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Regular City Council Meeting Monday,July 8, 2013 Page 24 Councilmember Willmus opined that, when this item first came before the body, his position was to discuss this issue in the context of the budget; and advised that he had not changed his perspective since them. Councilmember Willmus further noted the need to have a more in depth discussion of its expectations or a guide- line; and whether it was comfortable establishing a policy at 100% of peer com- munities; or to look at a range. Councilmember Etten advised that he could support a range rather than a certain percentage. In researching this with Human Resources personnel at various profit and non-profit groups, Councilmember Etten noted that they all operated within a range; and were continuously fighting within that range anyway, being unable to always hit the exact target. However, Councilmember Etten opined that a range would define the general concept or policy moving forward; and while he was un- sure if a percentage was functional, he could support a goal or policy within a cer- tain range. At the request of Mayor Roe for setting a policy and then continuing discussion at a future date, Councilmember Etten opined that the City Council could set a poli- cy, but he didn't think it could be done absent a discussion of the budget. Coun- cilmember Etten noted that the upcoming budget meetings with Department Heads should prove beneficial and inform this discussion as well. Councilmem- ber Etten opined that the City Council needed to have a policy discussion that provided a plan for the big picture and that it needed to happen in conjunction with the overall budget discussions. At the request of Mayor Roe, Councilmem- • ber Etten clarified that he was supportive of a policy as long it was for a range, but that implementation had to happen in the context of the overall budget; to ad- dress realities that could not be ignored. Councilmember McGehee concurred with that concept, opining that she was hap- py with a range, within 98%-100%, but supported staff's recommendation #2 for those so far under market average; with the implementation for remaining em- ployees tied to the budget. Mayor Roe noted that another consideration was that the eight (8) positions were 6% off the 100% mark; and therefore additional costs would be incurred above the $20,000 if the 4.6% increase to pay plans was not implemented at that same time. If that action was taken, Ms. Bacon cautioned that the City Council would essen- tially create a completely ineffective system, since the system currently worked in conjunction with all positions. If the City Council chose to select and implement only Staff Recommendation #2, Ms. Bacon advised that those positions would be re-classed to the next grade and the entire compensation system would become skewed. Ms. Bacon respectfully noted that if the City Council chose to change the policy at tonight's meeting for a certain range or percentage, it would in es-