03-09-2015 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday,March 9,2015 7:00 o'clock p.m. (20. REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS(RFP)FOR COMPENSATION STUDY,continued) Loftus stated that is one of the three elements of the study and that there is a state statute that the City is required to comply with. Walsh asked if the City is going above and beyond that. Loftus stated the last time the point system was developed was nine years ago and that Staff is proposing, given the new positions and the passage of time,that the City undergo this study to make sure the methodology and point system is still accurate so that in December,when the report is started,the City is meeting that requirement. Walsh asked if the City would just need to fill out a report again. Loftus stated the City has to fill out the report whether they go ahead with the study. Loftus indicated the study would help the City know what the point system is and ensure that the methodology they are using is correct. McMillan stated the pay equity relates more to gender and that the study would show how Orono compares to other cities in their compensation. Walsh asked if anyone has any idea of what this would cost. Loftus stated in looking at what other cities have done, Staff is anticipating around$15,000. In 2006 the City Council approved$19,000 for the study but only one component out of three was completed since there was a transition in the city administrator position. Walsh stated he does not have a problem with having more information but that he wants to make sure the City has the money to spend on the study. Walsh asked if the League of MN Cities akeady has this information. McMillan stated the City can decide not to do it after getting the RFPs. Loftus stated the City has relied on the salary surveys that are available through the League of MN Cities every budget cycle but that the League of MN Cities will not evaluate Orono's job positions and provide a point value. Loftus stated there are so many differences between cities that it is sometimes hard to determine what you should be comparing the positions to. Walsh asked how long this study would be good for. Loftus indicated the study would be good for at least three to five years and that the City has used the last analysis for the past nine years. Loftus stated the external market analysis will provide a good basis of where the City wants to be in the market with the compensation. Loftus stated in her view it would be helpful for Staff to know that paying market rate is important to the City Council but that Staff understands they need to be fiscally responsible. Walsh stated in his view the City is doing a good job since not a lot of people are leaving. Walsh asked if Staff has been expressing complaints about the pay structure. Page 41 of 43