BY: Susan Giangrande, Budget Manager
APPROVED: �ia A K.hq
TITLE: Fire Department Timecard Software Acquisition
ABSTRACT:
Approve appropriation of funds to purchase computer software needed for payroll
processing.
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve Budget Amendment 13BA- 021 in the amount of $104,026 from the Information
Technology Strategic Fund unappropriated fund balance to expenditure account 6420-
9315.
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
The Budget Amendment records and appropriates $104,026 in increased expenditure
appropriations from the Information Technology Strategic Fund unappropriated fund
balance, 642 -3605.
DISCUSSION:
Calculation of payroll for Fire safety line personnel is the most complex of any City
employee group. Fire safety line personnel work 24 -hour shifts and have schedules that
do not follow the traditional pay period structure. In addition, they have negotiated with
the City to receive level paychecks meaning that the City issues payment for an agreed
upon number of hours per pay period and then conducts a reconciliation of the hours
paid versus the actual hours worked at set intervals to ensure compliance with the Fair
Labor Standards Act. It is a challenge to ensure that all personnel are being paid
accurately using our current software solution.
The Fire Department uses a software scheduling program purchased eight years ago
called Telestaff. It has many features that handle the complex hiring rules used when
Fire Department Timecard Software Acquisition
November 27, 2012
Page 2
scheduling to fill vacancies, prioritizing coverage employees on sick leave or industrial
leave prior to filing vacation requests. It does not have an interface to transmit the daily
schedules to the City's payroll program for actual payroll calculation. This means the
City has had to rely on a series of customized coding solutions to manipulate the
Telestaff scheduling data into accurate payroll information. This reconciliation has
become increasingly complicated with recent MOU changes and now requires a more
robust solution.
A review of software alternatives was undertaken by staff and it was determined the
industry standard product that worked best with the existing Telestaff scheduling
software was made by Kronos. This research was reviewed and confirmed by the
Synoptec IT consultant currently working with the City. Kronos, a well -known workforce
management company, acquired Telestaff approximately two years ago. Kronos has an
interface "timecard" program that would provide an accurate and complete reconciliation
calculation to address the existing and new pay rules. It will also provide increased
compliance in that it includes functionality that requires every employee to "approve"
their time each pay period through an on -line process.
We are requesting an increase in appropriation not to exceed $104,026. This provides
for Kronos timecard software acquisition and training for all Fire Department employees.
The annual software licensing costs will be less than $10,000 which will be included in
the proposed Fiscal Year 2013 -14 budget. The final implementation cost for the Kronos
product will likely be significantly less than the not to exceed amount as we anticipate
that we will be able to reduce training costs by using a "train the Trainer" model that will
involve training a select few experts who will train the rest of the Fire Department Staff.
The contract will be signed by the City Manager once it's been finalized, but by
requesting appropriation now, we will not lose any time on the implementation process.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW:
Staff recommends the City Council find this action is not subject to the California
Environmental Quality Act ( "CEQA ") pursuant to Sections 15060(c)(2) (the activity will
not result in a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the
environment) and 15060(c)(3) (the activity is not a project as defined in Section 15378)
of the CEQA Guidelines, California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Chapter 3, because it
has no potential for resulting in physical change to the environment, directly or
indirectly.
The agenda item has been noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of
the meeting at which the City Council considers the item). The agenda item has been
noticed according to the Brown Act (72 hours in advance of the meeting at which the
City Council considers the item).
4
Fire Department Timecard Software Acquisition
November 27, 2012
Page 3
Submitted by:
Rob Houston, IT Manager
Attachments: A. Budget Amendment
City of Newport Beach N0, BA- 13BA -021
BUDGETAMENDMENT
2012 -13 AMOUNT: $1oa,azs.00
EFFECT ON BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE:
Increase Revenue Estimates Increase in Budgetary Fund Balance
X Increase Expenditure Appropriations AND X Decrease in Budgetary Fund Balance
Transfer Budget Appropriations No effect on Budgetary Fund Balance
SOURCE:
from existing budget appropriations
from additional estimated revenues
X from unappropriated fund balance
EXPLANATION:
This budget amendment is requested to provide for the following:
To Increase expenditure appropriations for the purchase of the Fire Department's new timecard software, Kronos
Workforce, for payroll processing_
ACCOUNTING ENTRY:
BUDGETARY FUND BALANCE
Fund Account
642 3605
REVENUE ESTIMATES (3601)
Fund/Division Account
EXPENDITURE APPROPRIATIONS (3603)
Description
IT Strategic Fund - Fund Balance
Descrption
Description
Division Number 6420 IT Strategic
Account Number 9315 Kronos Workforce
Signed: WC
Signed: �r- 14j\ L (/
AdminisZ e+ itiity Manager
Signed
City Council Approval: City Clerk
Amount
Debit Credit
$104,026.00
Aulomalic
$104,026.00
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Date
Il ul 1
Date
Date