1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:06,319 chambers for the human resources committee meeting. We are calling the 2 00:00:03,520 --> 00:00:09,920 meeting to order. Item two is to review the monthly activities of the human 3 00:00:07,839 --> 00:00:13,840 resources department and we have an attached monthly summary. 4 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:19,840 » Mr. Hartman. >> Yeah, I guess uh with the summary 5 00:00:16,080 --> 00:00:24,400 provided um if anybody had questions on the summary, I'll entertain those 6 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:30,720 questions at this time. Otherwise, if it was self-explanatory, I'm I'm fine 7 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:36,399 moving along as well. question. 8 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:41,280 All right. I just have one comment. Um, we have an open position for the 9 00:00:38,559 --> 00:00:46,239 director of community development uh through September 18th. So, if there's 10 00:00:44,160 --> 00:00:51,039 anybody who qualifies, the city has that posted on our website. Also, just wanted 11 00:00:48,879 --> 00:00:57,520 to say thanks to Kyle for being with the city for seven years. and I am sad that 12 00:00:55,120 --> 00:01:04,720 he has the opportunity to move forward and continue his career with a different 13 00:01:01,359 --> 00:01:10,640 organization. So, thank you, Kyle, and I hope you do well in your next position. 14 00:01:08,799 --> 00:01:15,040 Item three is to discuss and consider approval for the cost of wage living 15 00:01:12,799 --> 00:01:22,280 adjustment for non-represented employees of the city effective January 1st, 2027. 16 00:01:18,240 --> 00:01:22,280 That's referral two. 17 00:01:23,680 --> 00:01:32,640 This is kind of my referral. Um, this is two of two. I have another referral just 18 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:37,280 after this. Um, Ryan kind of put this in order as the number one, which I don't 19 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:41,920 oppose. Um, this is just to bring up and discuss cost of living adjustment for 20 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:47,119 2027. Um, we all know the history um, and kind 21 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:54,079 of where we're at with this year. Um this is just to um or the referral 22 00:01:51,040 --> 00:01:58,560 reflects the three and a half uh% cost of living adjustment that all the 23 00:01:56,000 --> 00:02:03,840 represented um units are getting this year. So mirroring our internal 24 00:02:00,399 --> 00:02:09,280 comparables and then it looks at remaining competitive for uh recruitment 25 00:02:06,799 --> 00:02:14,879 and retention needs for not just the fire department or police department but 26 00:02:11,920 --> 00:02:21,760 um our city as a whole. Um I think I sometimes reflect on um what the cost of 27 00:02:18,959 --> 00:02:28,080 recruiting and retaining our current employees and when you look at some of 28 00:02:24,080 --> 00:02:33,920 the competitive nature um of different external comparables including Wood 29 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:40,400 County um Stevens Point, Marshfield, Portage County, a lot of them over the 30 00:02:37,360 --> 00:02:47,760 last few years have received four and 6% um in different capacities. Uh in 2026 31 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:54,879 um it was a 0% for cost of living adjustment and um over the span of three 32 00:02:51,440 --> 00:02:58,720 years um if this is not acted upon it would be 2 and a half% in total for 33 00:02:57,040 --> 00:03:04,599 those three years and our internal comparable of our bargaining groups 34 00:03:01,120 --> 00:03:04,599 received 11%. 35 00:03:07,760 --> 00:03:13,920 I think it just kind of remains competitive within our market and our 36 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:20,239 comparables and gets to a lot of the retention issues. um talking to a lot of 37 00:03:16,800 --> 00:03:24,400 different employees around um the city uh through this past year. I think that 38 00:03:22,239 --> 00:03:31,120 was one of the resounding um messages that I heard without using any names was 39 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:38,000 um we considered our cost of living um increases for our non-represented groups 40 00:03:35,200 --> 00:03:42,560 at the end of budget discussions. And it's my hope that we can bring and shed 41 00:03:40,799 --> 00:03:47,440 light to this at the beginning of those discussions. Uh, so we put our people um 42 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:52,560 forward because they're the ones that are out there serving our community um 43 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:57,120 asking us or asking them to do that job every day. 44 00:03:55,360 --> 00:04:01,120 » Thank you. >> Go ahead, Ryan. 45 00:03:58,159 --> 00:04:08,560 » Uh and just um for surrounding nearby communities, um 46 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:14,640 last year they a couple of them were at a two and a 365. This year they're 47 00:04:11,760 --> 00:04:21,680 looking at a two and a 313 in two nearby municipalities. So that's 48 00:04:18,160 --> 00:04:27,120 their projections at this point just for information along with what 49 00:04:24,800 --> 00:04:31,280 Ben said. Thanks 50 00:04:28,479 --> 00:04:36,360 » questions. Go ahead. >> Okay. Thank you, madam chairperson. Uh 51 00:04:36,479 --> 00:04:42,120 Ryan, uh how did you come up with the three and a half% 52 00:04:42,639 --> 00:04:49,360 Uh, great question, Dennis. I did not. This is uh, Chief Goodose. 53 00:04:47,360 --> 00:04:54,400 » That's your recommendation. >> So, I took the three and a half% because 54 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:59,919 it was uh, it closely mirrored um, our external comparables, but also internal 55 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:04,560 comparables for represented units. Um, bargained a 3 and a.5% wage increase for 56 00:05:02,960 --> 00:05:08,400 next year for the cost of living. >> You must been looking a lot with your 57 00:05:07,120 --> 00:05:12,438 union contract then. >> Stay in line with the Yep. And and it's 58 00:05:10,639 --> 00:05:18,000 as we know the represented [clears throat] group um represents what 59 00:05:14,800 --> 00:05:21,360 would it be Ryan? It's not half of our employee. 60 00:05:19,759 --> 00:05:25,520 » Okay. >> Two. 61 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:29,440 » Okay. >> So almost almost half of the employees 62 00:05:27,520 --> 00:05:33,360 represent they are represented employees and then non-represent. 63 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:37,360 » Well, if if if it would drop down to 3%, what would that do? Would it throw you 64 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:42,160 way off guilt or? So that kind of gets to the next um referral that I have is 65 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:46,240 the compression. So if we continue to be outpaced by our internal comparables, 66 00:05:44,479 --> 00:05:50,400 we'll continue to need to come back with other referrals trying to catch back up 67 00:05:48,479 --> 00:05:55,960 and stay ahead of our internal comparables. 68 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,960 » Okay. 69 00:05:56,960 --> 00:06:07,600 So, if I'm reading this right, um the 70 00:06:04,240 --> 00:06:12,800 hourly employees, I guess, uh they had an 11% over three years. 71 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:17,919 » So, yeah, they bargained over the last three years, which includes next year as 72 00:06:14,720 --> 00:06:21,840 well. Okay. Um their bargained total percentage of cost of living adjustment 73 00:06:20,479 --> 00:06:26,000 is 11%. >> Okay. And the nonrepresentative 74 00:06:24,319 --> 00:06:31,600 employees, what did they get the last say in 2025? 75 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:37,199 This year they did get a a bonus, right? >> A bonus. But then, you know, January 1, 76 00:06:34,160 --> 00:06:41,520 then that that cost of living bonus uh is essentially gone. It's evaporated. 77 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:47,199 So, it's just a one-time payment for that calendar year. Uh last year, 2025, 78 00:06:44,639 --> 00:06:51,840 was 2 and a half% for that group. And then that's why the referral is kind of 79 00:06:49,039 --> 00:07:01,520 coming forward to discuss for what we anticipate seeing for colo for 2027. 80 00:06:55,600 --> 00:07:05,919 » Okay. So again um the representative employees got three or three and a half 81 00:07:05,120 --> 00:07:10,160 and three and a half >> I think it's four three and a half three 82 00:07:07,840 --> 00:07:14,000 and a half I believe unless somebody Okay. 83 00:07:10,560 --> 00:07:19,520 » Okay. So end of 26 it would be a total of seven and a half% from 2020 84 00:07:17,759 --> 00:07:23,520 » at the end of this year so far. But they've already negotiated their 2027 85 00:07:22,000 --> 00:07:28,160 contracts. We already know that they anticipate well not anticipate that's 86 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:33,520 probably the wrong word. They will receive three and a half%. 87 00:07:30,000 --> 00:07:38,240 » Okay. Okay. And the two and a half% bonus that they got 88 00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:43,680 this year that goes away. I mean, so they're back 89 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:46,960 to what they ended with in 2025. >> Yeah. So, we're essential that that 90 00:07:45,440 --> 00:07:51,280 group would be essentially working on the same wage that they received January 91 00:07:49,360 --> 00:07:57,120 1 of 2025 still, >> right? Other than any class or any 92 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:01,039 time period. >> Yep. Step or grades steps. 93 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:06,160 » Yep. And and again, I think that's an important uh concept to understand or 94 00:08:03,520 --> 00:08:09,199 remember too is COLA is not about the individual. It's about keeping pace with 95 00:08:07,840 --> 00:08:13,919 the market. And that's what we're kind of doing here. Step recognizes the 96 00:08:11,599 --> 00:08:16,560 individual moving through their career um kind of gaining experience and 97 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:21,960 growing in that job. >> Right. Okay. Okay. Thank you. 98 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:35,120 » I'm happy that Tim Dorsy came today because this is very budget 99 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:41,200 contingent on if we can even consider putting in a cola. And I know the budget 100 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:46,320 process has started. So, have the departments worked in already a COLA of 101 00:08:44,560 --> 00:08:51,440 some sort? >> No. Typically what we do is if if like 102 00:08:48,880 --> 00:08:56,240 if there's not a like a settled contract or a COLA has not been determined for 103 00:08:53,760 --> 00:09:00,640 the non-representative, we uh compile our budgets based on, you know, the 104 00:08:58,399 --> 00:09:06,080 current rate. And then what I do is I go through and I'll put in contingency and 105 00:09:03,120 --> 00:09:12,279 amount for for those for those COLA adjustments. 