2018-09-06 Special Meeting of the La Porte City Council (Amended)

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Councilmember Zemanek made a motion to approve the rate fee structure as presented tonight by the City Manager which is the $2.00 cart fee; $2.00 non-resident; $1.00 resident; and the membership increases. Councilmember Earp seconded. MOTION PASSED. Ayes: Councilmembers Earp, Engelken, Bentley, Zemanek and Kaminski Nays: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers J. Martin and Ojeda Absent: Councilmember K. Martin City Manager Corby Alexander stated that is $86,000. Regarding merit pay for non-civil service employees, City Manager Corby Alexander recommended not reducing the $486,000 proposed funding by $186,000. Mr. Alexander pointed out that while budget is always in Council's purview, he has outlined some reasons he would like Council to consider not reducing this item. One is because reduced merit increases would be given to non-civil service employees, and civil service employees would not be given reduced increases, which could impact morale. He also stated that in the past, the City's merit increases have been good recruitment and retention tools, and any change in that would have a negative impact on those two fronts. Mr. Alexander stated that if Council does choose to move forward with a stipend, every non-civil service employee could be given $1,000; and that would cost $300,000. If non-civil service employees received $1,500, that would cost $450,000. Councilmembers Zemanek and Earp stated they are in favor of a $1,000 stipend for non-civil service city employees. Councilmember Earp said if Council was willing to do the $186,000 reduction, we could still give employees a $1,000 stipend, which would be for this budget year only. Council discussed merit increases and the past market study. Councilmember J. Martin provided comments regarding the recent market study. He stated, "If we don't give increases, we will be getting back in the same boat we just tried to get out of." He also commented he would like to continue with merit increases. Councilmember Zemanek made a motion to give all non-civil service employees a $1,000 stipend payable in their November paycheck in lieu of merit increases. Councilmember Earp seconded. MOTION FAILED. Ayes: Councilmembers Earp, Zemanek and Kaminski Nays: Mayor Rigby, Councilmembers Ojeda, J. Martin, Engelken and Bentley Absent: Councilmember K. Martin Councilmember Engelken made a point to reiterate what merit stands for, which is performance, not under-performance; and what he saw in those maintenance pictures of the fitness center was of under-performance, and he expects management to hold their department heads accountable for that. Councilmember Bentley commented his nay vote was not that he does not want to compensate employees but because a one-time stipend does not go as far as a merit increase on a paycheck; he would like the City to do better than mid-range on the pay scale. Councilmember Earp made a motion to reduce the merit fund by $186,000 and stick to the merit-based system, but allocate $300,000 for merit raises instead of $486,000. Councilmember Ojeda seconded. MOTION PASSED. Page 4 of 9 September 6, 2018 Council Meeting Minutes