City of Seattle
Civil Service Commission’s Monthly Meeting
January 7, 2000
Minutes
1. Call to Order:
The monthly meeting of the City of Seattle Civil Service Commission was called to order by Chairman
Kenneth M. Lowthian on Friday, January 7, 1999 at 9:45 p.m.
2. Introduction of Attendees:
The Chair introduced the attendees:
Commission Chairperson Kenneth M. Lowthian
Commissioner Nina A. Harding
Commissioner Ken Morgan
Miriam Israel Moses, Executive Director
Mary Effertz, Administrative Staff Assistant
Merle Overland, Manager, Employment Services, ESD
Barbara Gangwer, CBO Budget Analyst for the Commission, joined during the course of the meeting.
The Chair welcomed Ken Morgan as the newly elected employee representative.
2a. Election of a new Chairperson:
Chairperson Kenneth M. Lowthian opened the floor for nominations of a new Chairperson.
Commissioner Lowthian nominated Commissioner Harding and Commissioner Morgan seconded the
nomination. Commissioner Harding was elected by acclamation.
Commissioner Harding noted that her presence as an African American woman, both as a Commissioner
nominated and elected by the City Council and as the elected Chair by rotation, were historic occasions.
Chairperson Harding gave Commission members, Executive Director, staff and guests a brief history of
her employment experiences with the City dating back to 1960. She noted that African Americans, as a
class, were not welcomed into City service, although she was hired as a temporary worker without
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benefits. She was terminated due to her pregnancy and never re-hired in any capacity by the City
irrespective of her academic qualifications and work experience. Commissioner Harding concluded that
she is the first African American woman in the history of the Commission to serve as Chairperson.
3. Approval of Minutes:
The minutes of the November 23, 1999 meeting were read and approved as written.
4. Council Activity:
a. The Commission reviewed the 12/7/99 State Legislative Agenda for 2000. The Executive
Director noted that she was in attendance at the annual Legislative Breakfast and that the issue of
Metropolitan Parks Districts [MPD] was specifically raised again. She provided some history on
the issues raised by this proposed legislation with respect to its potential impact on City
employees. The legislation involving MPDs during the last legislative session would allow
employees of MPDs to develop their own Civil Service Commissions and remain within the
City’s retirement system, however, it would be possible for the MPD to contract out for the work
performed.
b. The Commission reviewed an undated draft of a letter written by the Executive Director for
Councilmember Nick Licata’s signature.
4. Personnel Department Activity:
a. The Commission reviewed a 10/29/99 memo from Class/Comp Director Nancy Schaefer to
the Executive Director which informed the Commission of the 39 positions that were being
exempted from the Civil Service in the legislation passed by Council on November 22, 1999. It
was noted that the Commission wrote to all members of the Council objecting to this action on
the grounds that the exemptions were based on salary band rather than on duties and
responsibilities.
b. The Commission reviewed an 11/8/99 memo from the Executive Director to Nancy Schaefer,
advising her the Commission does not support the exemptions of the 39 IT positions noted in (a).
c. The Commission reviewed the 11/16/99 Weekly Personnel Bulletin that discussed changes to
the duties of the Personnel Director with respect to changing the classification and/or
compensation of City employees.
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d. The Commission heard a presentation by Joy Huxtable and Denise Hibbitt from the Career
Quest Program. Ms. Huxtable served as primary spokesperson and explained that the program is
intended to address career development needs. She stated that the pilot program was funded in
1999-2000 and actually began in the Fall of 1999. As of her report to the Commission, Ms.
Huxtable noted that there have been close to 60 applicants. Ms. Huxtable provided a brief
explanation of the Program’s process:
Participants meet with City Job Coaches and develop a career plan. Participants needs may
range from those who already have a degree to those who may only need help writing a resume.
There is a wide range of service provided. Two union members, two management members and
one Performance Resource Group [PRG] member have oversight responsibility. Indentured
service is not part of the program because no departments require it when they provide training.
