CALABASAS : City May Add 3 Jobs to Next Year’s Budget

Calabasas officials are considering creating three positions to help administrators cope with what they say is an increased workload at City Hall.

The proposed new positions are for a principal planner, an engineering technician and a recreation supervisor, city officials said.

The proposal includes retitling some positions and having city employees assume tasks now done by consultants.

The proposal will be voted on by the City Council as part of next year’s budget, which will be approved in July. The plan would cost the city an additional $163,000 the first year.

“I can’t see any reason why they wouldn’t be approved,” said Councilwoman Lesley Devine. “If you hang around over there (at City Hall) you won’t see anybody sitting around; those people are busy over there.”

The principal planner, who would be paid $50,000 to $60,000 annually, would work for the Community Development Department.

The person would oversee various planning projects, freeing the community development director for other development matters.

The engineering technician would assist the city engineer and traffic engineer. The technician, who would work on a one-year contract, would be paid up to $33,000 the first year. City officials would look into using transportation bond money to help fund the position.

The recreation assistant would help the city’s recreation coordinator and recreation specialist under the proposal. City officials say the department’s workload is increasing, due largely to the creation of new sports leagues and the expansion of a volunteer teen program.

The position would cost the city about $19,760. Duties would include writing press releases, evaluating programs, helping with special events and overseeing the activities of interns.

The proposal also calls for using a contract consulting firm to assist a building official 20 hours per week. The contract would cost the city $25,000 a year.