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• • • WS – Item 4 WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Work Session Item No. 4 Date: November 5, 2012 To: City Council From: Jeff Karlson Re: 2013 Budget – Vacant Positions Background At the October 1 work session, the City Council brought up some issues that had not been resolved during our previous budget work sessions. One of the issues was the replacement of vacant positions. In particular, the planning position and the deputy clerk position that will be open when Jean Viger retires at the end of the year. We have begun the process of recruiting for a city planner. The position is similar to the senior planner position that was eliminated in 2011. We expect to have someone on board the first week of January. The deputy clerk job description has been revised and will be effective when Jean is replaced. This position will no longer be responsible for elections and purchasing. Those duties will be shifted to the city clerk and finance, respectively. Springsted, Inc. performed a compensation analysis based on the revised job duties and determined that the top wage rate should be lowered by $8,600. Since we have qualified City employees who can fill this position, we would do an internal posting. Councilmember Rafferty commented that there was an employee (Lisa Hogstad) whose hours were cut to a part-time position, and could this employee be moved back to full -time. Regardless of who is appointed as the new deputy clerk, Ms. Hogstad would likely move into a full -time position — either as the deputy clerk or by replacing the person who transfers to the deputy clerk position. Lisa's half -time Office Technician I position would be eliminated. The only unfinished business left would be to hire a part-time human resources position. When the Director of Administration position was eliminated, it left a big hole in the HR area. My intent after the organizational analysis in 2011 was to hire an HR position. The rate of pay would be comparable to the current deputy clerk position. I had anticipated combining an HR and deputy clerk position, but came to the conclusion that this was not a practicable option. The above personnel changes will not increase the budget in 2013. Requested Council Direction No Council action is required.