05-11-2004 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 11, 2004 The Director noted that there are a couple of areas of concern. The first trail connection that is problematic is along County Drive between Little Canada Road and the Water Works Trail Additional right-of--way and easements are necessary in addition to the possible need for some retaining walls. The next section is the Water Works Trail in the area of South Owasso Blvd. and Country Drive where there are potential drainage problems. The trail in the area of Maple Leaf Court cannot be connected into Maplewood's trail system at this time, given Maplewood's need to finalize details with their trail segment. The City Administrator indicated that given the bureaucracy in getting a crossing permit from the Burlington Northern line, the Water Works trail may have to have some temporary termination points. The Director indicated that the City Engineer has been working with BN and feels it will take some time to obtain the crossing permit. EMPLOYEE The Deputy Clerk indicated that as part of annual reviews of employee BENEFITS compensation and bereft packages, the Council is being asked to consider implementing a severance pay plan. The Deputy Clerk noted the survey results that reflect that all other Ramsey County cities, with the exception of Gem Lake, offer this benefit to their employees. Fahey felt that a difference between public and private employment is that public employment elevates sick leave to an entitlement. Fahey felt that there was no need to create this benefit even though it appears that a lot of cities provide it. He did not feel there was a retention issue that needed to be addressed. Fahey stated that severance pay is not canmon in the private sector, and felt that public employment should model itself after the private sector rather than create additional benefit costs. Fahey noted that Council Member Anderson is willing to consider a severance benefit. LaValle asked about personal leave noting that Arden hilts provides personal leave rather than sick and vacation. The City Administrator explained that personal leave replaces sick and vacation with employees managing their vacation and sick time offunder this one leave allocation. Personal time accrues and is payable upon termination. The Parks & Recreation Director indicated that City employees are renuesting that the Council take a took at the severance pay benefit. He noted that every other city in 'Ramsey County provides this benefit. The 'Director further noted that in considering other employee benefits, the City has done comparisons with other public sector employers.