12-12-1987 CC MIN - SPECIAL
SPECIAL MEETING OF THE ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
HELD AT THE ELK RIVER CITY HALL
DECEMBER 12. 1987
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MEMBERS PRESENT:
Mayor Gunkel. Councilmembers Schuldt. Tralle and Holmgren
MEMBERS AB SENT:
Councilmember Dobel
STAFF PRESENT:
Patrick Klaers. City Administrator and Lori Johnson. Finance
Director
The meeting began at 8:00 a.m.
Mayor Gunkel opened the meeting by informing the Council that the purpose of
this Special City Council Meeting is to consider the City Comparable Worth
Plan and the 1988 City of Elk River Compensation Plan.
The Mayor indicated that through the series of memos that have been sent to
the City Council. everybody should be informed of the problems and issues
facing Elk River in adopting a fair comparable worth plan and. as has been
indicated by the City Administrator's memos. that some significant wage
adjustments are required.
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At this time. the City Administrator distributed a Comparable Worth Plan memo.
dated December 11. 1987. The Administrator indicated that the attachments to
this memo display a straight regression analysis of wages. including a 10%
jump for exempt employees. The regression analysis shows point rankings and
wages in 1987. and point rankings with proposed 1988 wages. The regression
analysis does not take into consideration market data. but by looking at just
the "straight line" numbers involved, it offers the Council an indication of
wage discrepancies.
The City Administrator indicated that the actual components of the City of Elk
River Comparable Worth Plan would include:
1. The 1985 Control Data Corporation Bench Mark Point Rankings.
2. The November. 1987. adjusted City of Elk River employee point
rankings.
3. The 1988 City of Elk River Compensation Plan. which includes pay
ranges for all municipal employees and actual pay adjustments as
deemed appropriate.
It was further indicated that all of the previously distributed memos would be
retained in the Comparable Worth file as background information and
justification as to how and why certain point rankings and wages were
determined. The City Council concurred that these three items are appropriate
components for a Comparable Worth Plan. The Council briefly discussed the
revised point ranking for the Community Service Officer (54) and the point
ranking status of the Chief of Police and Street/Park Superintendent.
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City Council Meeting
December 12. 1987
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The City Council then directed its attention to the proposed 1988 Compensation
Plan and reviewed a memo distributed by the City Administrator on this issue
dated December 11. 1987. The City Administrator then reviewed with the
Council Exhibit 1 of the proposed pay plan. which was a narrative description
of some of the components of the pay plan. It was noted that Exhibit 1 is
very similar to the narrative section of the pay plan that was approved by the
City Council in 1987. Exhibit 2 displayed proposed wage adjustments for
August 1. 1987. January 1. 1988. and July 1. 1988 as a combination of the
comparable worth adjustments and annual beginning of the year cost of living
adjustments. Exhibit 3 contained pay ranges for all municipal employees. The
pay ranges were based on comparable worth study results and wages paid in
similar cities.
Two changes were made in the proposed 1988 Compensation Plan by the City
Council. In Exhibit 1. item 14. the City one half reimbursement of tuition
fees was changed to 75%. also in Exhibit 2 the August 1. 1987. salary for the
City Administrator was listed at $45.604.00.
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In very general terms the City Council discussed the need to pay competitive
wages to similar sized communities on the fringe of the metropolitan area in
order to retain good employees and provide employees with a certain comfort
level that they are being paid appropriately. The Council acknowledged that
the outer line suburban communities are where the City's competition is for
employees. as is the case in other municipal activites such as competition for
new industries and businesses. With the City's recent growth. it was
acknowledged by the Council that Elk River has become more of bedroom suburban
community than a outstate free standing community.
COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 87-78, WHICH CALLS FOR THE
ADOPTION OF EXHIBIT 1 OF THE PAY PLAN FOR NONORGANIZED CITY EMPLOYEES AS
AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 3-l.
COUNCILMEMBER SCHULDT VOTED AGAINST THE MOTION.
Councilmember Schuldt voted against the motion because of the adjustment in
the tuition reimbursement from one half to 75%. Mr. Schuldt felt that the 50%
level was more appropriate.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 87-79. WHICH CALLS FOR THE
ADOPTION OF EXHIBIT 2 OF THE 1988 PAY PLAN FOR NONORGANIZED CITY EMPLOYEES AS
AMENDED. COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE SECONED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED
4-0.
COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE MOVED TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 87-80 WHICH CALLS FOR THE
ADOPTION OF EXHIBIT 3 OF THE 1988 PAY PLAN FOR NONORGANIZED CITY EMPLOYEES.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
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The City Council then turned its attention back to the Comparable Worth Plan
and indicated that one of the most important components of the Comparable
Worth Plan was the establishment of pay ranges for all municipal employees.
The Council also indicated that while some of the percentage increases given
to municipal employees for comparable worth and cost of living increases were
larger than normal. that the actual rate to be paid in 1988 is very
appropriate when compared to suburban communities on the fringe of the
metropolitan area.
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City Council Minutes
December 12. 1987
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COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE MOVED TO ADOPT THE CITY OF ELK RIVER COMPARABLE WORTH
PLAN WHICH CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS:
1. THE BENCH MARK POINT RANKINGS AS GENERATED BY THE 1985 CONTROL DATA
CORPORATION STUDY.
2. THE NOVEMBER. 1987, ADJUSTED CITY OF ELK RIVER POINT RANKINGS
(INCLUDING THE ADJUSTED POINT RANKING FOR THE COMMUNITY SERVICE
OFFICER) .
3. THE 1988 CITY OF ELK RIVER COMPENSATION PLAN. WHICH INCLUDES PAY
RANGES FOR ALL MUNICIPAL EMPLOYEES AND ACTUAL WAGE ADJUSTMENTS.
4. ADDITIONALLY. INFORMATION AS LISTED ON THE DECEMBER 11. 1987.
COMPARABLE WORTH MEMO FROM THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO BE RETAINED ON
FILE AS BACKGROUND INFORMATION FOR THE COMPARABLE WORTH PLAN IN ELK
RIVER.
COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION PASSED 4-0.
COUNCILMEMBER TRALLE MOVED TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL
MEETING. COUNCILMEMBER HOLMGREN SECONDED THE MOTION. THE MOTION CARRIED 4-0.
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The meeting was adjourned at 10:53 a.m.
Respectfully submitted.
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Patrick Klaers
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