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HomeMy WebLinkAbout052200S CC MinCITY COUNCIL SPECIAL SESSION MONDAY, MAY 22, 2000 MUNICIPAL BUILDING 3800 UNIVERSITY BLVD. 6:30 P.M. The City Council convened in Special Session in the Municipal Building Conference Room (3800 University Blvd.) on May 22, 2000, with the following members present: Mayor Lewis presiding, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May. The City Manager, City Secretary, City Attorney, Finance Director, Police Chief, Fire Chief, Parks and Recreation Director and Public Works Director were also present. The notice for this meeting was posted in accordance with the Texas Government Code, Chapter 551, on the 19' day of May 2000 at 2:30 p.m. Aaenda Review: The City Council reviewed the regular meeting agenda and discussed items under consideration with the Staff. Home Place Celebration. Matters related to an expense summary for the 2000 Home Place Celebration. Parks and Recreation Director Mark Mailes presented the expense summary to the City Council. The net revenue for the event was $14,952.50. The City Council requested that an item be placed on the next regular session to approve a payment of $19,000 to the West University Elementary School P.T.A. Police and Fire Personnel Salary Comparisons. Matters related to a report on Police and Fire Personnel salary comparisons to other cities. City Manager Sherman Yehl reported that at the Council meeting of May 8, 2000, staff was directed to prepare a salary study for public safety personnel using the following cities for comparative purposes: Alamo Heights, Bellaire, Hedwig Village, Highland Park, Houston, Memorial Villages, Missouri City, Southside Place, and Sugar Land (this list was modified slightly for fire personnel). The hiring and maintaining public safety employees goes beyond just salary — benefits, the community's quality of life, promotional opportunities, and the organization's commitment to employees are other factors that people will consider in malting employment decisions. However, the city's salary schedule simply has not remained City Council Special Sess1 on May 22, 2000 competitive. In fact, the starting salary for police and fire recruits has not increased in about five years. The beginning salary for West U officers is $28,000, far below the average of $34,132 of the other cities surveyed; for firefighters, the starting salary is $27,000, less than the $30,114 average. This amount is understated due to the fact that our basic firefighter also will serve as a paramedic or driver for which some jurisdictions have separate pay classifications. As personnel move through the ranks, the discrepancies continue: Position West U Average Police Sergeant: $34,467 $42,747 Police Lieutenant $41,208 $50,126 Fire Lieutenant $34,476 $41,745 Fire Captain $41,208 $46,504 While the incentive and certification pay program that was implemented on January 1, 2000 has narrowed some of the gap, clearly major changes are needed in the public safety salary structure. Before implementing any changes staff needs to address several areas, including: • The feasibility of establishing a separate salary schedule for public safety employees; • Elimination of so -called salary parity with police and fire personnel; • Impact of adjusting public safety salaries with other positions in the organization; • Implementation schedule. Based on the initial survey completed by Police and Fire Department personnel, salary adjustments totally between $200,000 - 250,000 annually would be necessary to remain competitive with other jurisdictions. Mr. Yehl stated that it is staff's recommendation that changes be made to the public safety salary schedule in order to become competitive with the area market; that such a plan address the issues identified above; and that an implementation schedule be presented to Council no later than September 1, 2000. A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member Bertini, that the City Manager present an additional report at the next regular session and to implement the salary adjustment for police and fire by September 1, 2000. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None 3 City Council Special Session; May 22, 2000 Appointment of Charter Review Committee. Matters related to the appointment of a Charter Review Committee. The City Council discussed the appointment of members to serve on the Charter Review Committee. A resolution appointing the committee will be presented at the next regular session. Report from Board or Commission Liaisons. The City Council reported on Board or Commission meetings attended by the liaisons. Council Member Bertim reported that the Recycling and Solid Waste Reduction Board had completed their initial program for testing recycling bins. They have found someone to donate the plastic for additional recycling bins. Mayor Lewis reported that the Senior Services Board was seeking volunteers for their Good Neighbor Program. Inquiries, requests and complaints. The City Council reviewed matters received from the public and referred them to the appropriate department or placed them on a future agenda for consideration or action. Council Member Bertini inquired about the removal of the softball batting cages., The City Council recessed the Special Session at 7:30 p.m. to convene in Regular Session. The Special Session reconvened at 8:28 p.m. Installation of brick crosswalks. Matters related to the installation of brick crosswalks in the city and the Special Session minutes of April 24, 2000. Mr. Yehl reported that there was some confusion about the timing of the installation of the brick crosswalks on Buffalo Speedway. The crosswalks on the east side of Buffalo Speedway are scheduled to be installed during the construction of Priority Areas 10 and 11. Report from Traffic Task Force. Matters related to a report from members of the Traffic Task Force on gateway signs and traffic calming in Priority Area 7B and on Community Drive in College Court. City Council Special Sessiu.4 May 22, 2000 Joe Studlick, Chair of the Traffic Task Force, presented a recommendation for traffic calming devices on Community Street in College Court. The Task Force recommended the installation of raised intersections at Community and Emory and Community and Sunset or two other intersections on Community as recommended by a traffic engineer. The installations would be part of the city's infrastructure replacement program in Priority Area 12. The estimated cost per intersection is $5,000 - $10,000. Matters related to the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property. Property at 4210 Bellaire Boulevard known as Y.M.C.A. Closed Executive Session to be held under Sections 551.072 Texas Government Code. The City Council convened in Executive Session at 9:15 p.m. The Executive Session closed at 9:25 p.m. Matters related to the evaluation of a public officer or employee. Evaluation of City Manager Closed Executive Session to be held under Section 551.074, Texas Government Code. The City Council convened in Executive Session at 9:27 p.m. The City Council closed the Executive Session at 10:40 p.m. and reconvened in special session. A motion was made by Council Member Grubb, seconded by Council Member Bertini, to increase the salary of the City Manager with an effective date following the resolution of the police and fire pay revision. A vote was taken on the motion with the following result: Voting Aye: Mayor Lewis, Council Members Ballanfant, Bertini, Grubb and May Voting Nay: None Absent: None City Council Special SessiMay 22, 2000 Adjournment. With no further business to come before the City Council at this time, a motion was made by Council Member Bertini, seconded by Council Member Grubb, to adjourn. The Special Session adjourned at 10:42 p.m.