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HomeMy WebLinkAbout96 1202 min\ ;, ,, „~ MINUTES SPECIAT CITY O IN['II., MEETIN City of Plainview December 2, 1996 The Plainview City Council met in special session at 7:30 p.m., Monday, December 2, 1996, in the Council Chambers of the Plainview City Hall at 901 Broadway. The agenda for this specially called meeting was posted in City Hall at 3 :00 p.m. on the 27th day of November, 1996. Mayor Lloyd C. Woods presided. Councilmembers present were: Mary Virginia Kirchhoff, Precinct 2; Rey Rosas, Precinct 3; Mike Hutcherson, Precinct 4; Ross Owen; Precinct 5; Bobby McGehee, Precinct 6; and Irene Favila; Precinct T. Staff members present were: James P. Jeffers;. City Manager; Wally Hatch, City Attorney; and M. Shane Harrell, Deputy City Secretary... Members of the Petitioners' Committee present were: Darla Newland, Linda. Johnson, Patty Ratliff, Peggy Eason, Margaret Mendoza, Richard VanKlyve; Jess Barrera, Lonnie Burton, and Stan Branam. Joe Alfaro was absent. Members of the news media present were: Richard. Orr. of the Plainview Daily Herald and Phillip Hamilton of the Lubbock Avalanche ourn Another present was Ralph May. At said meeting the proceedings following were had, to wit: OPEN MEETING 1. The Invocation was given by Mayor Lloyd C. Woods. 2. The Pledge was led by Councilman Ross Owen. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS 3. Police Pay Referendum Alternatives Mayor Woods presented the basic outline and rules of proceedings to be followed by all present. The Chair then recognized Jess Barrera who took the floor. Mr. Jess Barrera of 1606 West 7th Street statedthat he was new to the negotiating process but was here to negotiate in an amicable and professional manner. He asked if the offer made by City 12-02-1996 Special Meeting Page l of 6 .Manager James P. Jeffers was still on the table or was the proposed. ordinance. He remarked that he basicallyhad nothing further to add. At that time the Mayor asked if the Petitioners were adhering to their original proposal, to which Mr. Barrera replied that they were not holding strong to it. Mr. Barrera asked Mr. Lonnie Burton to join him at the podium.. Lonnie Burton of -808 Vernon assumed the floor. He asked Mr. Jeffers to clarify the previous proposal as to the 3%cost-of-living. stipulations. The City Manager did. so clarify the said proposal. Mr. Burton offered the following as alternative plans: Perhaps the step program could be done away with, as it represented the application of an early misunderstanding of the requirements of law. Perhaps a 1-time or 2-time increase would be better, with the majority of funding going to the bottom ranks where needed most. The Mayor. asked if the basis of this proposal was a $22,713 beginning salary for new officers. Mr. Burton replied that it was, 'together with cost-of. living raises. Mr. Burton expressed concern for the lower ranks, especially the first-year starting: officers. Mr. Burton,. too, reiterated their primary objective was to negotiate through this process. Mr. Burton clarified a point addressed in a previous meeting. He stated for the record that officers are responsible for charges incurred at academy training, roughly 560 hours of training costing in the neighborhood of $1,000.. The Police Department lacks the resources'to allow newly hired individuals to train first, then come to work. The idea of a two-year plan implementation tendered by Mr. Burton was rejected in favor of handling the payroll matters all at once. The Council as a whole expressed interest in seeing the Petitioners' Committee's proposed amounts and percentage increases reduced to writing before taking further action. Inresponse to Councilman McGehee's question, Mr. Burton conceded that long-term, systematic, time and rank adjustments were not in the best interests of the City or the Police Department. Further, Councilman McGehee,. together with Councilman Rosas, posed the query as to what will prevent a petition drive from recurring. in the future. Mr. Burton stated that the responsibility lies with the Council as to this matter. Mr. Burton. suggested that salary adjustments might be built into the plan so as to provided for bottom salary increases every three to five years. The attention of the Council then turned to the other ranks. The Mayor stated that a starting sergeant begins at $21,316. Under the proposed .plan, the salary would jump to $27,711. 