4k - Quarterly Report - CMSD's Rewards Idea Program
Protecting our community's health and the environment by providing solid waste and sewer collection services.
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Costa Mesa Sanitary District
….an Independent Special District
Memorandum
To: Board of Directors
From: Scott Carroll, General Manager
Date: December 10, 2013
Subject: Quarterly Report - Rewards Ideas Program
Summary
Last year, the Board of Directors approved Administrative Regulations No. 20.40 to help encourage employees on how to generate ideas for organizational improvements and providing a system for answering and recognizing adopted ideas. Employees are
eligible to receive a monetary reward up to $1,000 for ideas that generate significant
savings to the organization.
As requested by the Board of Directors, this is the program’s quarterly report regarding the number of ideas generated from the program along with the total monetary reward
amount.
Staff Recommendation
That the Board of Directors receives and files this report.
Analysis
September 9, 2013 was the last quarterly report presented to the Board regarding the Rewards Idea Program. Since September 9th, two more ideas were submitted and
approved by the Board making it a total of nine ideas that were approved since
implementation of the program in 2012. The two ideas submitted in this quarter
accomplished one or a combination of the following:
• Save material, supplies, money, space, time, or labor;
• Improve service, safety conditions, or morale;
• Improve methods, procedures, or equipment, resulting in increased output and/or efficiency; or,
• Eliminate unnecessary procedures, records and forms.
Board of Directors December 10, 2013
Page 2 of 3
The following is a brief description of the ideas along with the name of the staff person
that submitted the idea and his/her monetary reward.
1. Anna Sanchez, Management Assistant, submitted an idea that restructured
HQ/Yard equipment for copy machines that will save the District $4,250.41
annually. Ms. Sanchez received a cash award of $850.00, which is 20% of annual savings as per the guidelines of Administrative Regulations No. 20.40.
2. Dyana Wick, Administrative Assistant, suggested adopting penalty fees to
private plumbers that do not follow procedures under the District’s Sewer
Lateral Assistance Program (SLAP). Ms. Wick’s idea was approved because her idea could deter such behavior among plumbers and it could generate
additional revenues for the District. Ms. Wick received a cash award of
$264.00, which is 20% of $1,320, the projected annual revenues the penalty fee
will generate
Strategic Plan Element & Goal
This item complies with the objective and strategy of Strategic Element 5.0,
Administrative Management, which states the following:
5.0 Administrative Management
Objective: To create, maintain and implement policies and procedures to ensure sound management of the District.
Strategy: We will conduct periodic reviews, refine and implement policies and procedures, and assure the General Manager has the direction and tools necessary
for successful District operations.
Legal Review
Not applicable
Environmental Review
Creating or modifying an employee incentive program to produce savings for the
District is not a disturbance of the environment directly or indirectly similar to grading
or construction and is not a project under CEQA or the District’s CEQA Guidelines.
Financial Review
Since this program was implemented, the District has saved an estimated $97,428
and has awarded a total amount of $3,989 to employees for their ideas. $10,000 is budgeted for this program.
Public Notice Process
Board of Directors December 10, 2013
Page 3 of 3
Copies of this report are on file and will be included with the entire agenda packet for
the December 10, 2013 Board of Directors Study Session at District Headquarters and on District’s website.
Alternative Actions
1. Direct staff to report back with more information.