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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,November 19, 2012 Page 30 City's goals was to provide living wage jobs, Councilmember McGhee noted that it was less than impressive for the City to be picketed for its use of labor on a large, municipal building. At that time, Councilmember McGehee advised that she didn't know if other Councilmembers shared an interest in reviewing the situation to see if they wanted to do something about it. City Manager Malinen clarified that he had titled this item in accordance with advice of the City's legal counsel in using "prevailing wages" versus union- specific requirements. Public Comment Sax Roberts,2570 Pascal Mr. Roberts advised that his immediate reaction to this agenda item was that it seemed that the concept of prevailing wages was another name for union wages. As he started further reviewing the topic, Mr. Roberts noted that a lot of states in the country, including MN, use that concept; and referenced a publication by the State of MN with various categories of actual union rates. In his review of some of those rates, Mr. Roberts noted his astonishment in several of those commercial areas for 2012, and laborers at $90,000 in wages and fringe bene- fits. Mr. Roberts questioned what value prevailing wages would be to Roseville citizens; while recognizing the value to union members. However, Mr. Roberts questioned how it would benefit him as a Roseville resident; and sought clarifi- cation of the perspective provided in requesting this discussion, and of what value it provided to citizens. Councilmember McGehee advised that the issue came forward when construc- tion began on the fire station and picketing began; as well as through comments she had heard from a former firefighter and Roseville resident, who felt strongly that non-union employees should not be used for the construction of a municipal building. At that time, Councilmember McGehee advised that she would rec- ommend a discussion at the City Council level addressing those concerns, and what she considered to be a legitimate request from a Roseville citizen. Councilmember McGehee advised that she personally supported providing liv- ing wages; and as a society, she didn't believe there was any benefit by having a family structure without adequate living wages and health benefits for citizens. Councilmember McGehee opined that she found it unfortunate that people in the community working at places like Target, the incoming Wal-Mart facility, and other retail establishments were benefits, and without regular hours so their income remained low and in flux. Councilmember McGehee opined that, when Roseville residents were asked to provide$8 million for a municipal building within the community, shouldn't the City Council and community pay those people hired a reasonable living wage. Councilmember McGehee advised that it was her personal belief that employees should be paid a reasonable living wage. She noted that staff wages in assisted