Employee Handbook

Section 2 — Employment  

In accordance with Chapter 400 of the Iowa Code, City of West Des Moines Civil Service positions include all full-time police officers and firefighters and most other full-time employees.  

The following are not civil service positions for the City of West Des Moines:

1. The City Clerk, Deputy City Clerk, City Attorney, Assistant Attorney, City Treasurer, Finance Director, Assessor, Auditor, professional or civil engineers (licensed), and health officer.

2. The City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Administrative Assistants to the City Manager, any Department Directors except Police and Fire Chiefs who are subject to Sections 400.13 and 400.14, Code of Iowa, principal assistants to each Department Director, and the head of each division (this exclusion does not apply to Assistant Fire Chiefs or Assistant Police Chiefs).

3. Principal secretary to the Mayor, City Manager, or Department Directors.

4. Employees of Boards of Trustees or Commissions established pursuant to state law or city ordinances, including the clerk to the Civil Service Commission. All employees of the West Des Moines Public Library are covered by this exception.

5. Employees whose positions are funded by state or federal grants or other temporary revenues, except positions that will be maintained for at least one year after expiration of the grants or temporary revenues. (Iowa Code §400.6)

6. Employees who work less than full time, including part-time employees, intermittent employees, seasonal/temporary employees, and paid volunteers (paid-on-call firefighters and reserve police officers).

Vacant civil service positions may be filled through a variety of means depending on the type of vacancy (open or promotional). A Human Resources representative will work with the appropriate Department Director or designee to determine if a civil service vacancy will be deemed open or promotional.  

The following guidelines apply:

1. Civil service promotional positions shall be filled primarily by Promotion or Transfer of a qualified civil service employee in accordance with Section 400 of the Iowa Code. See also Section 2.5, Transfer and Demotion and Section 2.6, Temporary Appointments and Working Out of Class.

2. Civil service open positions shall be filled by qualified persons in accordance with Chapter 400 of the Iowa Code. Current City of West Des Moines employees are encouraged to apply for any open civil service position they may be interested in and qualified for.  

3. In accordance with Iowa Code Section 400.7 of the Iowa Code, an employee regularly serving in or holding a position that is reclassified into a civil service position shall have full civil service rights under any of the following conditions:

1. Meets the minimum qualifications and has completed the required Probationary/Introductory Period for the position.

2. Has satisfactorily served in the position for a period equal to the Probationary/Introductory Period and passed a noncompetitive examination for the position, but does not meet the minimum qualifications for the position.

3. Meets the requirements above, but has not completed the required Probationary/Introductory Period. Upon completion of the Probationary/Introductory Period, full civil service rights in the position are granted.