5.10 SR 05-06-1996ITEM 5.10.
rqty of
iver
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
MEMORANDUM
Mayor & City Council
Pat Klaers, City Ad~i~//~rator
May 6, 1996
Human Resource Issues
The consideration of a pay increase for City Planner Steve Ach was continued
from the 4/29/96 meeting until this 5/6/96 meeting. For reasons identified in
last week's memo and back-up data, I continue to recommend to the City
Council that the city planner's wages be adjusted to match that of the fire
chief, retroactive to 1/1/96.
There is no one perfect or ideal way or timeframe to deal with government
human resource issues. All cities and counties seem to deal with human
resource issues in a different manner. Elk River tends to deal with our
human resource challenges when they develop, but also, we tend to deal with
them at the audit presentation, during the budget consideration, and at the
first of the year. Our approach seems to be working well for us. When we
need to: adjust wages, hire new, hire part time (or seasonal), change part
time (or seasonal) to full time, or change an employees title,
duties/responsibilities and pay, then we bring the issue to the Council for a
decision.
Attached is a letter from the Planning Commission regarding this pay issue
that they requested be included in the agenda packet.
council:hriss
13065 Orono Parkway · P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 · (612) 441-7420 · Fax: (612) 441-7425
To:
CC:
Elk River City Council
Pat Klaers
From: Elk River Planning Commission
Date: May 2, 1996
Re: Compensation of City Planner, Steve Ach
The Elk River Planning Commission unanimously supports City Planner Steve
Ach. During the last three years with the City of Elk River, he has shown an
approach to his job that has been both very professional and responsive to the
needs of the Planning Commission and the community at-large. Steve has shown
great initiative and leadership in heading the planning challenges of our growing
community.
Of particular importance to the Planning Commission was his work on the
Comprehensive Plan. Steve was the coordinating staff person and provided vast
amounts of information and guidance to the Steering Committee and the Planning
Commission. This diligent employee enabled the city to complete the
Comprehensive Plan without having to hire outside consultants, thus saving the
city at least $20,000.00. Steve has gone well beyond the call of duty.
With the many challenges facing Elk River, it is incomprehensible to the Planning
Commission that the City Council would not recognize the significance and
competence with which City Planner Steve Ach has performed his job. We, the
Planning Commission of Elk River, rely heavily on the competent and professional
help that Steve has afforded us, and believe strongly that the City of Elk River
should compensate him accordingly.
Sincerely,
Chair