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SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL <br />HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL <br /> MONDAY, MARCH 10, 1997 <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Mayor Duitsman, Councilmembers Dietz, Thompson, Farber, and <br />Holmgren <br /> <br />Members Absent: None <br /> <br />Staff Present: <br /> <br />Pat Klaers, City Administrator; Lori Johnson, Assistant City <br />Administrator; Debbie Kleckner, Recording Secretary <br /> <br />1. Call Meetinq To Order <br /> <br />Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the meeting of the Elk River City Council <br />was called to order at 5:00 p.m. by Mayor Duitsman. <br /> <br />2. Consider Council Aqenda <br /> <br />Mayor Duitsman indicated he had some letters to discuss. <br /> <br />COUNCILMEMBER DIETZ MOVED TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS AMENDED. <br />COUNClLMEMBER FARBER SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED <br />,%0° <br /> <br />3. Discussion on Fire Department Compensation Proposal <br /> <br />Mayor Duitsman explained his proposal to convert from the existing defined <br />benefit to a defined contribution plan. He indicated the compensation package <br />could be looked at each year for increases, in the same way wages are <br />reviewed for other city employees. In the past, the firefighters favored keeping <br />the defined benefit plan and increasing it on a yearly basis. Mayor Duitsman <br />explained that with using this approach, the city would not be able to predict its <br />liability, since the rate of return on investments and the number of firefighters the <br />city will need each year is unknown. Mayor Duitsman felt since firefighting is a <br />hazardous duty, the hourly wage should be increased to reward those fire fighters <br />who put in more hours. Mayor Duitsman discussed the $22.25 per hour pay for <br />emergency calls and $8.00 per hour for all other calls. <br /> <br />Councilmember Farber discussed the benefit package for firefighters in the City <br />of Fridley. He added that special legislation was needed to implement their <br />current plan. <br /> <br />Discussion followed regarding opposition to the Mayor's plan when it was <br />previously proposed to the task force committee. Mayor Duitsman ex. plained he <br />was not given an opportunity to present the proposal to the entire group of <br />firefighters. <br /> <br />Lori noted the firefighters are anticipating all their members will be present at the <br />meeting on April 3, 1997, and they have asked that all City Councilmembers <br />attend, as well. Questions which the firefighters may raise include whether or not <br /> <br /> <br />