Laserfiche WebLink
December 2, 2009 <br />OT Reductions- A summary of ineasures taken by the Department to minimize <br />over�ime. <br />The following informaiion addresses the D�ertime Breakdown spreadsheei. <br />Administrafion <br />In the late 1990s, the Department incorporated into policy; minimum staffing levels <br />which se� the minimum n€�mber of patrol personnel working d�pending on the tim� of <br />day as calls for service differ ai various hours of the day. The staffing le�efs took into <br />consideration: community expectaiions, officer safety concerns, responding to calls <br />for service anc� bepartmeni init'ratives. The Departmenf will grant time off as <br />minimum sta#fing allows. The Department wifl filf positions if staffing levels fall below <br />the minimum due to sick time and mandatory training. <br />A recent concern should b� addressed in this memorandum in�olving the H1 N1 <br />inf�uenza. Many expert opinions from across the county indicaie em�loyers should <br />plan for at least a 40% decrease in avaElab[e employees during a spiKe in a fiu <br />breakou�. The most recent information suggests the next spike in H1 N1 infiuenza is <br />expected in March of 2010. Any reduction in ov�rtime signals a lack of crisis <br />management planr�ing. <br />This classification of a�ertime is afso comprised of special details handled by the <br />Department, many ofwhieh we cannot decline. The recenf H1N1 vaccination held on <br />November 21, 2009, is an example. Ti�e Ramsey CountylSt. Paul De�aartment ofi <br />Health determined they would hosf two cl�n�cs in Ramsey County io inoculate <br />children u� to nine years of age. Up ta 160 thausand children were eligible to receive <br />the vaccinations and only 5,5Q0 were available for distribution. The Department had <br />no control over the location, time or date of the vaccination siie. The Departmer�t <br />was fasked to pro�ide sife security, vehicle entry and exit poin�s and pedestriar� <br />control. Depar�m�nt af heal#h officials had no information o€� how many to expect <br />and infarmation gleaned from e�ents across the country indicat�d we s�ouEd expect <br />several thousand peaple of �arying dispositions. The Department planned and <br />s�affec� the event in ord�r to professionally respo�d ta any type of scenario which <br />may unfold, while �olding overtime io a minimum. Even after utilizing unpaid <br />volunteers from the Department's Reserve Unit, Ramsey County's Comm�nity <br />Emergency Response Team, safaried and on-duty officers fhe Department incurred <br />an overtime cost of $1,864 for the event. <br />Court <br />More than fifty percent of officers in the department are or�-shift after the business <br />day ends. This type of scheduling is prominent across the entire cour�try as cails for <br />ser�ice are more prevaler�t in th� evening and o�ernigh# ho�rs. Rose�ille is no <br />different_ Most training events and a!l criminai and ci�il court processes are <br />sched�led during business week hours. <br />[r% <br />