9.3 SR 02-22-2022Request for Action
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 9.3
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
Work Session February 22, 2022 Cal Portner, City Administrator
Item Description Reviewed by
Compensation Plan Update Lauren Wipper, HR Manager
Reviewed by
Lori Ziemer, Finance Director
Action Requested
Discuss and provide staff direction.
Background/Discussion
Mayor Dietz suggested a discussion regarding compensation following the approval of the Police Captain
collective bargaining agreement and potential wage compression.
The city initiated a Classification and Compensation Plan update in 2018. The original plan was completed prior
to the severe economic crisis and adjustments, more than 10 years prior. The result was a high number of
classification changes and salary adjustments to keep pace with a changing internal and external markets.
The 2018 update began phasing in salary adjustments in July of 2018 to minimize budgetary impacts. Since this
time, the city has approved new collective bargaining unit contracts with all units and added a new union. In
negotiating those contracts, it was found many cities had or were planning to undertake Classification and
Compensation updates.
Two things the Council should consider is that the 2018 update brought city wages on average to just below our
peer market city average and the impacts of retention and recruitment during the post-pandemic economy.
Financial Impact
N/A
Mission/Policy/Goal
The Elk River Mission
Attachments
None
The Elk River Vision
A welcoming community with revolutionary and spirited resourcefulness, exceptional
service, and community engagement that encourages and inspires prosperity.
Updated: August 2020