106 00:09:08,000 --> 00:09:12,279 Okay. And do we have 107 00:09:12,320 --> 00:09:18,480 if we [clears throat] we have to take from somewhere to 108 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:22,000 provide a cost of living adjustment for our employees. 109 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:26,880 And normally when we take from the places that we we can legally take from 110 00:09:24,560 --> 00:09:32,000 for budgeting purposes, that means we need to then bond more when it comes to 111 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:36,560 our street construction projects because we can't take out money for operations. 112 00:09:35,200 --> 00:09:40,240 » Correct. Yeah. Typically, I wouldn't recommend you that you borrow money for 113 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:43,040 ongoing operations because once you do it, you're going to continue to do that 114 00:09:41,839 --> 00:09:46,640 and then what happens with the next year's COLA and stuff like that. So 115 00:09:44,880 --> 00:09:52,240 usually, you know, your operating expenses, you try to live within what 116 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:56,320 your estimated revenues are going to be or you look for additional revenue 117 00:09:54,080 --> 00:10:00,720 sources to cover those those incremental increases in expenditures. You know, and 118 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:06,880 that's really what the issue with our budget is year-over-year is that the 119 00:10:03,519 --> 00:10:11,120 incremental expenditures far exceed what our incremental revenues because, you 120 00:10:09,040 --> 00:10:15,600 know, when you look at, you know, just with the property tax, we're limited in 121 00:10:13,120 --> 00:10:20,000 what we can raise on that. We're limited by what types of fees we can establish, 122 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:24,222 you know, because there's certain fees that fall under the levy limit. So, if 123 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:27,600 you establish like I know we [clears throat] discussed it last year 124 00:10:25,279 --> 00:10:31,519 was a garbage collection fee. If you were to establish that, you have to look 125 00:10:29,600 --> 00:10:36,240 at what you budgeted levied for for garbage collection in 2014 and you have 126 00:10:34,720 --> 00:10:40,800 to subtract that off your levy. So, you're limited going forward. Any 127 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:43,839 increases you're allowed to do, but you know, you have to make adjustments for 128 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:48,720 that. I mean, we were fortunate with our storm water utility fee that we 129 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:52,480 established that before they um changed the levy limits and included that fee 130 00:10:50,640 --> 00:10:57,519 under the levy limits. >> Okay. Um I I should also say that you 131 00:10:55,120 --> 00:11:03,279 know a cola is not factored in but any step increases that the non-reps are 132 00:11:00,000 --> 00:11:09,440 entitled to are factored into the wages and benefits. So um I think about what 133 00:11:06,160 --> 00:11:13,920 75% of the non-reps usually have a step a one and a half% step increase whether 134 00:11:11,600 --> 00:11:21,320 it's January one or July one depending on when they're you know anniversaries 135 00:11:16,959 --> 00:11:21,320 or what you know what step they're in. 136 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:28,240 » Okay. And we have we have another referral that we haven't 137 00:11:26,240 --> 00:11:34,560 made all the way through yet, which is the polar opposite of this referral to 138 00:11:30,720 --> 00:11:41,680 either hold step increases or hold cola or both to make sure that we have a nice 139 00:11:39,600 --> 00:11:47,120 level budget. And when we had talked about that, we determined that we would 140 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:54,560 talk about it with property and finance. But now we have this one. So, 141 00:11:51,279 --> 00:12:00,240 I'm not opposed to a cost of living adjustment. I think 142 00:11:56,800 --> 00:12:06,560 it's important for our employees. It's just very difficult to do when our 143 00:12:04,480 --> 00:12:10,560 revenue isn't increasing at the same pace that 144 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:15,760 our cost of living is. 145 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:20,160 So, what what would the budget look like if we did a 3.5 cost of living 146 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:24,720 adjustment for non-representative positions? 147 00:12:21,760 --> 00:12:28,440 » Um, a three and a half% for non-reps. It would be about $378,000. 148 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:34,880 Now, that all doesn't come out, you know, because that's spread amongst 149 00:12:32,399 --> 00:12:41,440 like, you know, the wastewater utility, you know, our construction projects. Um 150 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:48,000 the I would say the tax levy impact of that would be right around 151 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:51,639 change right around 300,000. 152 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:12,639 Let me go to my different one here. the um supplemental aid 153 00:13:09,839 --> 00:13:19,440 portion that the city receives that varies and 154 00:13:15,519 --> 00:13:24,720 projected to go up annually. Is that correct or 155 00:13:20,800 --> 00:13:29,040 » Right. Yeah. Um the the shared revenue which includes our shared revenue and 156 00:13:26,480 --> 00:13:34,079 our supplemental aid is tied to the sales tax. So they carve out a basically 157 00:13:31,519 --> 00:13:38,160 a penny of the sales tax and whatever that increases year-over-year they 158 00:13:36,399 --> 00:13:44,320 increase that shared revenue which was a really good thing because for many of 159 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:48,320 years that shared revenue was frozen. So I have not gotten any estimates as to 160 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:52,880 what that's going to be this year. I think last year was like about two and a 161 00:13:49,680 --> 00:13:56,639 half% approximately. So, you know, right now I'm pretty much done with my revenue 162 00:13:54,800 --> 00:14:01,360 projections and I just got to kind of plug them into my my spreadsheets, kind 163 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:05,760 of determine where we're at right now. I got the expenditure side done and you 164 00:14:03,920 --> 00:14:09,199 know, and I'll probably factor in some type of shared revenue, but those 165 00:14:07,199 --> 00:14:14,240 estimates will be coming out probably midmon here. And then we have our 166 00:14:11,839 --> 00:14:21,839 general transportation aids which come out uh towards the end of September. And 167 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:28,959 that's based on a on an expenditure formula six-year average of expenditures 168 00:14:24,320 --> 00:14:32,360 in qualifying uh uh public works types um activities. 169 00:14:37,839 --> 00:14:46,399 Thank you. Uh Tim, if uh three and a half uh% 170 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:52,160 would equal 278,000, what would 3% 171 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:55,800 But what did you have those figures? >> I'll be here somewhere. 172 00:15:39,120 --> 00:15:42,680 It' be about 323,000. 173 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:08,079 Have we ever asked for our departments to account for their cost of living 174 00:16:05,279 --> 00:16:12,800 increases in their department budgets? Like if we implement a 3.5%, 175 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:17,360 let's just make it a goal here. If we go 4%, we implement a 4% cost of living 176 00:16:15,839 --> 00:16:23,759 adjustment. Have we ever asked departments to then 177 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:27,279 account for that in their other expenses? 178 00:16:25,199 --> 00:16:32,240 » Oh, so you're saying like, okay, assuming a a 4% but keep your budget 179 00:16:30,000 --> 00:16:35,279 flat. Is that what you're kind of >> Yeah. 180 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:38,720 » alluding to? Uh, [snorts] not that I can recall. 181 00:16:36,639 --> 00:16:43,040 » Do you think it's possible? Um, 182 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:48,160 I mean, anything's possible. The problem is is that, you know, all departmental 183 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:52,160 budgets are different. You know, you know, you could take a lot of the some 184 00:16:50,399 --> 00:16:56,720 of the departmental budgets and they're locked into certain things, you know, 185 00:16:54,480 --> 00:17:00,320 like, you know, like like software maintenance fees. I mean, you don't 186 00:16:58,079 --> 00:17:04,799 really have any control. I mean a lot of times the discretionary you know between 187 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:08,799 you take out wages and benefits and you take out let's say utilities and 188 00:17:07,706 --> 00:17:13,760 [clears throat] you know software maintenance fees any professional type 189 00:17:10,880 --> 00:17:17,839 fees that you're kind of obligated to you know a lot of times and especially 190 00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:22,319 in the smaller departments uh you're kind of left with 191 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:29,360 pretty small stuff like office supplies and like I I I'll just use my uh budget 192 00:17:26,079 --> 00:17:35,200 for an example is you know he wages benefits. If you take off that, you take 193 00:17:32,080 --> 00:17:40,320 off, you know, our our financial software maintenance fees, take off the 194 00:17:38,000 --> 00:17:44,000 financial audit and things like that, I'm I'm really left with training, 195 00:17:41,919 --> 00:17:48,480 education, you know, we're still going to have telephones, you know, office 196 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:52,240 supplies. So, you know, all budgets are different, right? 