12-02-1996 Special Meeting Page 2 of 6 ~~ ./ Mr. Burton said that-the starting salaries as presented in the Committee's proposed ordinance were quite close to the mark as far as their overall objectives. Mr. Burton explained to the Council the process by which the. Committee arrived at the proposed salaries.. The basic salary of $17,472 is increased 30% to equal $22,713. The $22,713 is increased twice incrementally by 3% in each turn to yield. $24,096. The $24,096 is increased another S% to give the beginning salary of sergeant, the rank above beginning. This formula, however, can get. out of control when tenured officers axe taken into consideration. Mr. Burton said he would like to see staying with the proposed starting salary for new recruits. Councilman Owen brought to light his concerns regarding political unrest caused by rewarding the lower ranks, while seemingly ignoring the upper echelons. Mr. Burton agreed that some dissension in the ranks was likely to occur. Mr. Barrera, offering his own situation as example, concurred that separation of the ranks does need to be addressed. Councilman Owen pondered what incentive there was for new employees. Mr. Burton responded by saying that dramatic pay increases primarily accompany promotions. As the same supervisory staff has existed-for the last fifteen years, patrolmen see no light at the end of the tunnel. The chance of advancement is small since the upper ranks are staid with tenured employees. At the request of the Mayor, Mr. Burton demonstrated his case. His present state is a salary of $31,585 with fourteen years in grade. A flat $5,000 raise would yield $36,585.. Mr. Burton proposed a flat $5,000 raise for all or a set flat amount raise for each rank (to be added to the salaries as they now exist on the payroll). He persisted in the 30% initial raise for the bottom salary. Councilman Rosas stated his preference for the step system. He envisions plugging the bottom figures to make the entire scale work. Mr. Burton pointed out that step programs are problematic; long-term employees quickly "max out." Tn counterpoint Mr. Burton offered an incentive program which would encourage an officer to pursue his or her education: Raises could be offered to those individuals who hold advanced, masters, or instructors certificates, among others. At .this point, Mr. Burton took his seat. The Chair recognized James P. Jeffers, City Manager, who took the floor. Mr. Jeffers pointed out to the council that a flat. $5,000 raise yields projected costs of approximately $200,000. Unencumbered. funds of a quarter of a million. dollars currently available in the general fund would. fast be swallowed.. Mr. Jeffers stressed that all employees are important to the Council. And, the Council must maintain a cushion of funds to address the other groups. Mr. Jeffers .drew attention to apparent .discrepancies within the Petitioners' initial proposal.. Years seven and eight within their proposal jump from 3% to 5% increases within all grades. Mr. Burton, 12-02-1996 Special Meeting Page 3 of 6 in an aside remark, cited computer .calculation error.. Mr. Jeffers said the proposed ordinance was full of "land mines. The City Manager brought to the foreground the "McGehee Plan," a proposal crafted by Councilman McGehee. Said plan incorporated the 15% initial starting raise, a figure with which the Council is comfortable. Salaries would come closer to matching those contained within a salary survey of area towns conducted by the City. For .example, ahigh-end lieutenant would be promoted to 5th-year captain in order to keep pay equitable with previous salaries, Mr. Jeffers explained.... The projected cost of the McGehee Plan would be $87,000. Councilman McGehee clarified the point as the where he obtained his beginning figures; he said salaries originated from the Petitioners' own proposed ordinance. Mr. Jeffers. praised step plan systems. They are advantageous to the City for several reasons. Step plans are easy to administer. They have a definite stopping point. They reduce complaints. And, they can beadjusted periodically. The Fire Department follows a step program, as required by State law. -The Mayor asked if anyone in the audience would like to be recognized. Mr. Barrera