HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-29-15-WS lt
EN HILLS
Approved: July 27, 2015
CITY OF ARDEN HILLS,MINNESOTA
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
JUNE 29,2015
5:30 P.M. -ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, Mayor Grant called to order the special City
Council work session at 5:30 p.m.
Present: Mayor David Grant; Councilmembers Brenda Holden, Fran Holmes, Dave
McClung, and Robert Woodburn
Absent: None
Also present: City Administrator Patrick Klaers; Director of Finance and Administrative
Services Sue Iverson; Finance Analyst Dave Perrault; Public Works Director Terry
Maurer; Assistant City Engineer John Anderson; Community Development Director Jill
Hutmacher; Associate Planner Matthew Bachler; and City Clerk Amy Dietl
1. AGENDA ITEMS
A. Compensation Study Results
Ann Antonsen, Springsted, Inc., reviewed the compensation study results with the Council. She
explained that she was hired by the City to complete a compensation study which included
updating all of the job descriptions. She indicated that a comprehensive market survey was also
completed. She provided a listing of communities that were included in the survey. She provided
comment on the salary ranges and discussed how these compared to Arden Hills. It was noted
that the numbers within the study were from 2014 making them behind the market for 2015. She
reviewed how the compensation rates were analyzed and commented on the salary ranges for each
employee. She reported that five employees were currently below the minimum range in the
recommended pay plan compensation.
Councilmember Holmes asked if the City would be making any adjustments to the numbers
considering the fact the numbers were from 2014. She questioned how the Personnel Committee
planned to implement the compensation study.
Ms. Antonsen recommended that the 2014 numbers be increased by 2%when comparing them to
Arden Hills' 2015 wages.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION—JUNE 29, 2015 2
The Council discussed the City's current step and grade compensation system.
Councilmember Holmes inquired how step increases are awarded.
Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson reported that step increases are
recommended by supervisors based on performance evaluations on the employees' anniversary
date.
Mayor Grant reviewed the recommendations from the elected officials of the Personnel
Committee, noting that they were recommending that Council pursue Option 2.
Councilmember Holmes supported Option 3 with a 2% increase to the new salary scale.
Ms. Antonsen discussed Option 3 with the Council in further detail.
Councilmember Holden reported that the Personnel Committee's recommendation was Option
1, which would bump all of the employees who are below the range to the minimum, and Option
2 to be implemented over the next year. She noted that these recommendations are reviewed in
the Agenda memo.
City Administrator Klaers commented that another way to implement Option 2 would be to
move all employees from the old pay scale into the new pay scale during the 2015 calendar year.
He stated that this would avoid a second overlap in pay increases for those employees who moved
during the first six months of 2015.
Mayor Grant expressed frustration that yet another option was being brought up at the last
minute when the Council did not have the numbers in front of them.
Councilmember Holden was in favor of the Council taking action on the compensation study
this evening and expressed that further actions could always be taken later.
Mayor Grant agreed with Councilmember Holden.
Councilmember McClung discussed his definition of pay equity. He stated that the State did not
pay as well as local municipalities.
Ms. Antonsen explained that the State of Minnesota did not have to comply with pay equity
standards, it was only local governments that had to comply.
Councilmember Holden agreed with Councilmember McClung with regard to pay equity.
However, she understood that Arden Hills was in direct competition with other municipalities for
high quality staff.
Councilmember McClung stated that he would be interested to know how many qualified
applicants have applied for recent City jobs.
Mayor Grant questioned how the Council wanted to proceed with the compensation study.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION—JUNE 29, 2015 3
The Council was in favor of proceeding with Option 1 and Option 2 as presented.
B. Personnel Committee Recommendation on Compensation and Benefits
City Administrator Klaers reviewed the recommendation summary from the Personnel
Committee regarding compensation and benefits for holidays, health insurance and PTO. He
noted that the study results indicate that 12 holidays (with one being a floating holiday) is the
average holiday count among the cities surveyed.
Discussion ensued by the Council regarding PTO.
Councilmember McClung stated that he could not support the current plan as it was too high.
Ms. Antonsen provided comment on the proposed health insurance for City employees.
Councilmember Holmes did not understand why married employees who had insurance through
their spouses' plans were required to take single-coverage health insurance through the City.
Director of Finance and Administrative Services Iverson stated that due to the small number
of employees at the City, all staff members must carry single-coverage to maintain our rates as
well as the eligibility to even offer health insurance.
Councilmember Holmes questioned the $1,650 amount contributed to the HSA account for
employees electing single coverage. She suggested that $1,650 be offered to both current and
future employees who only elect single-coverage.
Councilmember Holden discussed the reasoning behind this decision as recommended by the
Personnel Committee.
The Council did not support Councilmember Holmes suggestion.
C. City Administrator's Amendment to Employment Agreement
City Administrator Klaers commented that he has changed his retirement plans and was no
longer planning to retire in May of 2016 but rather would be leaving on October 2, 2015.
Mayor Grant stated that this topic was no longer relevant considering City Administrator Klaers'
announcement.
Councilmember Woodburn questioned how the City would approach hiring a new City
Administrator.
Mayor Grant discussed the hiring process followed by the City in the past noting that a
recruitment strategy would have to be designed.
City Administrator Klaers stated that the City would have to consider if they wanted to conduct
the search internally or hire a recruitment firm.
ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION—JUNE 29, 2015 4
Councilmember Holden was interested in seeing the expense that would be incurred by hiring a
recruitment firm.
It was decided that this would be discussed at the Personnel Committee meeting on June 30, 2015.
D. Economic Development—Business Retention Strategies
This item will be discussed at a future work session.
2. COUNCIL COMMENTS AND STAFF UPDATES
Public Works Director Maurer provided the Council with a copy of the preliminary
infrastructure design report.
ADJOURN
Mayor Grant adjourned the special City Council work session at 6:38 p.m.
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Amy Dietl David Grant
City Clerk Mayor
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Request for Special City Council Work Session
A special meeting may be called by the Mayor or by any two Councilmembers.
Reason for meeting: 1. Compensation Study Results
2. Personnel Committee Recommendation on Compensation and Benefits
3. City Administrator's Amendment to Employment Agreement
4. Economic Development—Business Retention Strategies
Requested Date: 6/29/15
Requested time: 5:30 PM
Open meeting X Closed meeting
Signature of person(s) making request:
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Mayor or Council Member Date
Council Member Date
-This section to be completed by City staff-
Date received:/ Ito / IS
Date meeting to be held: 6/29/15
Time of meeting: 5:30 PM
Location: City Hall
All necessary posting and notices have been completed.
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Signature of CMI Clerk Date
City of Arden Hills * 1245 West Highway 96 Arden Hills,MN * 55112-5743
Phone 651-792-7800 * Fax 651-634-5137 www.cityofardenhills.org