Fort Walton Beach Council minutes — 08-02-2001 Special Workshop — reading text

223 A Special meeting of the City Council of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, was held on Thursday, August 2, 2001, at 5: 30 p. m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, with the following members present: Mayor Glenda Glover I Councilmen: Pullen, Absent: Clay and Mike Anderson. Chuck Kelley Carnathan, Janet Baggett, Jim Dowling, Jim Tucker, Dr. Wayne Also Present: Reid Silverboard, City Manager; Helen Spencer, City Clerk; Jason Hull, City Attorney' s office; Joyce Shanahan, Finance Director; and Department Directors. The Mayor called the meeting to order. i_ i:_ @_ Mayor Glover read the resolution by title only. A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH, FLORIDA AMENDING THE CLASSIFICATION AND SALARY SCHEDULE OF THE CITY OF FORT WALTON BEACH PAY AND CLASSIFICATION PLAN ADOPTED BY ORDINANCE 1296; PROVIDING FOR A NEW SALARY SCHEDULE AND CLASSIFICATION SCHEDULE; PROVIDING FOR EMPLOYEE TRANSITION AND PLACEMENT INTO THE AMENDED CLASSIFICATION AND SALARY SCHEDULE; REPEALING ANY AND ALL SUBSEQUENT RESOLUTIONS RELATING TO ORDINANCE 1296; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The Human Resource Director introduced representatives from DMG- Maximus, Sheryl Dallas and Sara Curry, who will present the study they completed and recommended to the City, and answer questions. Ms. explained the process used to develop the pay plan, which included the Dallas review approximately 145 positions and utilized the Archer Matrix- Point- Factor of Job Evaluation system to assist in assigning positions to an appropriate pay range. Benchmark positions were used to survey member governments and specialty organizations to establish a pay line and create a pay structure with the information from the survey used to assist in classifying the various jobs within the pay structure. The integration of internal job value with market value gives a compensation structure that is balanced and one that is both externally competitive and internally equitable. The pay schedule recommended includes 36 pay grades with pay ranges approximately 75% in width and separated by 25- point increments. She concluded by noting what is before Council is the pay structure, the class titles, and the structure of the step plan. Ms. Dallas offered to answer questions. I Council received clarification on the difference between compensation vs. wages and salary with explanation the compensation plan is a structure plan and the an individual wages and salary are within that plan, which is just the base salary, paycheck side of the plan; total compensation would include the benefits. Council wished to know the percentage difference between the base salary and the total compensation and it was estimated around 15%. The Human Resource Manager relayed many employees are leaving the City to go to the County, Sheriff' s Office, other Fire Districts, and other utility companies. It was further explained the reason data was not obtained outside of government agencies was because it is virtually impossible to gather good data from a private sector and benchmark positions were used that are found in other organizations.  8- 2- 0 I 224 @;..~ i::::_ i~~ In response to the comment on the grouping of certain positions in the same grades, Ms. Dallas explained for very different reasons a positio~ gets points assigned to it and the total number of points for some positions could place them in the same grade. In response to the question whether Department Directors had input, the Human Resource Director replied initially DMG met with all the Department Directors to understand any concerns and when it was close to making a final recommendation, he met with the individual Department Directors to talk about the recommendation. In response to the question on the amount of increase employees receive each year, the City Manager explained generally employees receive a 2- 2. 5% wage adjustment and the current plan has 2. 5% between steps, so the City has been giving between 4- 4. 5% and occasionally there are approximately 20 employees submitted for a special merit increase. Council received clarification on the five- year average annual turnover with it noted that normal retirements are a very small percentage. Mr. expressed the desire to ask questions then have an opportunity to review Tucker the study to evaluate the date before voting on it. The City Manager pointed out the proposed budget includes the recommendation of the proposed pay plan. Dr. Pullen requested a final decision be made at the next regular meeting after the budget meetings. Mr. Tucker moved to place the Pay Plan implementation on the agenda at the next meeting for an up or down vote on whether or not to accept it. Dr. Pullen seconded motion. Council wished to know the monetary difference between the proposed plan compared to the current plan and the percentage of the ad valorem taxes received this fiscal year. It was replied the difference between the proposed plan and the current plan is around $ 238, 000 and the City received about 4. 5% or around $ 331, 000 more in taxes this year. The Finance Director mentioned all the numbers have been taken into consideration and the proposed plan does fit withi~ the budget presented to Council. Council members wished to know what information Council would receive between now and two weeks to postpone the issue. Mr. Tucker expressed the desire to have an opportunity to better understand what is going to be voted on. Dr. Pullen offered by going through the budget process they could see how the plan will fit in. Council received clarification that Section I, number 3 of the resolution, which states all City employees shall be transitioned and placed into the amended classification and salary schedule does not affect the Charter Officers. Additional discussion included the point that is setting a policy the Resolution then it is up to Council when budget process to address the going through the specifics and decide whether or not to fund the proposed salary schedule. It was explained the Department Dicectors do not have steps within their grades. Mr. Tucker withdrew motion. Dr. Pullen withdrew second. Council received clarification that the resolution provides for the adoption of the pay and classification plan and does not bind the city to a dollar amount until the budget is adopted for the next fiscal year. Mr. Carnathan moved to adopt Resolution 01- 20. Mrs. Baggett seconded motion and it carried unanimously with Carnathan, Baggett, Dowling, Tucker, Pullen, and Anderson in favor ( Kelley absent) .  8- 2- 01 225 rDfi~"' l.. t~ Mayor Glover reported the final list of projects for the sales tax would have to be decided before August 9th. The City Manager will provide Council the list of projects with an updated dollar amount to discuss before adjourning the budget meeting on Monday, Augus t 6th. J!! I'~ II Being no further husiness, the meeting adjourned at 6, 45 p. m. MAYOR: ATT~ ,.. I 1')Ui CITY CLERK I