08-09-2004 CC MIN - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Minutes August 9, 2004 Page 3 MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER TVEITE THAT THE TERM OF THESE APPOINTMENTS WOULD BE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2005. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. 5.4. Salary, Survey The Personnel Committee was directed by Council to conduct a salary survey of non- exempt and exempt employees. The five-member committee consisting of David Potvin, Lauren Wipper, Bruce West, Lori Johnson, and Joan Schmidt presented information based on surveying 12 comparable metro area cities and comparing their pay to similar positions in Elk River. The Committee surveyed a total of eight exempt and five non-exempt positions. Comparisons were made between the city's pay to the median pay of all of the other cides surveyed. The results of the survey indicated that non-exempt and exempt pay in Elk River were both slighdy below median. The Committee also discussed specific exceptions: building inspectors (Committee assumed the inspectors would not get the increase as they had received an increase already); hquor store employees (some concern expressed that this department is getting out of balance compared to the market; may need to meet some other requirements for pay adjustments); waste water treatment plant operators (license driven); building and environmental technicians (certification requirements); and others (f~re department not in the pay plan and plan did not include any unions or seasonal employees). The Committee recommended that the non-exempt pay plan increase by four percent and the exempt pay plan increase by two and one half percent. The City Administrator stated his support for this recommendation. The Council discussed the results of the study and the financial impact of the recommendation. MOVED BY COUNCILMEMBER MOTIN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ TO APPROVE THAT THE NON-EXEMPT PAY PLAN INCREASE BY FOUR PERCENT (with the exception of the building inspectors) AND THE EXEMPT PAY PLAN INCREASE BY TWO AND ONE HALF PERCENT EFFECTIVE AUGUST 22, 2004. MOTION CARRIED 4-0. Acting Mayor Motin called a recess at 8:26 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 8:36 p.m. 5.5. Budget Worksession City Administrator Pat Klaers provided a general overview of the 2005 financial situation and asked for feedback from the City Council. He stated the most important issues to discuss are staff additions and taxes. Finance Director Lori Johnson stated that a net tax capacity increase of 10% could yield about $700,000 of additional tax levy with no change in the city tax rate. Councilmember Dietz asked if we could set aside funds for staff in 2005. Ms. Johnson replied that the city could keep funds set aside for as long as wanted or change a reserve designation of set aside funds at any time.