Minutes - Council Work Session - 03/13/2007

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Ms. Sims informed Council the recruitment process will include a review of all resumes that are submitted with feedback from Council on whether the candidate should proceed in the process. This process will include everyone that submits a resume, including the current Interim City Administrator and department heads. Human Resources Manager Reed Kone reviewed with Council the recommended salary range for the city administrator position. She indicated in determining the salary range she completed a salary survey of the target group and peer group of cities identified in the Organizational Study conducted by Springsted in late 2006, as well as a midrange group based solely on the population of metro cities between 33,000 and 50,000. Ms. Reed Kone advised staffrecommends Council set the maximum salary for the city administrator at $120,000. She explained the city administrator would not be brought in at the top of the range, but this would adjust the bottom range with step #1 at $96,000, step #2 at $100,800, and so forth. Negotiations with the candidate would be based on this pay scale, rather than the pay scale that currently maxes out at $110,000. She advised in speaking with Ms. Sims, her thought is that any candidate interested in this position would likely expect a salary in the low $100,000 range, so they would likely be looking at least at a step #2 salary. Ms. Reed Kone advised with the $120,000 maximum the Council could decide on a salary anywhere in this range. She is presenting this information to increase the range so Ramsey is more in line with the type of individual they want to attract. She noted the recommendation is between the midrange group and the peer group. Council discussed the city administrator salary recommendation with Human Resources Manager Reed Kone and Ms. Sims. Consensus of the Council was to direct staff to proceed with amending the salary range as recommended. Council discussed negotiable benefits for the city administrator, including deferred compensation, car allowance, insurance, vacation, and sick leave with Human Resources Manager Reed Kone and Ms. Sims. Human Resources Manager Reed Kone advised it is likely that any candidate will want vacation leave and sick leave banked over a one year period. Councilmember Elvig questioned if banked benefits would be paid out at the time of termination if an individual that is on probation does not work out. Human Resources Manager Reed Kone replied an employee would have to serve for at least five years to get any portion of sick leave paid out but, by law, employees would be entitled to any vacation on the books. She indicated this could be addressed in the contract. MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF INPUT None City Council Work Session I March 13, 2007 Page 5 or 6