City of Los Altos Launching Defined 9/80 Schedule
The City of Los Altos is implementing a new compressed work schedule to begin on August 27, 2018. This effort will decrease the number of commute trips (and the associated greenhouse gas emissions) required of City employees by 10%, while allowing for affected offices to remain open to serve the public for the same or a greater total number of hours.
Under the new schedule, called a “Defined 9/80 Schedule,” City Hall and Recreation staff will work the same 80 hours, but over nine days every two weeks. Every other Friday, City Hall will be closed to staff and the public. Recreation office hours will not impacted. Employees will begin their new schedule on August 27, 2018. The first closure date will be on Friday, September 7, 2018.
“Los Altos and many surrounding cities have been exploring ways to address commute challenges faced by employees,” explains City Manager Chris Jordan. “With the cost of housing being so high in Los Altos and neighboring cities, most City employees have challenging commutes, some traveling from as far as Morgan Hill, Tracy and Petaluma. Reducing their commute will help with retention efforts while also allowing the City to implement a recommendation included in our Climate Action Plan.”
Los Altos City Council adopted the City’s Climate Action Plan in December 2013. Studies included as part of this Plan found that employee commute and travel was identified as the largest contributor to 2005 municipal operations emissions (37% of total emissions). The Plan calls for the City to support sustainable employee travel and recommends the City establish alternative work schedule or telecommuting options for City staff to reduce daily commute trips.
“A Defined 9/80 Schedule allows for reduced commute miles while maintaining the number of hours staff is available to serve the public,” says Jordan.
Cities throughout California have successfully adopted 9/80 schedules with office closures on alternate Fridays. City staff surveyed other cities operating on this schedule and found that it has assisted in employee recruitment and retention efforts, and management and public reaction to the schedule has been positive.
Over the last few years, City employees have been encouraged to adopt compressed work schedules as operational needs allowed, and this has already been successful in many departments. However, this has caused difficulty with employees being off on different days. A Defined 9/80 schedule will align all schedules by defining the Friday that City offices will be closed while allowing additional employees to participate in a compressed work schedule.
Office Hours Starting Monday, August 27, 2018
City Hall will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed alternate Fridays. Walk-in service hours and front counter hours for City Hall will be 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday, allowing the public to complete City business before traditional business hours. On the open Friday, walk-in services and front counter hours will be 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Every other Friday, City Hall will be closed with the first closure date scheduled on Friday, September 7, 2018.
Hillview Community Center and Recreation office hours will not be impacted and will remain open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Police, Fire, and other patrol and emergency services will not be affected by this schedule change. Arrangements for construction or building inspections can be made to accommodate contractors requiring inspections on the Friday when City Hall is closed. Dispatch services for water, sewer and street issues will still be available by calling (650) 947-2785.
A complete list of public counter and administrative office hours, as well as a schedule of Friday closures are available on the City’s website at losaltosca.gov/hours.
