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WELCOME CITIZENS STAFF I THINK, AND RESIDENTS GUESTS.
[1. STATEMENT OF ISSUE BEFORE THE COMMISSION (MAYOR FORD/STAFF)]
BEFORE WE OPEN THIS MEETING, I'D LIKE TO START WITH AN INVOCATION AND A PLEDGE.IF YOU'LL JOIN WITH ME, PLEASE.
THIS IS AN UNUSUAL DAY THAT NORMALLY IS RESERVED FOR CELEBRATION OF COLUMBUS DAY.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, TODAY WE ALL COME TOGETHER PROBABLY WITH HEAVY HEARTS AFTER WHAT WE'VE SEEN HAPPENING IN THE MIDDLE EAST, IN PARTICULAR, GAZA AND ISRAEL.
SO TODAY I WISH TO PRAY FOR THOSE WHO ARE IMPACTED, FOR THE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST LOVED ONES.
AND MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS IMPACTS AMERICA, TOO.
SO, WE ASK FOR GOD TO HELP ALL OF US WHO ARE IN POSITIONS OF LEADERSHIP TO BE MEASURED IN OUR RESPONSE, BUT RESOLUTE THAT WE BE FAIR AND DO THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE PROPER IN THE CIRCUMSTANCES LIKE THIS.
BUT MOSTLY WE ASK LORD, THAT YOU BE WITH THE FAMILIES THAT ARE IMPACTED, THAT YOU GIVE THEM PEACE TO THE DEGREE THAT THAT IS POSSIBLE AND GIVE THEM HOPE FOR THOSE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE, THAT ARE CAPTIVE.
AMEN. CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS WAS NOT A NICE PERSON.
. THIS SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION DATED MONDAY, OCTOBER 9TH, 2023, WILL NOW COME TO ORDER.
I'M GOING TO OPEN WITH JUST A SHORT EXPLANATION.
THIS IS A SINGULAR PURPOSE MEETING.
WE'RE HERE TO ADDRESS THE REQUEST BY THE UNION LIUNA FOR A PAY RAISE IN EXCESS OF WHAT WE HAD BUDGETED FOR THE CITY WHICH OUR BUDGETED PAY RAISES ACROSS THE BOARD ARE 4% AND THE REQUEST WILL BE HEARING ABOUT TODAY IS FOR A INCREASE TO 6% FOR THE MEMBERS OF THIS UNION. I'M GOING TO TURN IT OVER NOW TO MR. GABRIEL FOR ANY PROCESS.
JASON GABRIEL HERE, CITY ATTORNEY.
SO THE PARTIES HERE LIUNA AS THE BARGAINING AGENT AND THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH AS THE EMPLOYER HAVE HELD COLLECTIVE BARGAINING NEGOTIATION SESSIONS IN THE PUBLIC ON A FEW DIFFERENT DAYS, SEVERAL DAYS, ACTUALLY MAY 26TH, AUGUST 3RD, AUGUST 11TH AND SEPTEMBER 12TH OF THIS YEAR.
SO THE LIUNA REPRESENTATIVE HERE TODAY, MR. RODNEY BURRIS, NOTIFIED THE CITY ON SEPTEMBER 12TH THAT LOCAL 630 IS DECLARING AN IMPASSE BECAUSE OF THAT.
WHEN THAT HAPPENS, TYPICALLY PURSUANT TO FLORIDA STATUTES, SPECIFICALLY, 447 403, THERE'S WHAT'S CALLED A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE PROCESS THAT KICKS IN, AND THAT INCLUDES THE SELECTION OF A SPECIAL MAGISTRATE AND OTHER PROTOCOLS THAT HAPPEN OVER THE COURSE OF A TIMELINE.
HOWEVER, THE PARTIES AGREED MR. BURRIS HAD REACHED OUT, AND THERE'S AN EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE WITH OUR HUMAN RESOURCES DIRECTOR, MS. CATHY VARIAN, WHERE THE PARTIES ARE AGREEING TO WAIVE THAT PROCESS TO ESSENTIALLY SPEED UP TO BRINGING US TO WHERE WE ARE HERE TODAY, WHICH IS BEFORE YOU, THE CITY COMMISSION AND THE POSTURE YOU'RE IN.
