Minutes - Council - 08/13/1985 - Special

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~quest For Preliminary Plat Approval Of Sorteberg's 4th Addition Case Of Mr. Allen Sorteberg~ Motion by Councilmember Cox and seconded by Councilmember Reimann to grant preliminary plat approval to Sorteberg's 4th Addition with variances to soil borings and topography and contingent upon compliance with the requirements of the City Engineer. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Heitman, Councilm~mbers Schlueter, Cox and Reimann. Voting No.. None. Abstain: Councilmember Sorteberg. Case #10:. ~O~Ce Labor Negotiations: Mr. Schnelle stated that he has met with Labor Relations and they recon~end that based on the following, the City settle on the 4.5% salary increase for both 1985 and 1986 and $10.00 per month increase in health insurance for both years: 1. City does not currently pay holiday pay. 2. Current health insurance according to ~MA is $155/month. 3. General salary increase for police in 1985 was 5%. Councilmember Reimann stated that he feels the police should settle for 4.0% in exchange for getting a t~o year contract rather than a one year. Councilmember Sorteberg stated that if it goes to arbitration he is sure there will be people in the City saying that Council did not having any control -- the arbitrator gave the police what they wanted. Councilmember Sorteberg stated that he thinks the City should try and stay out of arbitration and if it is going to take 4.5% and a $10 health insurance increase for 2 years, maybe that is what the City ought to do. Councilmember Cox stated that people talk about what's fair and Ramsey being a Class 5 city; Ramsey is at the bottom of the Class 5 totem pole population and tax base wise; anybody asking for an unfair increase is unfair. Ramsey cannot afford to pay the same salaries as larger Class 5 cities; the average increase throughout the U.S. was 2.4%. Ramsey is not being unfair; the people making the demands are unfair; Council is trying to be accountable to what the City can afford. Motion by Mayor Heitman and seconded by Councilm~mber Schlueter to offer the Police Department a counter proposal to include a 4.5% salary increase for 1985, a 4.3% salary increase for 1986 and a $10/month health insurance increase for each of the two years. Further Discussion: Councilmember Cox stated that nobody has talked to the mediator regarding these increases in relation to Ramsey's economics; these increases cannot be afforded unless there is the tax base being generated to pay these salaries. Mayor Heitman stated that he shares Councilmember Cox's concerns. Councilmember Cox stated that Mayor Heitman does not share his concerns and that was shown when the Mayor did not want to help and hear the concerns of Mr. Gilbertson, a business man that August 13, 1985 Page 17 of 22