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I I I I I I I i I I I I ~{eG_uest For Preliminary Plat _Approval Of Sorteberg's 4th Addition .Case Of Er. Allen Sorteberg: Motion by Councilmenber Cox and seoonded by Oouncilme~ber Reimann to grant preliminary plat approval to Sorteberg's 4th Addition with varianoes to soil borings and topography and contingent upon compliance with the requirenents of the City Engineer. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Heitman, Councilm~nbers Schlueter, COx and Reimann. Voting No: None. Abstain: Councilmenber Sorteberg. Police Labor Negotiations: Mr. Schnelle stated that he has met with Labor Relations and they recommend 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 acoording to MAMA is $155/month. 3. General salary increase for police in 1985 was 5%. Oouncilmenber Reimann stated that he feels the police should settle for 4.0% in exchange for getting a two year contract rather than a one year. Councilm~nber 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. Oouncilm~nber 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 bottcm 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 Oouncilmenber Schlueter to offer the Police Depar~nent a oounter 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 Councilmamber Cox's concerns. Oouncilmember 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 pays $40,000/year in taxes. August 13, 1985 Page 17 of 22