197 00:17:49,679 --> 00:17:56,640 » And so, it's it's, you know, when you say across the board, sometimes it's not 198 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,960 always equitable, >> okay, 199 00:17:56,960 --> 00:18:01,919 » based on the nature of the budget. Yeah, I feel like we we also run into the 200 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:07,520 problem where we have some departments that carry the weight of our budget cuts 201 00:18:03,760 --> 00:18:12,400 and I appreciate that, but I feel like if 202 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:19,520 this is the point where that we're in is that we either don't do a cola or we 203 00:18:16,400 --> 00:18:25,440 really need everybody to be as diligent as they can be trying to make their 204 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:29,360 budget flat when it's possible or being creative on ways to increase the 205 00:18:27,280 --> 00:18:34,960 revenue. Um, I don't know why this one just plunked into my head, but I'm pick 206 00:18:31,120 --> 00:18:41,280 on Chief Host here for a second. If if we were to look at ways to ensure that 207 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:45,679 we are capturing all we can for fines, if somebody calls in a loose animal and 208 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:49,280 we find the location of that animal, do we check to see if they're registered 209 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:52,480 with the city? And if they're not, they need to be registered with the city. 210 00:18:50,960 --> 00:18:57,360 guarantee there are people out there that don't have their dogs or cats 211 00:18:54,400 --> 00:19:01,200 registered, which then we can collect on if that comes up, which is additional 212 00:18:59,280 --> 00:19:06,400 revenue that we didn't have in our budget previously that we could try to 213 00:19:03,840 --> 00:19:09,919 capture, right? >> Yes, we're already doing that. Um, 214 00:19:08,883 --> 00:19:17,840 [laughter] but you know, the the hard part is is 215 00:19:13,840 --> 00:19:21,440 getting people to pay their fines. So, >> um, 216 00:19:19,919 --> 00:19:25,840 and you know, overall, as as when when you, 217 00:19:24,160 --> 00:19:30,960 uh, are talking about the police department, um, you know, obviously we 218 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:36,799 don't have quotas. So, we're not going to go out and write tickets just to just 219 00:19:33,440 --> 00:19:42,799 for t just for revenue. uh you know we uh 220 00:19:39,039 --> 00:19:48,080 you know we use discretion in uh all aspects whether it's traffic or 221 00:19:45,760 --> 00:19:52,240 uh code enforcement or things like that where you know if it's the first time 222 00:19:49,919 --> 00:19:58,080 we've uh you know we've dealt with an individual and you know their dog isn't 223 00:19:55,840 --> 00:20:01,919 registered uh we want to provide them with that education and this is how you 224 00:19:59,760 --> 00:20:05,840 register the dog and then you know the next time that we deal with them then 225 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:10,400 you know, maybe they're going to get a a citation for that. Um, we don't go out 226 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:14,000 there with the intent that we're, you know, every case that we deal with, 227 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:17,440 we're going to cite somebody. >> Yeah. Nor do I want you patrolling the 228 00:20:15,919 --> 00:20:23,960 neighborhoods checking addresses and dogs and cats that are registered and 229 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:23,960 not registered. So, I I appreciate that. 230 00:20:25,360 --> 00:20:28,840 Any other comments? 231 00:20:30,320 --> 00:20:39,760 Would it be a giant hassle to consider a 3.5 cost of 232 00:20:37,440 --> 00:20:44,720 living wage adjustment in the overall budget and then without it to see them 233 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:51,039 both so that we know what we're looking at. I don't want to blindly make a 234 00:20:47,760 --> 00:20:58,799 motion that locks us into 3.5% and then increases our debt. But I also I think 235 00:20:55,600 --> 00:21:05,840 it will make our departments a little more diligent maybe on accounting for 236 00:21:02,559 --> 00:21:10,480 that if they if we know that it may or may not be there. 237 00:21:08,159 --> 00:21:15,039 » Does that Yeah, sure. I mean like I said the the departments the way they're 238 00:21:12,640 --> 00:21:21,200 compiled right now is are based on would be you know current rate would be the 239 00:21:17,280 --> 00:21:26,480 2025 rates and then like I said I I calculate so I'll know what that 240 00:21:23,039 --> 00:21:32,159 additional cost is and what revenue source it's it's proposed to be funded 241 00:21:28,720 --> 00:21:35,600 by. So that'll be fairly easy to isolate because like I said, I always try to 242 00:21:34,159 --> 00:21:39,600 estimate amount and I'll estimate in a three and a half and put that into 243 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:45,039 contingency and that'll be part of the the initial budget document. I think 244 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:49,520 once uh um once I have a better picture of the overall budget, which will be in 245 00:21:47,360 --> 00:21:52,640 the next couple days, like I said, I got pretty much everything calculated out. 246 00:21:50,799 --> 00:21:59,120 It's just a matter of putting it into the spreadsheet. Um I'll I'll know 247 00:21:55,919 --> 00:22:05,360 exactly where we stand. Um, also that I have to factor in is a uh increase in 248 00:22:02,960 --> 00:22:10,080 the health insurance premiums that will be coming. 249 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:13,600 » Okay. And then the budget comes back to property and finance. 250 00:22:12,000 --> 00:22:17,760 » Yes. I was just going to say that I feel like that should be where this belongs, 251 00:22:15,039 --> 00:22:21,679 but I think at some point, you know, when we do the budget 252 00:22:18,880 --> 00:22:24,640 discussions as a council, that needs to be added in there. And I think what 253 00:22:23,200 --> 00:22:27,440 Tim's going to do here by bringing that three and a half% in there so we can 254 00:22:25,919 --> 00:22:30,640 look at it will be helpful for everybody to see. But I think it's it's a broader 255 00:22:29,360 --> 00:22:38,080 discussion. I don't think we can make a decision tonight on that myself. 256 00:22:33,919 --> 00:22:42,799 Yeah, our normal is three or two and a half% what we typically 257 00:22:40,960 --> 00:22:46,720 » uh and maybe Tim can speak to more of the history, but in the 20 years that 258 00:22:44,320 --> 00:22:53,679 I've been here, usually the bargaining group uh and the non-bargaining group 259 00:22:49,600 --> 00:22:56,720 have an a similar if not equal cost of living adjustment. 260 00:22:54,880 --> 00:23:02,720 » Okay. So 3 >> mirrors the other kind of 261 00:22:58,000 --> 00:23:07,919 » 3.5% would mirror I think a couple of not last year when we didn't do a cola 262 00:23:05,280 --> 00:23:13,679 but the year before we did two and a half% due to budget restrictions. Okay. 263 00:23:11,440 --> 00:23:18,000 Okay. And that's where we started our problems. So 264 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:22,480 I >> I am supportive. Go ahead. 265 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:30,159 » I just want to make one statement and I'm fine with what what Mr. Tim said 266 00:23:26,640 --> 00:23:35,039 um by not how do I say this in looking at the next 267 00:23:32,159 --> 00:23:41,520 two agenda items both chiefs wrote in there 268 00:23:37,039 --> 00:23:47,280 this is a recommendation based on a I think they worded it as a meaningful 269 00:23:43,679 --> 00:23:53,679 cola for 2027 or something along those lines right so I do think that somewhat 270 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:58,080 plays into it because playing devil's advocate it 271 00:23:55,760 --> 00:24:02,320 if there is a cola across the board for non-refs 272 00:23:59,919 --> 00:24:09,440 it does somewhat help to alleviate 273 00:24:05,600 --> 00:24:16,880 the severe compression that we are about to embark upon January 1st. So while 274 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:20,320 I guess I'm not saying one way or the other what we have what I suggest you 275 00:24:18,960 --> 00:24:26,960 do. I'm just saying I think we should keep it in mind that I think while the 276 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:31,039 cola is its own thing, it does affect the next couple agenda items or the 277 00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:37,279 remaining agenda items how that plays going forward. So if we don't touch any 278 00:24:35,279 --> 00:24:42,640 thing with cola tonight, but then we make a decision not based on the cola 279 00:24:40,080 --> 00:24:48,480 but on say option I don't there's four different ones out there, right? Or six. 280 00:24:45,679 --> 00:24:53,600 take that definitive decision tonight for that. But then all of a sudden the 281 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:59,200 cola comes back into play. Then we're we could be looking more out of whack one 282 00:24:56,320 --> 00:25:05,440 way or the other. So for the I mean for the good for some but not what was. So 283 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:07,520 it just that's my two cents if that makes any sense. What? 284 00:25:06,799 --> 00:25:11,039 » Yes, it does. >> Okay. Thank you. 285 00:25:08,559 --> 00:25:15,440 » I I think this will all come out when we get to the next referrals and you'll 286 00:25:13,600 --> 00:25:22,960 have a better understanding later. Thank you. So, I do think that human resources 287 00:25:19,360 --> 00:25:27,279 plays a part in determining if we do a cola, but it plays well into property 288 00:25:25,200 --> 00:25:33,840 and finance because it is it is a budget decision. From a human resources 289 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:38,240 perspective, I am supportive of recommending that we attempt to budget 290 00:25:36,320 --> 00:25:45,039 for a 3.5% cost of living increase, but know that 291 00:25:42,400 --> 00:25:50,559 it is not a demand that that will be included with the budget. Just our 292 00:25:47,600 --> 00:25:54,159 option should be included to have a 3.5% cost of living adjustment and our 293 00:25:52,000 --> 00:25:58,799 department should do their best to try to be as flat as they can when when 294 00:25:56,720 --> 00:26:04,240 able. Yeah, I'm okay with that. 295 00:26:02,080 --> 00:26:07,960 » Do we need an official motion for Tim to move forward with 3.5%. 296 00:26:09,520 --> 00:26:16,559 » I don't I don't know if you can if you want. I mean, obviously I will factor in 297 00:26:13,360 --> 00:26:19,760 a three and a half% and present that as part of the budget 298 00:26:18,799 --> 00:26:25,919 document. >> Perfect. Thank you. 299 00:26:23,440 --> 00:26:30,799 » All right. No official action on that one, but more conversation to come via 300 00:26:28,640 --> 00:26:35,840 property and finance. Item four, discuss referral from fire 301 00:26:33,679 --> 00:26:40,799 chief GDRO to address the salary compression with the fire department and 302 00:26:37,840 --> 00:26:47,200 that is referral one. >> Thanks. Yeah. Uh referral one of two. Um 303 00:26:45,600 --> 00:26:52,880 let me start by saying that this is the first time we've used section 9 uh 304 00:26:49,840 --> 00:26:56,559 subsection C. Um that was that pathway that we created uh in this committee 305 00:26:54,799 --> 00:27:02,559 earlier and then got approved last month at council. Um I appreciate the work a 306 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:08,000 lot of you did including Ryan um and committee chair Palmquist um building it 307 00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:12,400 because obviously it gets to exactly um what we've been asking and in relief 308 00:27:10,159 --> 00:27:16,640 mechanisms for that. So here's the issue kind of in plain terms in front of you. 309 00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:20,960 Um there's wage separation in our command structure. It's kind of eroded 310 00:27:19,039 --> 00:27:26,960 the point where a battalian chief in one instance is sitting within about 1% of 311 00:27:23,679 --> 00:27:30,480 the lieutenant he supervises. Um in a couple of spots there's supervisors that 312 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:36,080 are actually projected to fall below the person that is reporting to them. Um so 313 00:27:33,840 --> 00:27:40,799 that's an inversion obviously a real problem that we're looking to address. 