SO SO ESSENTIALLY WE'VE WE'VE AGREED TO WAIVE ALL THE THE PROCEDURAL NICETIES OF THE STATUTE WITH RESPECT TO THE SPECIAL MAGISTRATE AND THAT RECOMMENDATION THAT COMES WITH THAT CETERA. AND WE'RE BASICALLY HERE TODAY IN FRONT OF YOU AS A CITY COMMISSION IN THE POSTURE, THE POSTURE YOU'RE IN IS THAT OF A LEGISLATIVE BODY PER THE STATUTE. ESSENTIALLY, YOU'RE A NEUTRAL PARTY.
IT'S A SINGULAR NUMERICAL ISSUE OF WAGE INCREASES.
THIS IS KIND OF A PRETTY STRAIGHTFORWARD ISSUE AND THAT OF WAGE INCREASES.
SO, WHAT THE STATUTE SAYS IS YOU AS LEGISLATIVE BODY SUBJECT TO 4.D OF 447,403, YOU ARE WHAT IT
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SAYS IS YOU SHALL TAKE SUCH ACTION AS IT DEEMS TO BE IN THE PUBLIC INTEREST, INCLUDING THE INTEREST OF THE PUBLIC EMPLOYEES INVOLVED, AND TO RESOLVE ALL DISPUTED IMPASSE ISSUES.SO ONCE AGAIN, TO RECAP, THE SINGULAR ISSUE OF WAGE INCREASES IS THE CITY OFFERED 4%, THE UNION IS AT 6%. AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL CONSIDER HERE TODAY.
YOU'LL HEAR FROM THE UNION REPRESENTATIVE AND CERTAINLY YOU CAN ADDRESS ANY QUESTIONS TO THE UNION.
SO WITH THAT, IF THERE'S ANY OTHER QUESTIONS, THAT'S THAT'S THE POSTURE WE'RE IN TODAY.
[2. PUBLIC HEARING]
WE'LL GO AHEAD AND PROCEED TO OPEN UP THE PUBLIC HEARING.DONNA, DO YOU HAVE SPEAKERS? YES, SIR.
I HAVE ONE. PLEASE CALL THAT SPEAKER.
GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COMMISSIONERS AND STAFF.
THE. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PAY SCALE OR THE PAY CHART.
THIS ONLY HAS TO DO WITH AN ANNUAL COST OF LIVING ALLOWANCE.
NORMALLY, COLAS ARE BASED UPON SOME KIND OF INFLATION TYPE INDEX.
USUALLY THE CPI, THE CURRENT CPI FOR AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER IS 3.1% AND IT'S EXPECTED TO BE IT'S NOT OUT FOR SEPTEMBER YET. IT COMES OUT IN LIKE THREE DAYS.
IT'S ALSO EXPECTED TO BE 3.1%.
THE CPI EXPECTED TO BE 3.1 OR 3.2% THIS YEAR.
THOSE ON ANY TYPE OF GOVERNMENT RETIREMENTS, SAME THING.
THE CPI, AGAIN EXPECTED TO BE 3.1% COME JANUARY 1ST.
NOW, YOU KNOW WHAT'S RIGHT IS RIGHT.
AND, YOU KNOW, BUT YOU DON'T NEED TO BE EXTREMELY GENEROUS BY GIVING THEM DOUBLE WHATEVER THAT METRIC IS, SUCH AS THE CPI.
YOU KNOW, I THINK THE CITY HAS DONE VERY WELL THROUGH THIS LAST BUDGETING PROCESS, DOING 4% ACROSS THE BOARD FOR ALL THE CITY EMPLOYEES TO INCLUDE THOSE COVERED BY THIS CONTRACT.
I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE MORE I THINK IT OUGHT TO BE MORE DIRECTLY TIED TO THE CPI OR THE CPI PLUS ONE OR WHATEVER IT IS. THE COMMISSION AND THE STAFF MAY EVENTUALLY COME AROUND TO.
BUT EVERY YEAR YOU GO THROUGH THIS SAME PROCESS.
NOW, THE PROBLEM REALLY SHOULDN'T BE YOURS OTHER THAN THE FACT THAT YOU'RE OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS.
THE PROBLEM REALLY GOES BACK TO THE LUNA CONTRACT, WHICH FROM OCTOBER 20TH, 22 GOES THROUGH OCTOBER OR SEPTEMBER 20TH, 25. THEY ONLY HAD AN INCREASE FOR THAT VERY FIRST YEAR.
THEY HAD NO OTHER SUBSEQUENT COLA INCREASES IN THE EXISTING CONTRACT.
NOW IF YOU MIRROR THAT TO THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT.
WHICH WERE ALSO IN THE MIDST OF THE POLICE UNION CONTRACT WHEN IT WAS NEGOTIATED.
