10.0. SR 07-12-1993 - Laserfiche WebLink

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r I --'\) ( )j '-yof ElI{ e e ITEM 10 TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL FROM: PATRICK KLAERS, CITY JULY 8, 1993 DATE: SUBJECT: BUDGET DISCUSSIONS - P SONNEL ISSUES The material for this agenda item was distributed to the City Council last week, per request from the Council. At this meeting, I hope to get direction from the City Council on what personnel additions are desired in later 1993, for the 1994 Budget, and what the staff should plan on for personnel additions in 1995. Additionally, through this discussion staff will then know what personnel additions have to be pushed off until 1996 or beyond. There are definitely some staff needs in a number of areas in order for us to provide the level of services that we feel are appropriate. Some of the desired positions perform very public and quantifiable services, while some of the other positions which are necessary for the overall management of City affairs provide benefits that are less tangible and visible. Municipalities are clearly into the information age and it is becoming at least as important to accurately compile and disseminate relevant information to various groups/individuals as it is to fix the City streets and provide police services. The State Comparable Worth Law somewhat verifies this by the fact that pay rates for clerical functions must be comparable to street maintenance functions. We are as likely today, as a City, to be sued for inaccurate information or inappropriate information being distributed, as we are for a officer's wrongful action in the line of duty or a street employee hitting a car with a snow plow. All the requests from the various department heads have some merit. It will be the City Council's responsibility to decide which employees are more important at this time in order to provide the level of service that they feel is appropriate. I don't feel that any department head has asked for employees that are not needed and which would not provide a needed service or function. The overall financing picture for adding new employees is not the best, but is very typical for municipalities that have exhausted all of their non-tax revenue resources. Finances for the positions and the expenses for the positions were briefly reviewed in my previous memos. In addition to discussing personnel needs, I understand that the City Council may want to discuss the wage plan and increases for 1994. In this regard, the 1993 City Pay Plan was included in the information that was distributed last week. P.O. Box 490 · 13065 Orono Parkway · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425