314 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:45,679 um anyone deciding to step into those positions or looking to retain that 315 00:27:43,279 --> 00:27:50,320 position um is jeopardized because of that um compression that's occurring 316 00:27:48,000 --> 00:27:55,760 over at the fire department. So this referral corrects that by moving three 317 00:27:53,440 --> 00:28:01,840 identified classifications um of individuals um within that compression 318 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:06,640 or inversion projection um up two steps uh kind of restoring that meaningful 319 00:28:03,360 --> 00:28:13,279 separation um which is around 5% between these ranks that is um with the 320 00:28:10,480 --> 00:28:18,159 consideration of a cola um within that. So, uh, police chief host has a very 321 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:22,720 similar approach and we're re recommending one step now and then the 322 00:28:20,720 --> 00:28:29,120 second step to naturally occur in January, January 1, um, which it would 323 00:28:25,520 --> 00:28:34,240 be by the, um, policy as it is. So, if we get some relief in this immediately, 324 00:28:32,559 --> 00:28:38,480 there's capacity within that current salary account to cover this first step. 325 00:28:36,480 --> 00:28:43,200 Um we have been short at the fire department um this year just trying to 326 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:48,960 fill positions and recruitment has been a challenge. Um so there's a lot of cost 327 00:28:45,679 --> 00:28:52,480 savings in not having a full staff. Taken together with the cola that we 328 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:55,840 just discussed, these two referrals kind of solve that problem for both ends. One 329 00:28:54,320 --> 00:29:00,640 keeping our people competitive with the market, the other one repairs that 330 00:28:57,520 --> 00:29:07,200 internal structure that the 2027 gap kind of eroded. So, I'm asking the 331 00:29:03,600 --> 00:29:10,360 committee to act on the recommendation. >> Thank you. 332 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:19,919 » Did you have a chance to review and assess the positions in question? Let's 333 00:29:16,960 --> 00:29:24,640 just stick with the or with the fire department for now, Ryan. To make sure 334 00:29:22,159 --> 00:29:29,200 that the employees we would adjust aren't on pips or is 335 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:36,200 » Yeah, they're they're good. >> Okay. Um, 336 00:29:31,840 --> 00:29:36,200 one thing I want to add, 337 00:29:36,240 --> 00:29:47,600 uh, in l with the inversion, um, as I'm starting to do the spot 338 00:29:43,840 --> 00:29:52,000 checks for other departments, if we go that route, um, again, I think we've 339 00:29:50,480 --> 00:29:57,520 talked about this before, it's more of a philosophical decision of the committee 340 00:29:54,320 --> 00:30:01,840 and the council how to address these. Um there there's at least one other 341 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:08,399 individual that's a lead position uh that recently became into the lead 342 00:30:03,840 --> 00:30:14,799 position and they're making $5,100 less than somebody that works underneath 343 00:30:11,440 --> 00:30:22,480 them that has been a long time in that current position. So, [clears throat] 344 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:28,080 um I guess my my um thought to consider is are we looking at it just within 345 00:30:25,120 --> 00:30:32,960 these two or do we encourage all other departments that encounter these to come 346 00:30:30,880 --> 00:30:38,080 forward because it it like I've said before, this isn't going to be just a 347 00:30:34,960 --> 00:30:42,159 one-time occurrence. This will happen in other departments based on how the 348 00:30:39,679 --> 00:30:50,320 policy was originally written three years ago. um they go from their current 349 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:55,760 rate up to their new grade closest to their current rate without going 350 00:30:51,840 --> 00:30:59,520 backwards plus one step. Okay, so that's anywhere from three and a half to four 351 00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:07,360 and a half% depending on where in the scale they fall below or above control 352 00:31:03,279 --> 00:31:12,559 point. Um obviously with those in the represented groups, they're continuing 353 00:31:09,520 --> 00:31:18,960 to get those increases. Um while the others non-reps aren't, they're moving 354 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:23,840 faster. So then our individual in the other department, 355 00:31:21,360 --> 00:31:30,399 which is non-represented, well, let's be clear on that, took the position for I 356 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:34,880 want to be the lead person. Did it according to the policy, said, "Yep, 357 00:31:32,080 --> 00:31:38,960 that's what I signed up for." and they are $2.33 358 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:46,640 less per hour than the person that's working for them in practicality. So, 359 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:51,600 um, again, that goes to the building. That individual's been here at the city 360 00:31:49,120 --> 00:31:58,159 20 plus years and they've moved through the scale in that position. 361 00:31:55,679 --> 00:32:03,919 The new lead person has been at the city just a couple of years, has really shown 362 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:09,200 some growth and initiative and knowledge and has elevated themselves to that 363 00:32:06,559 --> 00:32:14,240 position of lead, but understands he's never been in that position before of 364 00:32:11,360 --> 00:32:18,960 leading a group of employees and understood the reasoning and phil 365 00:32:15,840 --> 00:32:24,720 philosophical choice of what the current policy read as to why they landed where 366 00:32:22,000 --> 00:32:30,000 they did. and now they will continue to move forward through the program. If we 367 00:32:27,039 --> 00:32:37,120 were looking to move them ahead or keep it to scale according to these items, we 368 00:32:34,720 --> 00:32:42,880 would take somebody at I'm going to say step five or six close to control point 369 00:32:39,279 --> 00:32:50,559 for the lead position and slide them all the way down to two steps 370 00:32:47,360 --> 00:32:56,000 before the maximum for that position for the rest of their career. 371 00:32:53,360 --> 00:33:00,320 the way things are if we were to say that's what we're going to do going 372 00:32:57,279 --> 00:33:05,039 forward for non-represented situations. So, I think we just want to be cognizant 373 00:33:02,320 --> 00:33:07,840 of that of as these continue to come forward, how are we going to to treat 374 00:33:07,120 --> 00:33:14,159 these? >> Yeah, I think it depends on the category 375 00:33:11,360 --> 00:33:18,960 that they're in. So, you really can't compare somebody who's been in their 376 00:33:16,640 --> 00:33:23,120 position for 20 plus years and then somebody who's a new leader because 377 00:33:20,399 --> 00:33:27,440 they're two different job roles unless they're in the same pay scale like pay 378 00:33:25,919 --> 00:33:30,080 grouping. You have two different groupings, right? 379 00:33:28,799 --> 00:33:32,159 You've got your laborer and then you've got your laborer lead 380 00:33:31,519 --> 00:33:35,360 » and [clears throat] they're two different tracks. 381 00:33:33,679 --> 00:33:39,279 » So, obviously the person who's been on this bottom track for 20 years is going 382 00:33:37,120 --> 00:33:43,039 to be over here and the person who leads them is going to come in here. Yeah, 383 00:33:41,120 --> 00:33:44,960 » that's not the intent of what we put in place. 384 00:33:43,919 --> 00:33:50,320 » Correct. >> Because this is a different track. If if 385 00:33:47,679 --> 00:33:55,760 somebody brand new came in >> in the labor track and was here 386 00:33:53,679 --> 00:33:59,440 in front of the person who had 20 years experience, that's when we would want 387 00:33:57,600 --> 00:34:03,760 them to come forward and then bump them up one or two. 388 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:09,520 » Okay, I agreed. I I understand that. So, in this case, our PD and firefighter 389 00:34:07,760 --> 00:34:16,320 individuals are well tenured. They've been here 20 plus years, but they're new 390 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:20,879 in their leadership positions. Same point of what we're encountering 391 00:34:18,480 --> 00:34:25,119 here. So, they're they're essentially going, 392 00:34:23,359 --> 00:34:29,359 for lack of a better term, back they're going up in the grade, but back in the 393 00:34:27,040 --> 00:34:34,480 scale based on the way the policies written. They're still getting an 394 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:38,480 increase, but it's not at the rate of what the PD and fire representatives are 395 00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:43,919 getting, which is creating that compression. So, I guess they're Yeah, 396 00:34:42,000 --> 00:34:47,520 they're just like the PD and fire, they're in different scales or different 397 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:52,320 grades, but they're long tenured employees. If 398 00:34:50,000 --> 00:34:56,720 they had stayed in, and I think that's the chief's point, is had they stayed at 399 00:34:54,399 --> 00:35:04,320 lieutenant and sergeant, they'd be making just as much money as they were, 400 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:08,800 well, minus $1,800 by taking the division chief or the lieutenants 401 00:35:06,480 --> 00:35:15,320 positions. >> So, I'm going to play devil's advocate 402 00:35:10,480 --> 00:35:15,320 on this one a little bit. We have a 403 00:35:17,280 --> 00:35:23,680 getting my you guys use the same terms for different ranks. So we've got a 404 00:35:22,000 --> 00:35:25,359 lieutenant and then a battalion chief in the fire department. 405 00:35:24,800 --> 00:35:33,839 » Yep. >> Okay. So we currently have a battalion 406 00:35:29,839 --> 00:35:36,800 chief who is N6 above a lieutenant. 