THEY DID HAVE ANNUAL COLA INCREASES ALREADY CONTAINED IN THAT CONTRACT.
SO, IF YOU WANT TO COMPARE THE TWO CONTRACTS, THE POLICE CONTRACT COVERS ABOUT 40 PEOPLE.
BUT WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM THE SAME THING, IN ALL FAIRNESS.
THE REALLY THE BIG PROBLEM IS THE DISCREPANCIES BETWEEN THE TWO CONTRACTS.
YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, AGAIN, YOU KNOW, FROM AN ANALYTICAL STANDPOINT, THE WAY THE NUMBERS WORK, REALLY IT ALL ONLY BE ABOUT 3%, BUT IT'S ALREADY BUDGETED FOR FOUR.
ALREADY SAID, I'M GOOD WITH THAT.
BUT I REALLY DON'T THINK THAT ANYONE EVER SHOULD BE HELD HOSTAGE TO THE ASPECT OF, WELL, WE'RE
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NOT GOING TO RATIFY ANYTHING BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GIVING US WHAT WE WANT.SURE, EVERYBODY ALWAYS WANTS MORE.
I MEAN, THAT'S KIND OF LIKE CAPITALISM, BUT NOT NECESSARILY IN THIS CASE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE VERY FEW UNFILLED POSITIONS IN THE CITY.
ACTUALLY, I DON'T THINK WE HAVE ANY OTHER THAN POLICE OFFICERS RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AS IF THIS IS GOING TO HAVE ANY IMPACT.
EXCUSE ME. THIS WILL ONLY HAVE AN IMPACT ON CURRENT EMPLOYEES.
IT HAS NO EFFECT ON THE PAY CHART OR THE PAY SCALE.
OKAY. THE PAY SCALE HAS ONLY BEEN CHANGED TWICE IN RECENT YEARS.
ONCE WAS BACK IN 2018, AND THE LAST ONE WAS APRIL 1ST.
TWO YEARS AGO WHEN THERE WAS THAT MID THAT THAT MID THAT OUT OF CYCLE NINE AND 12% CHANGE, THOSE WERE THE ONLY TWO EFFECTS THAT ACTUALLY HIT THE PAY SCALE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANK YOU, MR. HAROLD. WE HAVE NO OTHER PEOPLE SIGNED IN.
SO, ARE THERE OTHERS THAT WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? OKAY. THEN HEARING NONE.
I'LL CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING BUT HAD FORGOTTEN TO TAKE ROLL CALL.
SO, WE'RE GOING TO BACK UP ON THAT.
AND DONNA, CAN YOU TAKE THE ROLL? SO NOW WE'LL MOVE ON TO THE PRESENTATION.
[3. LIUNA PRESENTATION]
MR. BURRIS, PROCEED.I'VE GOT A PACKET THAT I'M LOOKING AT IT AND THERE'S AND I'LL TELL YOU, THERE'S AN ERROR IN YOURS AND AN ERROR AND.
OKAY THERE AND THAT'S ONE THAT MAKES THE.
ON MINIMUM WAGE FOR THAT STAGE IS $15.53 OR SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES, NOT THE $15 AN HOUR.
I'M THE BUSINESS MANAGER OF LOCAL 630.
I REPRESENT 23 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS ALL OVER THE STATE.
SO, I'M PRETTY FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROCESS AND HOW WE THE PAY AND THE DIFFERENT PLACES. SO, WHAT I GIVE YOU FIRST IS NEPTUNE BEACH.
AND IT'S AN MOU THAT THEY ARE NO LONGER THE EMPLOYEES NO LONGER PAY FOR.
HEALTH CARE. THE CITY PICKS THAT UP.
THAT COST UP. THERE'S ALSO A WAGE INCREASE WHEN THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH GAVE 12%.
NEPTUNE BEACH GAVE $5 AN HOUR FOR EACH ONE.
AND THEN I GIVE YOU THE CURRENT PAY SCALE AS OF OCTOBER 1ST OF 23 JACK'S BEACH FROM THEIR CBA THAT PAY SCALE.
BUT LIKE I SAID THAT ONE'S $15.53.
THEN I GIVE YOU FERNANDINA BEACH BECAUSE I ALSO REPRESENT THEM.
UM. WHEN YOU DID WHEN ATLANTIC BEACH DID THE 12%, THEY DID.
SOME GOT AS HIGH AS AN $8 AN HOUR RAISE.
