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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,June 17, 2013 Page 31 Ms. Bacon, in an effort to not mislead anyone, advised that there were other more substantial under-market positions beyond those eight (8) positions presented; and if the City Council chose not to take into consideration the recommended 4.6% increase to pay plans, without the merit pay component, those listed were only af- ter implementation of the 4.6%; and there may be other positions currently 20% under market. Councilmember McGehee asked what dollar amount would be required to make at least equity among classifications for current non-exempt staff at 95.4%. Mr. Bacon advised that those had not been calculated and it was not in line with current City policy; with Mr. Trudgeon clarifying that the information was not immediately available tonight. Councilmember McGehee advocated to bring those positions in line comparable to everyone else. Councilmember Etten opined that the 97% number meant something; and he sup- ported getting rid of that as the City policy, even while recognizing that the City didn't currently, and may not in the near future, have funds to fund it. Coun- cilmember Etten opined that it sent a poor message to staff to retain that 97% as a policy and not achieve it, even though it should be the goal for the City Council in the next few years. Councilmember Etten acknowledged that the City could not fix this in 2013, or probably the next two (2) years, in addition to COLA; and while not yet ready to fix this in the short-term, he could not support the policy of 97%. Councilmember McGehee concurred. Councilmember Willmus advised that he didn't look at from a perspective of whether it was insulting or not; opining that this was an organization, and there was a pay range in place for this particular organization. Councilmember Willmus noted that different cities had different circumstances and compensation packages for their employees. Councilmember Willmus advised that he was real- ly struggling with this, since every time it came forward, there was a different number. However, Councilmember Willmus acknowledged that while he didn't have an answer, he agreed with Councilmember Etten that this is certainly some- thing difficult to say; but questioned how a 100% policy could or would be im- plemented. Councilmember Laliberte admitted that she was struggling with this as well; and the original intent had been to achieve equity between union and non-union em- ployees, which was setting the City up for failure, since they would always be chasing union negotiations and waiting for the next compensation study to con- firm that the City wasn't at 100%. Councilmember Laliberte stated that she