407 00:35:36,240 --> 00:35:42,000 » Yep. >> Okay. app a peer uh in relative terms um 408 00:35:41,680 --> 00:35:46,720 okay >> equal time on the department one 409 00:35:44,079 --> 00:35:50,000 obviously promoted to the position one staying at lieutenant y 410 00:35:47,920 --> 00:35:54,800 » and we have an open position for a fire fighter in the fire department so you 411 00:35:52,960 --> 00:35:58,720 could have a battalion chief who says fine I'm going back to be a firefighter 412 00:35:56,960 --> 00:36:02,960 they can apply now we have an open battalion chief position so they can 413 00:36:00,560 --> 00:36:06,240 apply to that then too so they become a firefighter they get put back in their 414 00:36:04,560 --> 00:36:10,320 rank scale and then they apply to be a battalion chief chief again and now they 415 00:36:07,920 --> 00:36:14,320 get bumped up two steps. So we can either do this the easy way or we can do 416 00:36:12,640 --> 00:36:18,800 it by interviewing them for three positions, two different positions at 417 00:36:16,320 --> 00:36:24,240 different times. Right? That's the way to manipulate this 418 00:36:20,320 --> 00:36:27,680 situation to to bring them back up is for that you could have your battalion 419 00:36:25,920 --> 00:36:31,920 chief apply to be a firefighter. They go back into the wage scale. Then by our 420 00:36:29,680 --> 00:36:35,760 policy they come in one step above where they were and now they're two steps 421 00:36:33,599 --> 00:36:40,320 ahead with their correction. I I think the easier route is just to 422 00:36:38,240 --> 00:36:43,119 pragmatically follow the policy. >> Correct. 423 00:36:41,280 --> 00:36:46,400 » Go through the referral process. I I don't know that I would want to hire him 424 00:36:44,400 --> 00:36:50,079 as a firefighter anymore. >> I think he's he's better served as where 425 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:55,520 he is right now. [clears throat] >> But we c we could go that route or we 426 00:36:52,640 --> 00:37:00,320 could just do what we put in place and consider 427 00:36:58,000 --> 00:37:03,839 that this is a reason why we put that policy in place 428 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:06,720 » and talk about all the other ones. Bring them up. We have a meeting every month. 429 00:37:05,359 --> 00:37:10,800 » That that was my point and that's what I said is going forward we need to going 430 00:37:08,720 --> 00:37:15,760 to be have to be watching these because these won't be the only ones. I think 431 00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:19,119 that was early in my statement is we just need to be cognizant because these 432 00:37:17,680 --> 00:37:24,800 won't be the only ones. There's going to be more coming forward and I've and 433 00:37:22,720 --> 00:37:30,640 again the decision will be you know the committee and the council. Um, I'm all 434 00:37:27,040 --> 00:37:35,200 for doing it the easy way, but >> yeah, and I think that it it's all 435 00:37:33,440 --> 00:37:39,520 dependent on our situation. The same with the budgets and leaving a 436 00:37:36,720 --> 00:37:42,960 department budget flat. We can't ask all departments to do that because each 437 00:37:40,800 --> 00:37:47,359 department is a little bit different. Ideally, I would like these to go to you 438 00:37:45,520 --> 00:37:50,320 first in human resources to do an assessment to be able to come forward 439 00:37:48,720 --> 00:37:53,760 and give us a nice layout of what happened, why it happened, give us a 440 00:37:52,079 --> 00:37:56,800 good background, and then bring it forward. you obviously knew these two 441 00:37:55,119 --> 00:38:00,800 were coming because we created a policy for them. So I I see the difference 442 00:37:59,359 --> 00:38:05,040 there. >> Now to what you were saying about the 443 00:38:02,800 --> 00:38:10,079 current situation with the B the BC that's currently in there, the potential 444 00:38:07,520 --> 00:38:15,359 BC coming in a year or two due to potential retirements. 445 00:38:12,400 --> 00:38:20,560 I do agree on that realm that the current BC 446 00:38:17,440 --> 00:38:25,040 should not the new BC should not slide in ahead of the current BC. that 447 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:30,720 philosophically is incorrect in my brain. Um, 448 00:38:28,640 --> 00:38:34,960 so to that point, I think when you were saying, well, just go be a firefighter 449 00:38:32,560 --> 00:38:38,640 and then come back, you know, ahead. No, I'm that would be a wrong and I've said 450 00:38:36,720 --> 00:38:44,240 that before philosophically. Yeah, you can't because this guy's getting his 451 00:38:41,119 --> 00:38:50,800 food now, he gets to jump in ahead. No, we need to figure something out there. 452 00:38:46,560 --> 00:38:54,200 Um, so I'm in I'm in agreement with that off instance. 453 00:38:57,839 --> 00:39:02,200 Anyone else have comments on this item? 454 00:39:03,920 --> 00:39:12,960 Okay. So, when I'm looking at page eight of 14, we've got two tables here. The 455 00:39:10,800 --> 00:39:19,119 compression and how the correction resolves it. Does this include the 3.5%? 456 00:39:17,520 --> 00:39:22,240 I'm sure it says it in the document. I just 457 00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:27,520 » No. So, this would just this would just effectively solve things through the 458 00:39:24,000 --> 00:39:30,240 normal pathway. Um I believe the we talked about that before. The 459 00:39:28,880 --> 00:39:34,560 represented for reference the represented group is getting three and a 460 00:39:31,599 --> 00:39:41,680 half% um the referral before was three and a half% as well for non-represented. 461 00:39:38,560 --> 00:39:47,280 So hopefully that kind of answers >> and we have a a separation of four and 462 00:39:45,280 --> 00:39:49,440 5%. >> Yeah, 463 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:53,680 » we don't have a standard anywhere for >> we don't and I kind of I tried to look 464 00:39:51,839 --> 00:40:01,839 on the national level and then other agencies public safety agencies um you 465 00:39:58,320 --> 00:40:06,000 know is between four and 7% of that meaningful separation. I guess you know 466 00:40:04,160 --> 00:40:10,079 you could probably do a little research as well. I mean Google and everything 467 00:40:07,839 --> 00:40:14,079 else, but um what is the meaningful inhuman resource? Maybe Ryan could shed 468 00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:19,599 more light on it being this is kind of his arena anyways, but 469 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:25,200 it it varies between public sector, private sector, and public. I it's 470 00:40:21,599 --> 00:40:31,599 common to see four to seven. Um, prior to this PACE provisions policy, there 471 00:40:29,599 --> 00:40:37,440 was a clause in the policy for promotions that you would take the 472 00:40:33,520 --> 00:40:43,599 nearest position or a 5% increase, whichever of the two was greater. So, 473 00:40:40,720 --> 00:40:49,760 you would not take a promotion or grade step grade in step 474 00:40:47,599 --> 00:40:54,359 less than 5%. You would take whichever of the two was greater. Okay? 475 00:41:00,480 --> 00:41:09,520 And we've assessed the rest of the positions in this structure [snorts] 476 00:41:07,040 --> 00:41:14,400 to make sure that if this gets approved, we then don't 477 00:41:12,160 --> 00:41:18,160 have three more coming next month. >> Yeah. Not from the fair department. We 478 00:41:15,599 --> 00:41:22,160 only have six nonrepresented um employees in the fair department. So, 479 00:41:20,240 --> 00:41:27,119 um, I kind of did an analysis and then got a little Ryan's, uh, help as well 480 00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:30,720 as, um, from finance. Every everybody's salary that's in there. I purposely kind 481 00:41:28,720 --> 00:41:35,280 of left out names. So, you know, if you do know that individual, it's not like 482 00:41:32,800 --> 00:41:39,119 you're, um, treating them differently in this case. But, yeah, there was 483 00:41:37,839 --> 00:41:42,400 meaningful separation, I guess, to answer your question, with other 484 00:41:40,400 --> 00:41:46,079 positions within the fire department except for the three that I'm 485 00:41:43,760 --> 00:41:50,000 recommending um, we take action on. >> Okay. 486 00:41:47,280 --> 00:41:55,760 » And I'm in the same boat. We we we crunched all the numbers and it's just 487 00:41:52,160 --> 00:42:00,240 the two that that we're looking to adjust, I guess. 488 00:41:58,160 --> 00:42:03,720 » Okay. So, we have 489 00:42:03,839 --> 00:42:15,960 approximately $5,949 in 2026 from the fire department if we 490 00:42:10,720 --> 00:42:15,960 do this. And then our 2027 491 00:42:18,079 --> 00:42:25,680 We don't have a cost on that, but that's >> and that would naturally occur anyways 492 00:42:23,440 --> 00:42:30,839 per policy unless you chose a different route as a council, but 493 00:42:35,359 --> 00:42:43,040 » and you had mentioned that the with the current 494 00:42:39,200 --> 00:42:49,359 fire department budget the if we moved to 495 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:54,079 approve the onestep increase immediately and then the next step increase would 496 00:42:51,119 --> 00:42:59,680 fall in line with January. We're not taking from contingency or any 497 00:42:56,960 --> 00:43:03,200 other portion of the budget to pay the $6,000. 498 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:06,560 » Yeah, I would I would say correct only because we haven't had full staff at the 499 00:43:05,119 --> 00:43:10,079 fair department and we've had cost savings for overtime based on the 500 00:43:08,400 --> 00:43:14,880 staffing model that we do currently have. Um, but I don't want to step on 501 00:43:11,839 --> 00:43:18,400 Tim's toes when it comes to I kind of always revert to him whenever it has to 502 00:43:16,560 --> 00:43:22,720 do with money anyways, but I feel confident in that only because we 503 00:43:20,400 --> 00:43:25,720 haven't been full staff since January 1. >> Okay. 504 00:43:29,280 --> 00:43:33,760 » Any >> and then Tim, you would put that into 505 00:43:31,839 --> 00:43:36,079 the budget for next year if it's approved tonight. So, we have that going 506 00:43:35,520 --> 00:43:39,280 forward. >> Yeah. If it's approved at council, 507 00:43:37,440 --> 00:43:44,040 obviously I would adjust the >> fire department EMS budget. 508 00:43:41,040 --> 00:43:44,040 » Okay. 509 00:43:55,280 --> 00:44:00,040 » Any comments? Other comments? 510 00:44:03,839 --> 00:44:12,160 I would say obviously it helps to have this but then if we get back to no cola 511 00:44:09,680 --> 00:44:17,160 starting in next year then we're going we're back into compression. Okay. 512 00:44:17,365 --> 00:44:19,385 » [laughter] 513 00:44:29,520 --> 00:44:36,920 » And obviously if we do put in a cola, we're going to have even more of a 514 00:44:33,920 --> 00:44:36,920 separation 515 00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:44,640 than I mean that's not really a bad thing. 516 00:44:41,520 --> 00:44:49,440 » Yeah. I think the one projection I ran it would be 517 00:44:46,160 --> 00:44:54,960 » like a over $5,000 >> projection would be the separation. I 518 00:44:51,520 --> 00:45:03,040 came up with 5.233% if the immediate move were to happen 519 00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:07,359 plus a 3 and a half% cola considering 520 00:45:04,720 --> 00:45:12,800 the union 3 and a half increase. It would leave a 521 00:45:09,680 --> 00:45:16,000 5.233 233 gap between or five and a half five and a quarter. It matched one of 522 00:45:14,400 --> 00:45:22,000 the chief's numbers they have on their document. So there would be about a five 523 00:45:18,480 --> 00:45:26,560 and a half% separation >> and that would be with 524 00:45:24,319 --> 00:45:32,720 making the decision to move the three now and let's say all goes splendidly 525 00:45:30,240 --> 00:45:37,760 and we find a bunch of revenue. We implement a 3.5% cola and then they get 526 00:45:35,280 --> 00:45:43,200 another step increase in January. So they get Okay. Then it's $5,000 a year 527 00:45:41,440 --> 00:45:47,560 separationish. A little bit more. Okay. 528 00:45:54,720 --> 00:46:03,040 So would we be acting on all four or four of the five uh recommendations 529 00:46:01,359 --> 00:46:09,960 here? Then >> if that's what we wish to do. So, we can 530 00:46:06,480 --> 00:46:09,960 we can 531 00:46:10,240 --> 00:46:18,160 choose to move them one step now, which would be a 532 00:46:16,319 --> 00:46:23,920 little over $6,000 out of our current budget. 