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Placerville council approves 5.03% pay increase for wastewater chief plant operator classification
Summary
Council approved a 5.03% salary increase for the Chief Plant Operations position at the Reclamation Facility, effective May 24, 2025, to improve recruitment for a currently vacant position. Interim staffing and contract services have kept the plant running.
The Placerville City Council on May 13 authorized a 5.03% salary increase to the Chief Plant Operations classification for the city’s water reclamation facility, effective May 24, 2025, to improve recruitment for a position that has been vacant since June 2024.
Public Works staff told the council the previous chief plant operator resigned in June 2024 and the city has relied on existing operators and contract services to operate the plant. Staff said they conducted a market review of comparable positions in other Northern California agencies and concluded the 5.03% increase would place the city’s salary near the market median and help attract qualified candidates.
Staff singled out Operator 3 Frank Barragan for his interim work keeping the plant running; the chief plant operator classification requires an Operator 4 certification, staff said.
The council approved the salary schedule change on a unanimous roll-call vote: Council member Carter — aye; Council member Noe — aye; Vice Mayor Gottberg — aye; Mayor John Clerici — aye.
Staff said recruitment would continue and that the salary adjustment was intended to improve the city’s competitiveness in a tight labor market for certified wastewater operators.