A scholarship committee approves the action plan by determining whether the requested training
supports the career goal. Within the scholarship fund, there is no refund or tuition
reimbursement if the employee does not pass the course.
e. The Commission reviewed the 11/23/99 Personnel Bulletin which discussed the Career
Quest Program, as noted above, and also discussed the status of the Represented IT Study. This
is the study of the classifications and compensation for the represented IT positions that are not
part of the IT HR Strategy. The report notes that the timelines are being revised.
f. The Commission reviewed the 12/21/99 Personnel Bulletin which described the Career
Quest Program, as noted above, and also discussed a new procedure implemented by Class/Comp
for processing pending classification reports that no longer require legislation. The passage of
Resolution 30046 eliminated the need for the typical reclassification ordinance.
The Bulletin also noted that the Council passed an ordinance on Friday, December 19, 1999,
which ensures that employees will not lose pay if they followed managerial directions during the
week of WTO. The Executive Director presented the Commission with a hard copies of a series
of dated e-mail exchanges between her office to Personnel, Policy, Labor Relations and the
Mayor’s Office. The e-mails made it clear that the City had no intention of paying employees for
time lost during WTO and, in fact, were going under the assumption that the Inclement Weather
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and/or Emergency Management Policies would apply. Hence, employees were told to use
vacation time for the time that they were locked out. While the Commission did not receive
credit for assisting the City in making a decision to compensate its employees for this time, it is
clear that the Commission’s involvement and research in this area provided a strong motivating
factor for the City to reconsider its position on this issue. The Inclement Weather Policy, the
Emergency Management Policy, and the Ordinance establishing no loss of pay were included
with the e-mails in the Commission’s materials.
6. Related Policy/Administrative Issues:
a. The Commission reviewed an 11/18/99 memo from Mayor Paul Schell announcing the
resignation of Lizanne Lyons from the Strategic Planning Office. She will be temporarily
replaced by Jared Smith, SPO’s Assistant Director for transportation and the City’s Regional
Transit Manager, until a new Director is hired.
b. The Commission reviewed the 11/23/99 IT HR Strategy Bulletin which noted that the
allocation ordinance was passed on 11/22/99. The pay program becomes effective on 1/5/2000.
The bulletin also notes changes to the original program. These include an increase of 4% to
Band C and annual market adjustments instead of biennial adjustments. The Executive Director
noted that her analysis of the program, especially as it relates to current compensation levels,
along with the filing of the IT group appeal, may have contributed to these changes.
c. The Commission reviewed a 1999/2000 Organizational Chart requested by the Personnel
Division.
d. The Commission was presented with the City of Seattle 1999 Title VI Plan for review.
e. The Commission was presented with the City’s “Information and Access Handbook” for
review.
f. The Commission reviewed the 12/17/99 IT HR Strategy Bulletin which included notice that
the titles “Senior” and “Principal” Systems Analyst will be inactivated by the end of the second
quarter in the year 2000. All IT staff will be called Information Technology Professionals and
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will be identified more specifically by the salary bands into which they have been placed. The
newsletter also included a schedule for pay recommendations and reconsideration hearings.
g. The Commission reviewed hard-copy of a 12/17/99 memo from Mayor Schell announcing
the appointment of Susan Baird Trapnell, currently Managing Director at the ACT Theatre, as
the new Executive Director of the Seattle Arts Commission. Ms. Trapnell replaces Wendy
Ceccherelli who has moved to the Department of Parks and Recreation.
7. Budget:
a. The Commission heard an unscheduled presentation from Budget Analyst Barbara Gangwer
regarding changes to the operation of the Budget Office. Ms. Gangwer presented an overview of
the new Managing for Results process, which includes the creation of a business plan and a clear
view of what we expect to accomplish. The GARMS [Goals and Results Measures], Managing
For Results plan will go to the Mayor and Council for review. Currently, the business plan does
not reflect the Small Departments, but they are reviewing ways to include them.