533 00:46:20,319 --> 00:46:32,520 We and then they would naturally bump up for 2027. Or we could bump them two 534 00:46:28,880 --> 00:46:32,520 steps in 2027. 535 00:46:33,119 --> 00:46:36,560 Or we could do nothing. 536 00:46:54,240 --> 00:47:04,240 I'm comfortable making the motion to recognize the internal inequity 537 00:47:00,960 --> 00:47:09,040 assessment and recommend that the battalion chief, 538 00:47:06,640 --> 00:47:16,000 the division chief of EMS, and the deputy chief advance 539 00:47:12,400 --> 00:47:23,960 to the next step for the remainder of 2026 540 00:47:18,880 --> 00:47:23,960 and then we'll move forward from there. 541 00:47:25,760 --> 00:47:32,880 » I'll second that. >> Thank you. 542 00:47:29,359 --> 00:47:38,079 We have a motion by Palmquist, second by Perky. All those in favor? I 543 00:47:37,440 --> 00:47:42,880 » I >> I 544 00:47:39,599 --> 00:47:46,800 » have that one. 300. Okay. The next item is to discuss a 545 00:47:44,800 --> 00:47:50,400 referral from police chief hastens to address the salary compression in the 546 00:47:48,319 --> 00:47:57,040 police department. And we have a similar referral. 547 00:47:52,160 --> 00:48:02,720 » Yeah, it's uh it's quite similar. Um uh I can I'll skip over some of this 548 00:48:00,240 --> 00:48:08,359 because it's very similar to what uh Chief Goodro was talking about. 549 00:48:05,359 --> 00:48:08,359 Um 550 00:48:08,560 --> 00:48:22,880 right now we have two uh of our lieutenants that are on the lower end um 551 00:48:17,920 --> 00:48:27,280 of the of grade 16. Um they are currently 552 00:48:24,800 --> 00:48:31,920 at step seven I believe. Yeah they're currently 553 00:48:29,920 --> 00:48:38,319 at step seven. um which 554 00:48:34,079 --> 00:48:43,200 uh only puts puts him at about a 4% uh gap which is a compression over all of 555 00:48:41,839 --> 00:48:48,640 the sergeants. All the sergeants make the same wage. Uh there's no uh 556 00:48:46,559 --> 00:48:52,319 difference in longevity or anything like that. The 557 00:48:50,400 --> 00:48:57,440 only difference is uh shift differential, but the lieutenants get 558 00:48:53,839 --> 00:49:03,520 that as well. Um [snorts] so if 559 00:48:59,359 --> 00:49:10,960 we only bump those two uh lieutenants up to the next step which would be step 560 00:49:05,359 --> 00:49:15,119 eight in uh grade uh 16. Uh that would move that percentage gap to 5 and a 561 00:49:13,440 --> 00:49:23,280 half% uh for the remainder of 2026. 562 00:49:18,800 --> 00:49:30,640 Um but again similar to uh Chief Goodro um if there is no uh cost of living 563 00:49:27,920 --> 00:49:37,480 increase next year then we're we are going to be back here uh discussing this 564 00:49:33,200 --> 00:49:37,480 again. Um, 565 00:49:39,760 --> 00:49:48,640 I mean, I guess my my recommendation to make long story short here would be to 566 00:49:46,079 --> 00:49:52,640 uh move at a minimum to move these two lieutenants to step eight for the 567 00:49:50,319 --> 00:50:00,800 remainder of 2026. And um the costs of that is very minimal 568 00:49:57,839 --> 00:50:08,400 and uh can will come right out of our budget uh similar to the the fire 569 00:50:03,680 --> 00:50:12,800 department. So um there's not a lot of difference there. 570 00:50:10,160 --> 00:50:17,280 So and especially for the rest of the year here. So 571 00:50:15,200 --> 00:50:23,440 I have a similar question just to make sure that I'm still sane and able to do 572 00:50:20,400 --> 00:50:28,319 a little bit of math. If we move them to a step eight now 573 00:50:25,760 --> 00:50:32,319 » and all go splendidly, they get a three and a half percent cola 574 00:50:30,079 --> 00:50:34,319 » and then in 2027 they would move to step nine. 575 00:50:33,599 --> 00:50:39,359 » Correct. >> They are still at a 5% difference. We're 576 00:50:38,559 --> 00:50:43,040 not >> shooting them up into 10% difference by 577 00:50:42,000 --> 00:50:46,599 making this change. >> Correct. Okay. 578 00:50:52,319 --> 00:51:01,880 I'll make a motion to uh move the two lieutenants to step eight currently or 579 00:50:58,880 --> 00:51:01,880 immediately. 580 00:51:03,680 --> 00:51:09,599 » Great. Motion by FKY, second by Pollock. All those in favor? 581 00:51:09,119 --> 00:51:14,319 » I >> I 582 00:51:10,880 --> 00:51:20,079 » I just have that one. 30. Okay. Item six. Thank you for your 583 00:51:17,280 --> 00:51:25,119 patience, Paul. To discuss and cons to discuss and consider for approval a 584 00:51:22,559 --> 00:51:29,920 request to increase the shift pay rate differential for non-representative 585 00:51:27,040 --> 00:51:35,680 non-public safety employees attached referral, 586 00:51:33,040 --> 00:51:39,200 please. Well, this was actually turned in a year 587 00:51:37,280 --> 00:51:45,359 and a half ago, but then we rescended it when we went um 588 00:51:42,319 --> 00:51:50,400 through the budget and we got cut um through the budget process or whatever. 589 00:51:47,040 --> 00:51:58,079 So, um but so some of these numbers may not be correct. Um but we have uh four 590 00:51:54,800 --> 00:52:03,760 works or three staff members that work 12 months out of the year. The second 591 00:51:59,520 --> 00:52:08,800 shift, they work 2 to 10. Um and I've been here for 18 years. This was part of 592 00:52:05,680 --> 00:52:13,680 the union contract and then in 2010 it got pulled out of the union contract 593 00:52:10,319 --> 00:52:20,160 when our union was dissolved and then was adopted by um 594 00:52:17,040 --> 00:52:26,240 as a city policy. Um so this 30 cents and 40 cents has been in place for at 595 00:52:22,400 --> 00:52:32,000 least 18 years. Um could be longer cuz I'm not aware of that prior to that. Um, 596 00:52:29,359 --> 00:52:37,200 so what it entails is is again we have three people that work 2 to 10 Monday 597 00:52:35,040 --> 00:52:45,200 through Thursday and then 9 to5 on Friday. And then we also have um 598 00:52:43,040 --> 00:52:48,880 one staff member or three additional staff member that will work those uh the 599 00:52:47,359 --> 00:52:53,920 third shift hours through the summer months, whether it be sweeping in the 600 00:52:50,559 --> 00:53:00,079 downtown area and coming in and painting um the highways and things like that. 601 00:52:56,240 --> 00:53:06,079 Um, as you can see in the comparables, uh, Wasau, Stevens Point, Marshfield, 602 00:53:03,119 --> 00:53:12,880 and Wood County Highway are all substantially higher for the second and 603 00:53:08,240 --> 00:53:16,800 third shift. Um, with, uh, Wasau being or sorry, Marshfield being the close at 604 00:53:14,720 --> 00:53:21,359 a dollar and a$1.50 and Wood County Highway being the 605 00:53:19,200 --> 00:53:26,160 highest at $256 an hour. 606 00:53:23,119 --> 00:53:31,200 Um again, [snorts] um I understand we're under budget 607 00:53:28,400 --> 00:53:36,000 constraints and things like that, but I feel that there's a need. Uh we 608 00:53:32,960 --> 00:53:41,200 currently, uh have the second shift mechanic that has been vacant since May, 609 00:53:38,960 --> 00:53:49,280 and we've had one qualified candidate apply since May, and the person chose 610 00:53:45,119 --> 00:53:53,599 not to accept the position. Um, so, uh, goes to the recruiting piece of it. You 611 00:53:51,680 --> 00:54:00,480 know, again, uh, I believe when the wage study 612 00:53:56,720 --> 00:54:07,040 originally came out, um, our starting wage used to be $27 an hour and now it's 613 00:54:03,280 --> 00:54:13,040 I think 2530 an hour. Um, so our our work group was cut back then and um, 614 00:54:10,240 --> 00:54:16,599 that's kind of reflected in these pay rates as well. 615 00:54:17,119 --> 00:54:20,119 questions. 616 00:54:23,839 --> 00:54:29,720 » The starting rate in the street department now is 2306. 617 00:54:29,920 --> 00:54:41,319 Um, and I did verify those numbers uh listed from Stevens Point and Marshfield 618 00:54:36,800 --> 00:54:41,319 are accurate as of this year. 619 00:54:42,880 --> 00:54:55,280 So Ryan, how would uh our starting wage rate for mechanics um working all three 620 00:54:52,720 --> 00:55:00,040 shifts? Well, actually just first shift compared with the other municipalities. 621 00:55:02,319 --> 00:55:08,119 » I'm trying to find it, Mr. Flie. Hold on one second. 622 00:55:10,079 --> 00:55:16,960 If I recall with the city of Marshfield, that's the one that pops in my head and 623 00:55:14,400 --> 00:55:22,559 I work with most frequently. And then Stephen's point, we're it we're within 624 00:55:19,599 --> 00:55:29,440 range. Um, for the most part, that being said, we 625 00:55:26,160 --> 00:55:33,680 typically start lower with the the new scale that was implemented three years 626 00:55:32,240 --> 00:55:39,760 ago. um to what Paul alluded to, if we were 627 00:55:36,720 --> 00:55:46,880 at 25 or $27 an hour, you know, back then and we did this to elongate the 628 00:55:43,280 --> 00:55:52,799 scale, you came in at 2306 and then in 6 months as it is today, you got an 629 00:55:49,440 --> 00:55:57,359 increase of 3%. And then after another 6 months, so your one year is now up, you 630 00:55:54,720 --> 00:56:02,160 got another 3%. So, you're going to go from 631 00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:09,280 for a mechanic, you're going from at the very beginning if you have no experience 632 00:56:04,000 --> 00:56:14,160 and I just got my uh diesel degree from Midstate, but I've never been a mechanic 633 00:56:12,000 --> 00:56:19,440 before. So, you're starting at step one. Coming in at 2746, 634 00:56:16,880 --> 00:56:26,319 6 months, 28.42. At one year, I'm going to 2939. 635 00:56:22,720 --> 00:56:33,760 So, you've gone up approximately uh three 2 thou $4,000 in a year. That's 636 00:56:31,680 --> 00:56:38,079 growing faster to get you to the control point. From there, you go a year and a 637 00:56:35,440 --> 00:56:44,799 half. Where we're within range is typically from two steps before control 638 00:56:40,960 --> 00:56:49,040 point through uh on here it would be listed as like 639 00:56:46,720 --> 00:56:54,240 step 11. um the 9 and a half years in the 640 00:56:51,839 --> 00:56:59,359 position mark that's where we're basically within range. So when I talk 641 00:56:56,319 --> 00:57:04,319 about we're within range we have so many step or a lot more steps to be able to 642 00:57:01,680 --> 00:57:11,760 do this whereas Marshfield has less steps um but they have a higher far end 643 00:57:08,400 --> 00:57:18,000 and a higher back end but the control point is typically right in in range. 644 00:57:14,559 --> 00:57:22,960 Steven's point is the same. So, okay. But I would I mean for recruiting 645 00:57:20,640 --> 00:57:28,480 purposes, yeah, if they're looking at Now, the policy also says Paul can um 646 00:57:26,480 --> 00:57:33,440 find somebody. He finds a mechanic and says, "Yeah, I can get them for he can 647 00:57:30,480 --> 00:57:39,200 go to step three under his authority. He can go to step three. This guy is coming 648 00:57:36,559 --> 00:57:43,920 from a dealership. He knows his stuff." And Paul thinks I can get him, but he he 649 00:57:41,760 --> 00:57:48,160 he's taking a pay cut to come here. Can I get him to here? 650 00:57:46,079 --> 00:57:52,079 Paul and I then have the ability to get him to control point to be like, "Yeah, 651 00:57:49,920 --> 00:57:56,799 he's been a mechanic wherever at 10 years. His references check out great. 