Council approves tighter certification and CDL timeline for senior bus mechanic

The City Council approved revisions to the senior bus mechanic job description that add a minimum education requirement, clarify certification options and testing expectations, and set new time limits for obtaining commercial driver credentials. The changes, presented to the council during the meeting at City Hall, add "high school diploma or GED equivalent" to the listed minimum qualifications; allow candidates to hold ASE Master Technician certification in either the heavy/medium truck (T-series) or transit bus (H-series) blocks; require a standard background check and enrollment in Federal Transit Administration (FTA) random drug-and-alcohol testing for CDL personnel; and change when a candidate must hold a CDL from "upon application" to allowing a newly hired mechanic to obtain a CDL permit with air-brake and passenger endorsements within 30 days of hire and a Class B CDL with air-brake and passenger endorsement within 60 days of hire. A motion to approve the updates passed on a voice vote. The changes affect front-line transit maintenance hiring and aim to make the job description consistent with other city classifications while retaining the same experience requirement. "So first, we are asking to add a high school diploma or GED equivalent," the staff presenter said while walking through the redlined job description. The presenter also described language cleanups to align the posting with other city descriptions and explained how ASE certification would be clarified to require either the T-series (medium/heavy truck) master certification or the transit-bus master (H-series) certification. Council members asked whether mechanics are expected to drive buses in service and whether the city pays for training. Staff replied mechanics do not typically drive in transit service; they would drive only to test a repair or while on Public Works property. Public Works staff Jim Erwin explained the ASE structure: "So there's 8... for the bus mechanic, we asked for medium to heavy truck series, which is the T series exam. And now we're asking to add the transit bus or transit bus master ASE certification." The presenter added, "We actually provide that training [for the CDL] while they're on the clock and pay for it," and clarified ASE certification preparation is a different, largely self-study program. The council voted to adopt the revised job description after a member moved to approve and a second was recorded; the vote was taken by voice with "Aye" recorded. Implementation details discussed at the meeting include the city providing in-house CDL training (two in-house certified trainers), no separate hiring bonus for pre-certified applicants, and the specified 30- and 60-day windows to obtain required CDL credentials. Staff and councilors noted the changes are procedural and intended to broaden acceptable certification options while ensuring safety and regulatory compliance for employees operating or working on transit vehicles. The updated job description and certification language will be used in upcoming recruitments for the senior bus mechanic position. Council approval was recorded as a voice vote; specifics of individual votes were not recorded in the transcript.