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Regular City Council Meeting <br /> Monday,June 15, 2015 <br /> Page 28 <br /> ments perform similar analyses and reconfigure how more entry level positions <br /> could be made available to allow managers more flexibility in addressing their <br /> work loads. <br /> City Manager Trudgeon responded that this was typically addressed by interns; <br /> and in the Public Works Department had resulted from hiring a front desk posi- <br /> tion at a lower grade than in the past. Mr. Trudgeon noted that consideration also <br /> was needed to recognize that total costs also involved benefits, not just wages. <br /> City Manager Trudgeon advised that, while some areas may not be as apparent, <br /> he and management staff would look into other areas as well. <br /> From his limited examples, Councilmember Etten opined that maintaining 100% <br /> of single coverage was a pretty common practice; and when desiring to hire quali- <br /> ty staff, it was still less expensive to offer single coverage versus family coverage; <br /> and expressed his concern in dropping that as an option. While hoping the pro- <br /> jected employee healthcare increase of 10% could be successfully negotiated <br /> lower than that, Councilmember Etten offered his support of a COLA increase for <br /> employees. <br /> Councilmember McGehee agreed with Councilmember Etten, opining it was im- <br /> portant to offer that single benefit at the entry level. Councilmember McGehee <br /> stated her preference for maintaining healthcare benefits as currently done unless <br /> overwhelming evidence was provided that the system was way out of sync. <br /> Councilmember McGehee offered her support of an employee COL in line with <br /> that negotiated by unions on a consistent basis. <br /> At the request of Mayor Roe, City Manager Trudgeon advised that all bargaining <br /> unit contracts, with the exception of the firefighter contract (which does not yet <br /> exist), were up in 2016; with several bargaining units settled at 2%. Mr. Trudg- <br /> eon advised that he anticipated addressing this issue at a Closed Session on July 6, <br /> 2015 for City Council review and direction. <br /> Based on his observations and considering peer cities, CPI and other factors, <br /> Mayor Roe noted he was not seeing 3.5% Cola; and based on his experience in <br /> the private sector, and his participation in single coverage, he was not aware that <br /> they paid 100%. Mayor Roe opined that this indicated that there must be other <br /> models out there, and his preference to review those models to make sure the cur- <br /> rent City of Roseville benefit structure still made sense. <br /> With concurrence of his colleagues, Councilmember Etten clarified that single <br /> coverage was not free, since those employees also had to pay deductibles, co- <br /> pays, etc. <br />