652 00:57:54,559 --> 00:58:03,040 We want him. He can come in at control point." We typically don't do that. Um 653 00:57:59,680 --> 00:58:06,640 because we want to make sure we have who we think we're getting. We do our best 654 00:58:04,960 --> 00:58:11,200 to do that. There have been instances where we bring them in at control point. 655 00:58:08,880 --> 00:58:16,160 Um otherwise they might come in at at step four or five and then they migrate 656 00:58:13,200 --> 00:58:23,359 through the process to get the control. >> Okay. And so when we post for a position 657 00:58:20,319 --> 00:58:29,760 for a mechanic, you're posting specifically for a second 658 00:58:26,960 --> 00:58:35,440 shift or is it just the bottom of the totem pole gets second shift? 659 00:58:33,280 --> 00:58:37,920 » It's posted for second shift >> because that's where our vacancy is 660 00:58:36,720 --> 00:58:46,000 right now. Okay. Um, so working 661 00:58:42,960 --> 00:58:53,359 in a prior occupation, uh, there were individuals that wanted to work second 662 00:58:50,079 --> 00:58:58,640 shift or wanted to work a third shift. And, um, 663 00:58:56,480 --> 00:59:05,119 I guess I'm wondering, is this something that, uh, 664 00:59:01,040 --> 00:59:08,960 your mechanics, do they do they trade? Say you're on vacation this week. You 665 00:59:07,280 --> 00:59:15,119 want to come in late the following Monday. Would they trade for a second 666 00:59:11,359 --> 00:59:18,319 shift position for the one day or is it Do you do stuff like that? 667 00:59:16,799 --> 00:59:22,720 » We'd allow them to do that, but there's never an ask for it because nobody wants 668 00:59:20,160 --> 00:59:26,000 to be on second shift. >> Well, I'm thinking 669 00:59:24,079 --> 00:59:30,000 » because they've been mechanics for 25, 30 years and they put in their time on 670 00:59:28,400 --> 00:59:35,520 second shift and they work they want to work days. 671 00:59:31,839 --> 00:59:41,599 I'm thinking of individuals that maybe want to hunt or fish or whatever. And 672 00:59:39,520 --> 00:59:48,079 when you get into the fall, if you get out of work at 3:30, you only got an 673 00:59:43,440 --> 00:59:55,440 hour of daylight. So, I guess that was maybe not pertinent pertinent to this, 674 00:59:50,720 --> 01:00:03,040 but um I'm wondering if it's uh a choice rather than a a forced position to to 675 01:00:00,240 --> 01:00:07,760 work the second shift. And when you talk about going to a third shift, is that a 676 01:00:05,920 --> 01:00:12,319 forced movement from a day day person to the 677 01:00:10,960 --> 01:00:18,880 third shift? >> No. th those going to 678 01:00:16,319 --> 01:00:23,680 going to th the people that are working the third shift, that's a part of the 679 01:00:20,559 --> 01:00:29,440 position that they apply for. So, like I say, our sign shop, they work third 680 01:00:25,359 --> 01:00:35,291 shift for a month period. in their job description, in their interview process, 681 01:00:31,280 --> 01:00:40,000 they're told for a duration that we're [snorts] going to agree a agree upon, 682 01:00:37,920 --> 01:00:45,839 you're going to have to work the third shift in order to get your work 683 01:00:41,920 --> 01:00:51,520 completed. For the mechanics, we have four mechanics. We have two that work 7 684 01:00:48,960 --> 01:00:56,960 to 3. We have the the mechanic group lead that work 6:30 to 3. And then we 685 01:00:55,119 --> 01:01:02,319 have two mechanics that work from 2 o'clock to 10 o'clock. 686 01:01:00,160 --> 01:01:05,760 And then we also have a night maintenance position for that person is 687 01:01:04,400 --> 01:01:09,200 responsible for doing building maintenance, minor maintenance on 688 01:01:07,200 --> 01:01:13,760 vehicles and everything like that. That also works 2 to 10. 689 01:01:11,839 --> 01:01:18,559 We have we have to have that second shift. We we had this long discussion 690 01:01:16,160 --> 01:01:24,000 because I just had my mechanic group leader who was a mechanic with the city 691 01:01:20,160 --> 01:01:29,359 for over 30 years. And before he left, we took the whole six guys because in 692 01:01:27,040 --> 01:01:34,000 the whole time that I've been here, this hiring a mechanic for the second shift 693 01:01:31,359 --> 01:01:39,440 has been an issue. Um the county doesn't even operate a second shift anymore um 694 01:01:36,880 --> 01:01:45,920 because they can't find people for it. There's um Ascendance, I believe, only 695 01:01:43,680 --> 01:01:52,079 uh runs two of their garages a second shift um which is the old Midstate truck 696 01:01:48,799 --> 01:01:56,720 Ascendances. Um, I state still, which is the old V&H truck in Marshfield, they 697 01:01:54,079 --> 01:02:02,799 still run a second shift. In my opinion, we have to end the six guys that work 698 01:01:59,520 --> 01:02:08,400 for me. We need to run a second shift in order to 699 01:02:04,720 --> 01:02:16,880 uh maintain the fleet that we have. If we don't want to maintain our fleet, we 700 01:02:12,480 --> 01:02:22,319 will have to buy more vehicles because sorry, our fleet size, not maintaining 701 01:02:19,599 --> 01:02:28,799 it, maintain our fleet size. We have to run if we don't run a second shift, a 702 01:02:26,480 --> 01:02:34,160 garbage truck breaks down at 2:00 in the afternoon. We only have one spare 703 01:02:30,720 --> 01:02:38,559 garbage truck, but we can most of the time, nine out of ten times, we can get 704 01:02:35,920 --> 01:02:44,799 that truck up and running, whether it be fixed and or um 705 01:02:42,880 --> 01:02:49,200 cobbled isn't the right word, but pieced back together operational for the day. 706 01:02:47,599 --> 01:02:53,440 If we didn't, we'd probably have to have two spares because we have three trucks 707 01:02:51,440 --> 01:02:59,040 that go out all the time. And unfortunately, our garbage collection is 708 01:02:56,400 --> 01:03:05,200 um stuff that breaks down because it's picking up 900 stops a day, you know. 709 01:03:01,440 --> 01:03:09,599 So, it does wear out relatively quickly, you know. But that's the that's the best 710 01:03:06,880 --> 01:03:13,359 part about the second shift is is nine times out of 10, we can get that thing 711 01:03:11,359 --> 01:03:16,359 back on the road by six o'clock the next day. 712 01:03:16,640 --> 01:03:23,680 So, this long-term employee that you just lost 713 01:03:20,799 --> 01:03:28,640 is $40 a week, that would have made a difference to him 714 01:03:26,000 --> 01:03:31,520 for the shift differential. Was he a second shift individual? 715 01:03:29,760 --> 01:03:37,039 » No, he wasn't. He was our group lead. >> Okay. He he he was hired on the second 716 01:03:33,839 --> 01:03:42,319 shift and then as soon as he got a chance to go to days which was about 15 717 01:03:39,680 --> 01:03:47,280 years into his career he went to days because he was miss he missed half of 718 01:03:44,720 --> 01:03:52,799 his kids' life you know because he was working 2 to 10 um 719 01:03:50,799 --> 01:03:56,640 and and and so it was very important for him to get back on to days as quick as 720 01:03:54,880 --> 01:04:01,359 possible. You know, we've interviewed very, very good mechanics that have been 721 01:03:58,400 --> 01:04:04,799 mechanics for 15 years, and they've said, you know, we've made offers to 722 01:04:02,880 --> 01:04:10,880 them, not this year, but this was previous years, and they said, "I put in 723 01:04:08,000 --> 01:04:16,319 my time on second shift. I want to go. I I if I came to you, I'd have to stay 724 01:04:12,720 --> 01:04:20,160 days." We have a guy right now that we um 725 01:04:17,839 --> 01:04:25,440 because of how long it was taking. So what happened is is we had a vacancy 726 01:04:21,920 --> 01:04:35,359 because um the person that was on uh second shift is now our group leader. Um 727 01:04:30,319 --> 01:04:41,119 and so we found a person to replace him after uh three or four months of looking 728 01:04:38,079 --> 01:04:47,839 for it. But we had to concede the second shift to get and have this person 729 01:04:44,079 --> 01:04:52,400 currently is working until 7 o'clock. So what is that? that he's working 11 to 7. 730 01:04:49,920 --> 01:04:56,160 We had to concede on that shift just in in order to get somebody in the building 731 01:04:54,240 --> 01:04:59,680 because I knew this other person was retiring. 732 01:04:57,760 --> 01:05:04,640 The person that retired was another mechanic that was 30 year 35 year 733 01:05:02,480 --> 01:05:09,680 mechanic. He came from the private sector to us about 15 years ago, I think 734 01:05:07,039 --> 01:05:15,280 12 years ago. and he had his time, you know, he he just didn't want to work the 735 01:05:12,880 --> 01:05:19,760 60 hours or 70 hours a week that some of these truck shops have to work because 736 01:05:16,960 --> 01:05:23,440 they're all on um you'd be able to tell me, Todd, because I know you were a 737 01:05:20,960 --> 01:05:27,920 mechanic for years, uh flat rate. He was on flat rate, so he didn't want to work 738 01:05:25,359 --> 01:05:36,680 that hard anymore because he was 52 years old or whatever, you know. So, um, 739 01:05:32,000 --> 01:05:36,680 like I said, um, 740 01:05:38,799 --> 01:05:45,119 to to attract somebody, we're we're not we we're not attracting anybody right 741 01:05:42,880 --> 01:05:49,039 now. >> I would just like to add, Todd, the guy, 742 01:05:46,960 --> 01:05:55,520 the gentleman that left after 30 years was due to retirement. So, he didn't, it 743 01:05:52,559 --> 01:06:03,440 is not a monetary thing. He had his time and he had worked with WRS and he 744 01:05:59,599 --> 01:06:10,000 retired and welld deserved. So yeah, and neither was this last person. 