City Hall took off for the holidays this year. The City of Morro Bay on Dec. 24 announced that it would be closed the week after Christmas through New Year’s to Tuesday, Jan. 3, and then reopening with expanded hours.
“City Hall,” the announcement said, “Public Works/Community Development, Community Center/Senior Center, Police, Fire and Harbor offices will be closed during that period.”
But of course the City didn’t completely shutdown, as public safety and emergency crews with the water and sewer departments, and core maintenance workers stayed on the job, which was probably a smart move considering the storms that came through that week, dropping a couple of inches of rain and bringing high winds.
And in 2023, City Hall and Public Works (planning, building, engineering and maintenance/parks departments) will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays, and closed to the public on Fridays.
According to City Manager Scott Collins, City Hall and Public Works had been open from 8 a.m. to noon Mondays-Thursdays and closed Fridays “for the past year or so.”
Apparently the rather odd hours fit with the work schedules of much of the staff. Collins explained, “The Friday closure helps accommodate the 9/80 schedule most workers have, which limits the number of staff available on Fridays. The 9/80 schedule is a key past of the City’s employee recruitment/retention strategy.”
He explained the 9/80-work schedule. “On a 2-week work schedule,” he said, “the employee works 9-hours each day for eight days, then 8-hours one day, and then a day off.” So employees on this schedule get a 3-day weekend every other week.
The change in hours comes on the heels of a new city councilwoman mentioning the hours at City Hall in the Dec. 13 meeting. Shortly after being sworn in, Councilwoman Zara Landrum proposed a future agenda item to discuss the hours that the City is open to serve the public.
But she was assured by the city manager that the hours were already planning to be changed.
“The City hopes the expanded hours will improve convenience for community members to conduct City business,” the news release said.
