HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-02-20 Council Minutes - Work SessionKENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
FEBRUARY 20, 2008
5:30 P.M.
KENAI CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MAYOR PAT PORTER, PRESMING
NOTES
Council Present: P. Porter, R. Molloy, R. Ross, B. Eldridge, H. Smalley, L. Swarner,
and M. Boyle
Staff Present: C. Freas, C. Graves, L. Semmens, C. Kopp, M. Joiner, B. Springer,
M. Tilly, and R. Craig
Mayor Porter opened the work session at approximately 5:30 p.m. and noted the
purpose of the work session was to discuss a FY2009 employee salary Cost of Living
Adjustment (COLA) and to review a proposal to restructure the Kenai Police
Department salary schedule.
Cost of Living Allowance Increase:
City Manager Koch reviewed information included in the packet and explained, he was
requesting support by council to build the F&2009 budget with the inclusion of a 4.31/(
COLA.
A brief discussion followed related to the packet information and the history of COLA
increases as well as the effect of the Anchorage Consumer Price Index. Council stated
no objections to use a COLA increase of 4.3% in building the FY2009 budget.
Proposal to Restructure Kenai Police Department Salary Schedule:
Koch referred to his memorandum included in the packet and noted recruiting law
enforcement officers was a problem and, he believed, mostly due to the Alaska
Legislature modifying the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) from a Defined
Benefits Program to a Defined Contribution Program. He also noted, the recruitment
problem existed throughout Alaska.
Koch reviewed options and the pros/cons of each, included in the memorandum:
Step One: Modify Existing Salary Schedule
1. Do nothing, retain current salary schedule for KPD Officers.
2. Modify the City of Kenai salary schedule for police officers, patrol
sergeants, the lieutenant and the police chief. (Administration's recommendation).
Step Two: Placement of present reclassified officers, sergeants, lieutenant and police
chief within salary schedule.
Koch explained, if council agreed to the reclassification proposal under Step One,
administration proposed to decrease by two steps the present step placement for all
officers, sergeants, and the Lieutenant and to decrease by one step the present step
KENAI CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
FEBRUARY 20, 2008
PAGE 2
placement for the Police Chief. The fiscal impact of the administration's proposal
would increase personnel costs by $88,775.82. He indicated, he was not certain with
the change in the lieutenant salary, but would be considering this further, including
making the position exempt.
Koch requested council's direction to develop a reclassification ordinance to introduce
in March. A history of vacancies within the department was reviewed by Chief Kopp.
After a brief discussion, council directed administration to go forward with its
recommendations, including further consideration of the lieutenant position salary
reclassification, and develop an ordinance to introduce in March.
The work session ended at approximately 6:16 p.m
Notes prepared by:
Carol L. Freas, City Clerk
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