Ms. Gangwer confirmed that the costs of the Y2K and Desktop Compliance were going to be
covered by Finance General. As such, the Commission did not have to absorb these costs.
Ms. Gangwer noted that the Budget Office would be undergoing an organizational change and
that she might not continue to be assigned as the Commission’s Budget Analyst. Chairperson
Harding commended Ms. Gangwer for her exemplary work with the Commission and for her
outstanding dedication to public service.
7. New Business:
a. The Commission reviewed a 10/29/99 memo to the Executive Director, confirming her
attendance in the “Leave Management Training” class. The Executive Director noted that she
attended the training to see what was being taught because of the unusual number of appeals that
were being filed by employees claiming departmental violations of the FMLA policy.
b. The Commission reviewed a 11/24/99 Newsletter from County Councilman, Larry Gossett,
encouraging people to contact their Councilmembers to express a favorable position on changing
the logo of King County from a crown to the likeness of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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c. The Commission reviewed the most recent Sound Transit Newsletter, which showed the final
plan for the light rail route. The newsletter also noted that Project Labor Agreements had been
reached with the Building and Construction Trades Council, its affiliated unions, FAST, AGC,
and ABC. These agreements should ensure standardization of work rules, reduce risk of work
stoppages, ensure a stable supply of skilled workers, provide training opportunities through
apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs for women and minorities.
d. The Commission discussed proposing legislation that would require the Commission’s
Employee Representative to be a regular employee of the City. The Commission engaged some
discussion of the criteria that might apply to the employee (no TES or probationary, e.g.) but also
noted that it wished to discuss the matter further. The Commission directed the Executive
Director to draft proposed legislation for discussion at the next Commission meeting.
e. The Commission engaged in a discussion regarding the need for additional CSC office space
and reviewed possible courses of action with respect to budget and available space.
f. The Commission engaged in a discussion of the pending meeting with Budget Director, Joan
Walters. Among the topics set for discussion are office space, selection of Budget Analyst,
Warehouse charges, funds for outside Counsel, and baseline budget allocation.
g. The Commission engaged in a discussion of its meeting dates for the year 2000 and agreed
that it would meet on the fourth Friday of each month.
h. The Commission engaged in a discussion of the effectiveness of having Mary Kay Doherty
serve as its current attorney because of her part time schedule and her current pregnancy. The
Commission noted that this will take her away from her legal duties for an extended period of
time. The Commission asked the Executive Director to meet with Sandy Cohen, Director of
Administrative Law Division, to determine who might serve as the Commission’s attorney in her
absence.
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i. The Commission noted that it would, upon completion of its meeting, adjourn to
McCormick’s at 1:15 p.m. for a luncheon honoring Donald Briscoe, for his six years as elected
Commissioner.
7. Progress Toward 1999-2000 Goals:
a. The Executive Director provided the Commission with a Flow Chart for the CSC Web Site
that will be going up on PAN by the end of February.
b. The Executive Director reported that the Commission continues to be on schedule with its
Customer Service Goals and turn around times.
7. Executive Director’s Monthly Case Status Report:
a. The Executive Director presented the January 7, 1999 Case Status Report.
One appeal removed since report - Flores.
Two appeals closed since last report – Flores, Cousins.
No new appeals filed since last report.
One Hearing Examiner decision appealed to the Commission - Kimbrough.
Seven active cases in the Law Department.
Total = 13 active CSC cases – all from 1999.
All 1998 cases have been resolved and closed.
11. Adjourn to Executive Session:
All business pending before the Commission having been completed, the Commission adjourned its
meeting at 1:00 p.m. The next Commission meeting is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 25, 2000 at 9:30 a.m.
Respectfully Submitted, Approved by:
_____________________________________ ____________________________________
Miriam Israel Moses Date Nina A. Harding Date
Executive Director Chairperson