Translate[Archived] Question #21: Can you provide a staffing overview of Parking Enforcement? How many positions does the proposed budget fund? What revenue assumptions are made at that staffing level?
Question:
Can you provide a staffing overview of Parking Enforcement? How many positions does the proposed budget fund? What revenue assumptions are made at that staffing level? What has been our actual staffing history over the past two years? What overhire authority exists and is proposed for parking enforcement in the proposed budget? Can you provide the NET financial impact for the addition of 1, 2, 5 & 10 parking enforcement positions beyond what is proposed by the City Manager? (Mayor Wilson)
Response:
The Parking Enforcement Unit consists of two full-time Parking Enforcement Supervisor positions and 24 full-time Parking Enforcement Officer (PEO) positions. The FY 2019 budget transferred five long term vacant PEO positions to offset the addition of six Traffic Safety Police Officer positions. Of the total 24 PEO positions, six are currently vacant (three PEO Is and three PEO IIs). These vacancies are the result of attrition and retirement. Despite efforts to fill vacancies and reclassify the PEO position to a higher grade (presently Grade 8), the Police Department is still experiencing difficulties retaining and recruiting attractive candidates.
For FY 2020, the Alexandria Police Department did not request additional positions, therefore the Unit remains constant with 24 PEO positions. Additionally, there has been no overhire authority request for Parking Enforcement due to there being vacant positions within the approved level. If the Police Department fills all of the PEO positions, the City Manager is open to considering reinstating overhire authority for PEOs. The primary goal of Parking Enforcement is to enforce and promote compliance with the City’s parking regulations, not to generate revenue. As such, the Police Department does not ascribe financial targets to PEOs. The City-wide proposed budget for parking ticket revenue in FY 2020 is $3.1 million, which is consistent with prior year actual receipts. However, based on a 27% drop in valid tickets issued which has recently come to light, this budget number has been reduced in the technical adjustments process to $2.9 million. APD and other City departments, at the request of the City Manager, have started a top-to-bottom review of the PEO vacancy, utilization and parking ticket issuance factors.
Staffing history data on PEOs can be found below:
