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Administrative Services Director Lasher stated that while the department would love to have the <br /> starting wage at$13, staff is aware of the budget conscious climate and therefore is hoping to get <br /> to $12. <br /> Councilmember Menth asked how the work is accomplished if there are not enough temporary <br /> staff people. <br /> Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood stated that sometimes the full-time <br /> maintenance staff is taken off the higher purpose jobs to mow. He explained that the seasonal <br /> workers are very important in completing these jobs, so that the full-time maintenance/streets <br /> workers can focus on the jobs they are intended to focus on. <br /> Councilmember Menth stated that it appears a lot of time is wasted training new people and <br /> using higher paid staff people on lower paying jobs. He asked if it would then make sense to <br /> begin the starting wage at$13. <br /> Administrative Services Director Lasher confirmed that would definitely help. She stated that <br /> staff always monitors the budget throughout the year. She suggested that perhaps the starting <br /> wage is set at $12, with discretion for staff to offer up to $13 if the candidate has appropriate <br /> experience. <br /> Councilmember Heinrich stated that she would be comfortable with that recommendation. <br /> Councilmember Musgrove asked if temporary seasonal employees are only paid hourly wages <br /> and not paid benefits. <br /> Administrative Services Director Lasher confirmed that the City pays the hourly wage and <br /> contributes for workman's compensation but does not have to pay benefits for those employees. <br /> Councilmember Musgrove stated that she would be willing to increase the hourly wage in order <br /> to retain the seasonal employees and allow the higher paid full-time employees the ability to <br /> focus on their responsibilities. <br /> Councilmember Specht asked if the City could contract or subcontract for mowing. <br /> Administrative Services Director Lasher replied that would have a much higher cost with less <br /> control. She stated that the City has tried that method in specific locations in the past, but it was <br /> not successful. <br /> Councilmember Specht stated that he would agree with the range of $12 to $13 for a starting <br /> wage in order to attempt to attract and retain seasonal employees and allow full-time employees <br /> to focus on their duties. <br /> Administrative Services Director Lasher stated that it could also be helpful to apply the non- <br /> union COLA to this position as well, in order to keep the position in the competitive market <br /> range. <br /> City Council Work Session/March 16,2020 <br /> Page 2 of 12 <br />