03-13-2023 City Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 6 jobs and sometimes working with three different fire agencies. Staff is proposing to increase the 224 pool of part-time firefighters from 8 to 15 which puts more people in the pool to fill shifts. 225 226 Councilmember Ruhland asked if they will have more turnover as a result of more people to fill 227 shifts and less hours available. Mr. Swenson replied they are trying to find a balance and he 228 hopes 15 is the right number. He explained more agencies such as Bloomington are starting to 229 hire full-time Staff. Councilmember Ruhland asked how many full-time employees the City 230 would need to replace those that are working part-time. Mr. Swenson noted he can do that 231 analysis and stated in terms of cost it would be significantly more. 232 233 Mayor Rafferty asked the Council about going to 15 part-time firefighters. 234 235 Councilmember Ruhland is good with it as it gives Mr. Swenson the flexibility to try to find the 236 sweet spot. 237 238 The Councilmembers agreed with the proposal to go to 15 part-time firefighters. 239 240 Item 9 — Public Services Department Lead Positions — Public Services Director DeGardner 241 gave a summary of his written Staff report stating the Public Services Department is seeking City 242 Council agreement regarding two staffing positions, a Utilities Department Lead Worker and 243 Fleet Department Lead Worker. He explained the duties of both positions and shared two 244 workers identified within the department recommended for the positions, Layne Chapman and 245 Brett Olander. 246 247 Councilmember Cavegn asked who is doing the duties of Utilities Department Lead now. Ms. 248 Cotton replied the union contract outlines worker pay percentage for lead workers and Mr. 249 Chapman has been receiving that. She noted they are trying to create a permanent position in 250 which Mr. Chapman would have more of a permanent assignment to the position which helps 251 with cross-checking of timecards regarding the lead pay percentage. 252 253 Mr. Swenson noted Mr. Chapman and Mr. Olander are two of the stars in the department and 254 have proven themselves over the years. If there are any two people that should be elevated to a 255 lead position, it is these two. 256 257 Ms. Cotton noted these are the people who have stepped up more often than the City has asked 258 without receiving compensation and it would be nice to compensate them for the work they are 259 doing every day. The Councilmembers agreed with Ms. Cotton. She noted this would go into 260 effect at the beginning of the next full pay period. 261 262 Item 10 — Council Updates on Boards/Commissions, City Council — Ms. Cotton noted the 263 Councilmembers each have a ballot in front of them and she would like to place an item on the 264 agenda for the Council to formally act to appoint the Advisory Board members to their terms. 265 266 The meeting was adjourned at 9:18 p.m. 267 268