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Special City Council Meeting Thursday,July 18,2013 Page 6 that — and strongly advocated for — including part-time Fire Department staff in the 4.6% recommended increase. Reiterating that part-time firefighters were al- ready the lowest paid employee group in the City of Roseville, Chief O'Neill not- ed the impacts it would also have in attracting/recruiting firefighters; with any in- crease allowing the City to be competitive with other part-time employment op- portunities for candidates. Mayor Roe recognized that Chief O'Neill had provided the cost for including part-time Fire Department staff in the Compensation Study at $33,948. At the request of Councilmember Willmus, Chief O'Neill reviewed the pension benefits, in addition to wages, for part-time firefighters; advising that if hired pre- 2010, the firefighter would be eligible under the Relief Association Pension Plan, and if hired after 2010, they would be eligible for PERA; and corresponding costs to the City for that benefit. At the request of Councilmember Etten, Chief O'Neill confirmed that firefighters were not eligible for paid time off (PTO) or other health benefits at this time. Chief O'Neill noted that this created additional challenges for PTO and holidays, with eight (8) holidays recognized by the Department and an additional $80 over their regular part-time wage paid for staffing those holidays to encourage cover- age for those holidays, but remaining a challenge to have sufficient coverage. Since part-time firefighters received no PTO to address sickness, family activities or event, or vacation, Chief O'Neill noted that they forfeited that pay. As confirmed by Chief O'Neill, Councilmember McGehee observed that their wage was paid during training, starting at the beginning range of$9.27/hour, and after their training was complete, they moved to $13.86/hour. Councilmember McGehee further observed that with the City's contribution to PERA during that training time as well, and the $10,000 cost for training them for a future career, with equipment and custom fit uniforms, yet not requiring a commitment from them beyond their training period, she could not see it as a bad deal and ques- tioned Chief O'Neill's rationale in advocating higher wages. Chief O'Neill responded that the candidate pool suited to serve as firefight- ers/EMS responders was getting smaller all the time. Chief O'Neill noted that not everyone had the mental or emotional stamina to work in hazardous conditions, meet stressful medical needs in various situations or traumas, or deal with deaths in the field. Chief O'Neill opined that it took a unique individual in the first place. Chief O'Neill observed that a wage of$9/hour was comparable with that paid in the fast food industry, if not other industries, and having no stress and trauma involved. At the request of Councilmember McGehee, Chief O'Neill reviewed the hiring process required: application and review, interview, offer of contingent employ-