In an effort to be more competitive with neighboring cities, the City of Oakdale will be transitioning to a modified 9/80 schedule which will change the office hours for City Hall at 280 N. Third Ave., and the Public Works Corporation Yard at 455 S. Fifth Ave.

“City Hall and the Public Works Corporation Yard will have extended hours Monday through Thursday and will be closed on Fridays,” City Manager Bryan Whitemyer noted in a release from the city regarding the changes.

The new operating hours will take effect as of July 1, 2023.

City Hall will be open Monday through Thursday, 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; closed on Fridays. The Public Works Corporation Yard/Planning, Building and Engineering will be open 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday; closed on Friday.

There are no changes planned at the Police Department, 250 North Third, open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday; or at the Oakdale Animal Shelter, 9800 Liberini Ave., open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to noon Saturday. The Oakdale Senior Center, 450 East A, will also maintain its current hours of operation, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Whitemyer said the office hours being changed at City Hall and the Public Works Yard are a direct result of trying to stay competitive.

“The city recently entered into new labor agreements with its employees. During the collective bargaining process, it became apparent that the City of Oakdale needed to consider implementing a modified schedule to help retain employees and compete with neighboring cities,” Whitemyer said.

He pointed out that eight nearby cities offer 9/80 modified schedules. Ripon and Riverbank offices, for instance, are closed every Friday.

Current employees have considered leaving their positions to join jurisdictions that offer the 9/80 schedule, he added.

The earlier openings and later closings are also hoped to be convenient for customers.

“The modified schedule will now provide extended hours Monday through Thursday to accommodate customers,” Whitemyer said, with an extra hour offered each of the four days.

Basically, he said, a 9/80 work schedule is a way of compressing the standard five-day workweek. With a 9/80 schedule, employees work 80 hours over nine days instead of the usual 80 hours over ten days. In total, an employee works eight nine-hour days, one eight-hour day, and has one day off over the two work weeks.

For additional information, City Hall can be reached at 209-845-3571; Public Works Corp Yard, 209-845-3600; non-emergency Police Department, 209-847-2231; Senior Center, 209-845-3566. Also, a city service request hotline is available at 209-840-6111.