Commission adopts temporary staffing classification to retain seven permit technicians

The Saint Pete Beach City Commission on March 25 adopted Resolution 2025-08 to create a new personnel category—limited-duration temporary employee—to retain seven permit technicians who have been working under a federal disaster contract.

Jill Sasson, the city’s human-resources director, told the commission the federal emergency deployment that supplied the technicians is ending April 11 and staff wants to retain the trained employees to avoid interrupting permit-processing capacity. “We’re requesting a motion to authorize the city manager to engage in a limited duration temporary employment agreement in accordance with policy,” Sasson said.

Why it matters: Retaining trained permit technicians is intended to maintain permitting throughput during the recovery period and reduce processing delays that would otherwise slow repairs and rebuilds.

Key policy points presented by Sasson: the limited-duration classification would run no longer than 12 months; positions would be eligible for group medical, dental, vision, paid time off and retirement benefits; incumbents would still need to compete if the positions later are established as permanent in a budget; and existing temporary-personnel rules would apply. Sasson gave estimated financial implications of $264,652 for six months and $529,304 for a full year for seven technicians (including benefits).

Commission discussion touched on whether the technicians would remain on city pay if state funding extended and on whether the technicians would accept city employment. Sasson told the commission these technicians are currently paid $25.01 per hour by the federal contractor and that city permit technicians are generally paid higher hourly rates. She said the technicians had indicated willingness to join city staff and that the positions would remain at-will under city policy.

The resolution passed by roll call. The staff plan is to fund the limited-duration positions from building-reserve funds unless the state extends the federal program; Sasson said the recruiter and staffing costs for the clerk position (a separate item) are unchanged by this action.

Ending: The new personnel classification is effective immediately; staff will implement hiring under the temporary classification and report back on budget impacts and any state funding changes.