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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Statement 1976/11/09 Item 10CITY OF CHULA VISTA ITEM N0. 10 COUNCIL AGENDA STATEMENT 11-9-~6 FOR MEETING OF: k(l~~~k7~ Resolution ITEM TITLE: Stating the City's Policy on the Employment of the Disabled SUBMITTED BY~ Director of Personnel ITEM EXPLANATION On April 16, 1976, Council directed staff to review the employment of disabled persons with the City, to investigate State or federal aid programs, and to prepare a policy statement for Council consideration. This report is submitted for your review and a resolution proposing a formal policy is attached. RECOt4MENDATIDNS Upon completing its review of related information, staff recommends the following: 1. The City should adopt a positive policy towards the employment of dis- abled persons, which complements the comprehensive Affirmative Action Policy currently in effect. (See attached resolution.) 2. No candidate should be rejected on the grounds of his or her medical condition at the time of initial application. Disabilities should continue to be considered on a case by case basis using the current medical standards as a guideline for the examining physicians. 3. Place additional positions in Medical Group IV - positions permitting the matching of a job with the physical capacities of a handicapped applicant. (Continued) tXl'iltSl I J /a I I Hl,l'itU Agreement Resolution X Ordinance Plat Other Environmental Document: Attached Submitted on STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve the recommendations in the staff report and the resolution as submitted. BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION COUNCIL ACTION Approval of the resolution. Motion: Staff to give the Council a report at budget time as to the number of handicapped employees the City has on board for the current and past years. Farm A-113 (Rev. 5 - 75) Item No. 10 Supplemental Page 2 4. Since there are no readily available revenue sources, the City should continue the limited training programs funded by the Department of Rehabilitation. DISCUSSION A. Legislation The State Fair Employment Practices Act was amended in 1973 to prohibit dis- crimination in employment based on physical handicap. The law protects persons with "impairment of sight, hearing, or speech, or impairment of physical ability because of amputation or loss of function or coordination, or any other health impairment which requires special education or related services." The Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 requires employers doing business with the Federal Government with a contract for more than $2,500 to take "affirma- tive action" to hire handicapped people. B. City's Current Policy and Practice The City's medical program has been reviewed for accuracy and desirability by staff and several physicians. They felt that the medical criteria for employ- ment were sound and served their stated purpose. ~Jhen filling vacancies, appointing authorities give Personnel any pertinent information concerning the position on the Request for Personnel (Pers-122). The P4edical Program provides for Group IV personnel - positions where special circumstances permit the scientific matching of a job with the physical capacities of a handicapped applicant or employee. Disabled applicants should be identified and efforts made by the Personnel Department to place them in positions for which they are qualified. C. Available Funding and Special Projects Information was sought concerning any existing programs in public jurisdictions for disabled workers. No such demonstration projects exist other than informal or "training only" efforts. The only funds available for such a program are those provided to work experience trainees through the State Department of Rehabilitation for short-term, individualized assistance. CONCLUSION Due to the successful experiences Chula Vista has shared with a number of disabled workers, and the substantiated work record of the handicapped, utilization of this segment of the workforce will continue. further use will be made of the medical and vocational evaluations by the Department of Rehabilitation, which facilitates the matching of skills with jobs, and the retention of employees who suffer severe medical conditions subsequent to employment. Item No. 10 Supplemental Page 3 For the City of Chula Vista to attract and hire qualified persons with dis- abilities, positive actions and a publicized policy should be initiated. While it is a primary goal of the Personnel Department to insure the medical suitability of candidates, an affirmative posture to the employment of disabled persons can effectively coexist with this goal. Therefore, the attached policy statement is recommended to reaffirm the City's public commitment to affirmative action in general and more specifically, to positive action for the disabled and handicapped.