Agenda - Council - 10/28/1997 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #2: LELS Contract Ratification Administrative Services Manager Waite Smith explained that the City's negotiating team met with representatives of the Law Enforcement Labor Services, Inc. (LELS) and tentatively agreed on a labor contract for the years 1998 and 1999. The Police Officers have ratified the contract that is now being presented to the Personnel Committee for ratification. She summarized the contract which provides for a 3% increase in wages, effective January 1, 1998, a 3.1% increase in wages effective January t, 1999, a $27 per month increase in the City's contribution to family health care coverage (making it $361 per month), effective January 1, 1998, freezing the City's contribution to single health care coverage at $290 per month, an opportunity to reopen negotiations on the employer's insurance contribution if the monthly premium for the lowest priced family coverage rises above $480 per month for the period of September 1, 1998 through August 30, 1999, a $20 per month increase in the Investigator position clothing allowance, effective January 1, 1999 (bringing it to $130 per month) and a reduction in the first salary step (entry level) from 70% of top patrol salary to 69.5% of top patrol salary. Councilmember Haas Steffen asked how the parameters for increases are arrived at and added that she does not necessarily agree with what the City has been doing with regard to the wage increases. Motion by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Councilmember Beyer to recommend that the City Council adopt the resolution approving the negotiated 1998 - 1999 labor agreement between the City and LELS and that before negotiations take place again, this City Council has discussion about how the parameters are set for increases. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Haas Steffen and Beyer. Voting No: None. Case #3: 1997 Exempt Wages - Pay for Performance City Administrator Schroeder stated that in September 1996, City Council settled on wages for the exempt personnel. There was trouble at the City Council level agreeing on a..compensation goal for the 1997 wages. Pay for performance was discussed. A three percent increase was given across the board but in addition, Council set aside an additional two percent of exempt payroll for performance based pay. The direction from Council was that the exempt personnel would work out a consensus merit system for presentation to Council. Mr. Schroeder reported that this has not yet been done and he feels that Council has some choices relating to this two percent. They could withdraw the offer in that it was contingent upon exempt employees developing a workable proposal for performance-based pay or, in some fashion, carry the money over to 1998, or distribute the funds set aside for the 1997 wages for exempt positions to exempt employees in some fashion Other than a formal performance-based pay plan. He recommended carrying over the two percent for 1998. Councilmember Beyer did not see how this could be fairly implemented. Personnel Committee/September 23, 1997 Page 2 of 3 I I I, I I I I I I I I I I I I i I I I