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