directed an inquiry to the City Manager. Mr. Jeffers responded by saying the $20,093 .beginning salary figure was obtained by adding 15% to the current salary.: Darla Newland of 1310 Garland was recognized by the Chair.. In her address. to the. Council, Ms. Newland proposed a 25% increase (of current salary) for officers, together with a 5% increase for sergeants and lieutenants, together with a 3% increase for captains... Years of service, time and rank considerations, and retroactive application would not be an element under her proposition, Mr. Burton said that flat percent raises for all would not work favorably Mr. Jeffers stated that anomalies will always exist. He clarified the method of computation producing the McGehee Plan for the Mayor... The City Manager held the opinion that such a step system will make initial adjustment more palatable. The Mayor took Mr. Burton's case as an example. Under the McGehee plan, Mr. Burton would draw a salary of $33,094. When asked by the Mayor if there were any objections to the concepts contained within the McGehee Plan, none was offered by anyone. As noted by Mr. Burton, the plan provides a starting point. ~~ .; Councilman Owen cited needs of the Council. The Petitioners must offer something which the Council can administer. Further,: specific cases need to be avoided because. outliers which skew the overall picture will always exist. Councilman Owen expressed concern for protecting future Councils. Councilman Rosas stressed to the Committee that a written proposal from .them was needed for negotiations to continue. He, too, preferred to ignore the individual outliers. Councilwoman Kirchhoff asked for comparison figures .between the Council's first proposal and the McGehee plan. Mr.; Jeffers offered $62,000 and $87,000, respectively, in response. Councilman McGehee summarized three objectives of the Committee: (1) To establish minimum pay levels per rank; (2) To establish systematic minimum pay raises based on time and rank; and (3) To make the changes effective retroactively. He asked if maximum increases, a ceiling based on some percentage yet. to be determined, would be acceptable to the Committee. Mr. Burton agreed that limits. on the.. increases imposed. by a step program would be advantageous. ,Mr. Jeffers said a focus on the average starting salary would break the agreement impasse. He summarized the proposals on the table: (1) Leave everything as is; (2) $20,093 Starting Plan; (3) McGehee Plan; (4).30% Petitioners' Proposal; and (5) 25% Petitioners' Proposal. The Petitioners could also withdraw their petition in order to allow more time for fine-tuning of the final .proposal. Mr. Jeffers said such a move would require faith being placed in the Council. Or, meetings posted for various times to be held in the next .two .days could be held. .The Mayor welcomed proposals from`the Councilmembers. He stipulated that proposals must. be made in advance. Amidst much back-and-forth computing, a beginning salary of $20,966.40 ($17,472 current salary plus a 20% increase) was .agreed upon by the Council and the Committee. This beginning, together with application. of the McGehee Plan concepts, was favored by the Council. Councilwoman Kirchhoff asked what changes such plan would have overall She maintained her concerns until bottom-line effects. are known with a degree of certainty. M TI N Motion by Mayor Woods to adjourn. Motion. died for lack of a second. .Councilman McGehee asked the Committee if there was enough consensus for them to withdraw their petition. Mr. Burton said this was true, if the 20% figure were set. 12-02-1996 Special Meeting Page 5 of 6 -_ __ _ _ ___ MOTION .Motion by Councilwoman Favila to meet at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday evening and to continue delibera- tons at that time. Seconded by Mayor Woods. Those in favor: Precinct 3, Precinct 4, Precinct 5, Precinct 6, Precinct 7, Mayor Those in opposition: Precinct 2 The Motion passed. M TI .Motion by Mayor Woods to adjourn. Seconded by Councilman Owen.. Those in favor: Precinct 2, Precinct 4, Precinct 5, Precinct 6, Precinct 7, Mayor Those in opposition: Precinct 3 The Motion passed. The special meeting was adjourned at 9:17 p.m. PASSED AND APPROVED this 10th day of December, 1996... ~ ~ ~J -City Secretary 12-02-1996 Special Meeting Page 6 of 6