745 01:06:05,680 --> 01:06:13,920 Both of them had been retirements. It the people that have left were 746 01:06:12,319 --> 01:06:17,920 comfortable, happy with what they were making because they simply just wanted 747 01:06:15,520 --> 01:06:22,880 to end their careers. The the hardest part is is trying to attract these young 748 01:06:20,079 --> 01:06:26,880 people that are coming out of college. I mean, we we've for this has been an 749 01:06:25,200 --> 01:06:32,640 issue for like three years because we've had uh what three three vacancies in the 750 01:06:30,480 --> 01:06:36,960 four vacancies in the shop. No, three, sorry. Three vacancies in the shop in 751 01:06:34,799 --> 01:06:43,039 the last three years. We're trying we tried to get um students at Midstate to 752 01:06:40,640 --> 01:06:46,400 come and work in the afternoons or or work the second shift for us just to 753 01:06:45,039 --> 01:06:50,559 help out, you know, because some of it it's simple stuff. Some of it's oil 754 01:06:47,920 --> 01:06:54,079 changes, brake jobs, things like that. But there is some stuff that's that's 755 01:06:52,319 --> 01:07:00,960 difficult that you need to have the education for it. Um um but we can't 756 01:06:58,559 --> 01:07:07,200 even attract those kids to come over here, you know. And there's uh I know a 757 01:07:04,880 --> 01:07:11,920 young man uh that has been out of Midstate or out of uh the tech school in 758 01:07:10,000 --> 01:07:17,640 Green Bay for four years that's making 45 bucks an hour working second shift 759 01:07:13,920 --> 01:07:17,640 over in Green Bay. 760 01:07:24,319 --> 01:07:29,359 So Paul, I mean, I get the more money in 761 01:07:28,319 --> 01:07:33,520 different cities because obviously there's it's bigger and there's probably 762 01:07:30,480 --> 01:07:36,559 more to do, but do you think this 30 cents an hour or whatever the shift 763 01:07:35,119 --> 01:07:39,359 differentials for second shift is going to make 20 people apply to that 764 01:07:38,400 --> 01:07:42,559 position? >> No. 765 01:07:39,839 --> 01:07:46,079 » It's just I mean, what are we what are we going to do to try and help that? Do 766 01:07:44,400 --> 01:07:50,720 you think a first shift would bump down to second 767 01:07:48,640 --> 01:07:53,760 if the pay was better and they get back more money and they don't have a family 768 01:07:51,920 --> 01:07:56,640 maybe and then we could hire for for first shift or I guess I'm just trying 769 01:07:55,039 --> 01:08:01,400 to understand what your thought is on how we can get somebody to apply to 770 01:07:58,400 --> 01:08:01,400 that. 771 01:08:02,240 --> 01:08:10,160 So this I put this referral in because I was requested to by my staff, you know, 772 01:08:07,599 --> 01:08:13,599 because this this hasn't been looked at for 773 01:08:11,680 --> 01:08:16,480 at least 18 years. I can't tell you what it was prior to that, but I'm pretty 774 01:08:15,039 --> 01:08:24,799 sure that's probably what it was when the contract was started back in the 775 01:08:18,159 --> 01:08:29,600 early 2000s. Um, but uh I mean it is it it I feel strongly enough that that we 776 01:08:27,600 --> 01:08:34,640 need the second shift because of what they accomplish at night. There's lots 777 01:08:31,679 --> 01:08:39,440 of times that they accomplish things more with those three guys at night than 778 01:08:37,199 --> 01:08:44,960 the three guys do during the day. you know, uh, both those guys over there can 779 01:08:42,640 --> 01:08:48,080 say they've had stuff that the their guys have brought in and it goes out a 780 01:08:46,640 --> 01:08:54,799 half hour after they bring it over there, you know, and they need to have 781 01:08:49,759 --> 01:08:59,679 it the next day, you know. Uh, again, it it's it's important. They feel like 782 01:08:57,440 --> 01:09:05,359 they're, you know, like you said, 30 cents times 8, that's $2.40 an hour. 783 01:09:02,480 --> 01:09:10,799 That's nothing. It's 10 bucks at the end of the week. They're making $10 more to 784 01:09:07,520 --> 01:09:13,799 work two o'clock to 10 o'clock at night. Um, 785 01:09:15,199 --> 01:09:24,159 and I guess I went to, you know, I understand that we are um in a financial 786 01:09:21,440 --> 01:09:29,520 situation right now. I get it. You know, I our budget got cut a quarter million 787 01:09:26,080 --> 01:09:33,600 dollars last year. And and to Mattiey's statement or whatever, if you want me to 788 01:09:31,839 --> 01:09:40,719 absorb three and a half%, tell me what we're not going to do because asphalt 789 01:09:36,719 --> 01:09:48,920 has gone from $45 a ton 5 years ago to 103 a ton 5 years ago to $103 a ton. Not 790 01:09:45,679 --> 01:09:48,920 my control. 791 01:09:49,199 --> 01:10:00,080 Uh castings have gone from $150 to $325. We've gone to the point where we're 792 01:09:58,159 --> 01:10:03,960 using old stuff. The only thing that we replace is when it's broken, 793 01:10:05,679 --> 01:10:13,199 but I I also understand that, you know, I live in town and pay taxes and know 794 01:10:10,719 --> 01:10:17,840 what it's like. Yeah. I don't I mean I'm not saying 30 cents is by any means a 795 01:10:16,159 --> 01:10:21,120 lot, but you know I mean I'm just curious if that would be enough to bring 796 01:10:19,360 --> 01:10:25,840 people into that position or if we're just 797 01:10:21,840 --> 01:10:31,360 » struggling because of the the 2 to 10. >> I think sorry I think in one of these 798 01:10:29,840 --> 01:10:38,239 recommendations you know the second shift thing a buck 799 01:10:33,520 --> 01:10:43,920 50 that runs out to $3,150. So, say you put just for just for 800 01:10:41,840 --> 01:10:49,199 example purposes, you put somebody in at step three, which would be the one-year 801 01:10:45,600 --> 01:10:53,199 rate. They're going to go from, you know, currently they would walk in 802 01:10:51,280 --> 01:10:58,320 at $61,100 and if they went to a $150 for second 803 01:10:55,600 --> 01:11:04,000 shift, they would then be looking at a $64,000 804 01:11:00,880 --> 01:11:09,920 salary at at step well step three one-year rate. So then with the rollups 805 01:11:07,199 --> 01:11:14,159 and everything else that the city has, um, you know, your daytime guys are 806 01:11:11,679 --> 01:11:20,000 making the 61, your second shift are making the 64. 807 01:11:17,440 --> 01:11:24,880 I I I think it might be enough to get some arguments for somebody because 808 01:11:21,760 --> 01:11:28,960 we've been close a couple times and it used to be we could really swing 809 01:11:27,360 --> 01:11:34,640 them with the WRS and the health insurance and this and that and 810 01:11:30,480 --> 01:11:39,679 everything else. And now this generation, I forget what letter of the 811 01:11:36,480 --> 01:11:44,960 alphabet gen we're in. They want cold cash. It's all about cold hard cash on 812 01:11:42,400 --> 01:11:49,520 my check right now. And if it means I can get it for 75 cents more 30 miles 813 01:11:47,520 --> 01:11:55,360 away, even though they don't do the gas costing, they're going to go get that. 814 01:11:52,880 --> 01:11:59,760 And we've had that happen. And it hasn't been just that position. It's in pretty 815 01:11:58,239 --> 01:12:04,800 much every position has been my experience. Right now it's a I want the 816 01:12:02,239 --> 01:12:09,120 cold hard cash and I'll go wherever the next best place is offering. And we're 817 01:12:06,560 --> 01:12:17,280 trying to find those that say I understand the big picture concept. I'm 818 01:12:13,600 --> 01:12:22,080 25 26 years old and I'm maybe out of that phase and I want to look at 819 01:12:18,640 --> 01:12:25,040 retirement. Holy cow WRS. I want to the great health insurance because I'm 820 01:12:23,840 --> 01:12:28,880 looking at getting married and having kids and buying a house and those 821 01:12:26,560 --> 01:12:34,080 things. That's who we're try or what anybody that we're apply this is, you 822 01:12:31,040 --> 01:12:38,880 know, the total package value of the city of Wisconsin Rapids besides just 823 01:12:36,800 --> 01:12:44,239 that dollar value. But I think this might be enough to create a little bit 824 01:12:41,199 --> 01:12:51,080 more interest that they then look at the full package and be like now I got a 825 01:12:46,000 --> 01:12:51,080 good deal. My two cents. 826 01:12:53,840 --> 01:12:59,679 older person Tim, you uh you [clears throat] asked me a question of 827 01:12:56,640 --> 01:13:03,440 what I think it needs to be or whatever. Um 828 01:13:01,360 --> 01:13:08,960 when the when the wage study was put in place, you know, as Ryan had said, our 829 01:13:06,640 --> 01:13:15,840 wages were our starting wages were cut down to whatever he just said. If I 830 01:13:12,640 --> 01:13:22,080 remember right, it was like $35 an hour. um Chief Host's I believe when he first 831 01:13:19,280 --> 01:13:28,800 started to ask for the the last referral that that you had originally shared or 832 01:13:25,360 --> 01:13:35,840 that you just passed um Chief Host had um a graph in one of his original things 833 01:13:32,719 --> 01:13:41,520 that had showed that our officers were making I think it was like $3,500 more 834 01:13:39,040 --> 01:13:46,880 than Steven's Point. And you had the pay scales of of uh point and sorry this 835 01:13:44,560 --> 01:13:51,040 microphone stinks. Had the pay scales of point and and Wisconsin or the wood 836 01:13:49,280 --> 01:13:56,239 county highway and things like that. Years ago we used to get 75 to 80 people 837 01:13:53,920 --> 01:14:00,400 apply for a common labor position. We're getting like 25 now. I used to be able 838 01:13:58,640 --> 01:14:04,480 to pull people from Wood County Highway and people from Point and people from 839 01:14:02,239 --> 01:14:11,840 Marshfield. I don't pull anybody anymore, you know. Um so we're equals to 840 01:14:09,360 --> 01:14:15,679 those people. where before we were in the same boat that the police department 841 01:14:13,360 --> 01:14:21,600 was where we were pulling those people because they were getting a pay increase 842 01:14:17,679 --> 01:14:26,400 and they're not now. So, um I would say to attract people we have to be more 843 01:14:24,560 --> 01:14:29,400 competitive than than what our neighbors are. 844 01:14:30,400 --> 01:14:33,800 » Thank you, Paul. 845 01:14:33,840 --> 01:14:40,080 When is the next time we're going to look at the uh streets department and do 846 01:14:37,920 --> 01:14:44,560 a comparison with our neighboring municipalities? 847 01:14:42,239 --> 01:14:48,239 When is the next Well, >> next time I'm doing the market Yes. 848 01:14:46,320 --> 01:14:50,480 » survey. Actually, we've started that already. So, it'll be Yeah. 849 01:14:49,840 --> 01:14:55,040 » Great. >> Yep. And again, I could tell you right 850 01:14:52,560 --> 01:14:59,440 now it's within range. There's going to be most of them that are within range. 851 01:14:57,440 --> 01:15:03,760 The problem is they identify some of their positions different than ours, but 852 01:15:01,679 --> 01:15:09,360 I we sifted through that the first time we did the study. Um, and now it'll just 853 01:15:06,719 --> 01:15:16,320 be checking things out. Um, but yeah, we've started that already. Uh, and the 854 01:15:13,440 --> 01:15:24,560 the caveat to it is going to be that introductory wage um versus somebody 855 01:15:20,480 --> 01:15:28,320 else's starting rate. Um, but that's that's where that's at. ranges I feel 856 01:15:26,880 --> 01:15:33,040 fairly comfortable. There will be a couple that will probably need 857 01:15:29,840 --> 01:15:37,440 adjustments um similarly to to what we talked about this evening, but 858 01:15:35,679 --> 01:15:42,159 not 20 of them. >> And do we have the 30 and 40 cent shift 859 01:15:39,679 --> 01:15:46,960 differential listed in our current policy? 860 01:15:45,040 --> 01:15:51,120 No. What's our current policy on ship journ? It's really 30 and 40 cents. 861 01:15:49,280 --> 01:15:54,080 » It's currently 30 and 40 cents. Yeah, Paul. Yeah. 862 01:15:52,159 --> 01:15:59,120 » And we have policy that states that. >> Mhm. So this referral would just be 863 01:15:55,760 --> 01:16:02,120 changing those items in that policy. >> Correct. 864 01:16:09,987 --> 01:16:12,007 [clears throat] 865 01:16:12,800 --> 01:16:22,000 » May I speak? >> Please. I'd like to make a motion to 866 01:16:18,159 --> 01:16:30,560 consider a second shift differential of $1 per hour and a third shift 867 01:16:25,040 --> 01:16:35,520 differential of $1.50 per hour. >> Motion by Ferky, second by Holly. All 868 01:16:33,760 --> 01:16:40,640 those in favor? >> I as have it 30. 869 01:16:38,320 --> 01:16:46,040 » What were the amounts again? >> Okay, thank you. 870 01:16:43,040 --> 01:16:46,040 Right. 871 01:16:47,199 --> 01:16:54,159 Item eight, adjournment. Meeting adjourns at 4:48 p.m. Thank you.