10.5. SR 04-06-2015
Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 10.5
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Work SessionApril 6, 2015Cal Portner, City Administrator
Item Description Reviewed by
Compensation and Classification Plan Update Lauren Wipper
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Provide staff direction regarding an update to the City Compensation and Classification Plan.
Background/Discussion
The city contracted with Riley, Dettmann & Kelsey in 2006 to develop a compensation and classification
plan. Typically, plans are updated every 3-5 years to ensure they are internally and externally equitable
and consistent with the market.
Over the past eight years, we have added, removed, combined and adjusted positions, job expectations,
requirements, and have changed compensation rates due to market and economic factors.
For some time, we have experienced challenges in meeting market demands with entry level pay and have
had to start new employees at a higher step than was intended or accelerate their step promotion.
Over the past few years, many cities and counties have embarked on full-scale compensation and
classification studies. While a full-scale study provides the benefit of a third-party review and a plan
refresh, it also can be very expensive and cause internal staff disruption. We are comfortable with the
methodology of the current plan and see no reason to reinvent the entire system. We will provide a
review of the actual plan metrics as a part of the plan update process.
We have had the fortune/misfortune to be in the market for a number of positions over the past three
years. In each case, we have reviewed and updated job descriptions and scored them with our existing
classification plan to ensure they are in the proper grade and consistent with the market.
Staff would like to form an ad hoc personnel committee that would include two Council Members to
review the existing plan, review recommended adjustments, and consider market data.
Financial Impact
Unknown, the Council would approve compensation philosophy, plan changes, and implementation.
Attachments
N/A