SO, I'LL GIVE YOU ALL THIS INFORMATION BECAUSE THIS IS THE PEOPLE THAT YOU HAVE TO GO UP AGAINST FOR EMPLOYEES AND ALL OF THAT. SO.
LET ME START BY SAYING THAT I APPRECIATE YOU HEARING FROM ME TONIGHT ABOUT THIS, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS.
I KNOW THAT YOU'VE GOT A NEW CITY MANAGER, AND I WAS KIND OF SHOCKED TO SEE JASON WALK IN BECAUSE I'VE DEALT WITH JASON BEFORE WITH THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, BECAUSE I ALSO REPRESENT THEM.
AND SO I HAD A LOT OF DEALINGS WITH JASON WHEN IT WASN'T SUCH A GREAT TIME.
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NOT FOR ANY OF US.BUT ANYWAY, SO LET ME START BY SAYING THAT WE MET.
THEN WE MET AGAIN AND THEY COME BACK WITH 4%.
SO WE TOOK THAT FOR A VOTE AND THAT WAS 2% LESS, 1% LESS THAN THEY HAD ALREADY AGREED TO. AND.
WENT TO THE 4% WAS BECAUSE I HAD A MEMBER GET UP HERE AND TELL YOU THAT HE COULD NOT AFFORD SUBSIDIZED HOUSING IN ATLANTIC BEACH FOR HIM AND HIS CHILD.
I UNDERSTOOD THAT THE CITY SAID THAT WAS AN UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE.
HE'S NOT A UNION STEWARD, NOR IS HE A ON THE NEGOTIATING TEAM.
SO THERE WAS NO UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE COMMITTED BY HIM.
SO THAT GOT THE EMPLOYEES UPSET THAT IT WAS REDUCED DOWN TO 4% BECAUSE OF THAT.
SO. I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THAT.
AND I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOMETHING, MR. MAYOR, THAT YOU SAID LAST MONTH.
AND I THINK IT WAS VERY INTERESTING AND I APPRECIATED WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY.
AND IT WAS SOMETHING TO THE FACT THAT AND I'M NOT GOING TO QUOTE YOU, BUT IT WAS SOMETHING TO THE EFFECT IS THAT YOU WOULD LIKE BETTER WELL ROUNDED, MORE EDUCATED EMPLOYEES AND SOMETHING TO THAT EFFECT.
SO I'M GOING TO TELL YOU THAT I AM HERE TONIGHT TO TELL YOU I DO THAT ALL THE TIME WITH GROUPS.
I AM MORE THAN HAPPY TO SIT DOWN WITH YOUR DIRECTORS, WITH YOUR NEW CITY MANAGER WITH HR AND WORK ON COMING UP WITH PROGRAMS ON HOW TO MAKE YOU HAVE BETTER EMPLOYEES.
I DO IT. ALL THE TIME WHEN YOU GOT 23 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS ALL OVER THE STATE.
I'M NOT. WHEN I NEGOTIATE A CONTRACT, I HAVE TO TAKE THE PUBLIC IN CONSIDERATION.
I HAVE TO TAKE YOU INTO CONSIDERATION, AND I HAVE TO TAKE MY MEMBERS INTO CONSIDERATION.
BECAUSE IF I DON'T TAKE THEM INTO CONSIDERATION, YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE THEM UP HERE ASKING, WHY DID YOU GIVE THE UNION THIS RIDICULOUS RAISE? I'M TAKING YOU INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE YOU RUN FOR OFFICE.
AND IF YOU DECIDE THAT'S WHAT YOU WANT TO DO AGAIN, THEN YOU WANT DON'T WANT ME UP HERE.
AGAINST YOU ARGUING THAT POINT.
AND I TAKE MY MEMBERS INTO CONSIDERATION BECAUSE THEY PAY MY SALARY, BUT ALSO, THEY HAVE TO LIVE.
THE GENTLEMAN THAT GOT UP AND SAID THAT THIS WAS A COLA.
A COLA IS A WAGE ADJUSTMENT ON THE BOTTOM AND ON THE TOP.
WE HAVE EITHER 2 OR 3 MEMBERS THAT ARE TOPPED OUT.
THEY GOT THE 12% WAGE ADJUSTMENT, BUT THEY DO NOT GET A COLA BECAUSE THEY WOULD BE GETTING.
A 4% COLA IF THAT WAS THE CASE.
THEY GET A ONETIME CHECK FOR 4%.
AND TO TELL YOU I WANT TO HELP YOU.
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I DON'T WANT TO HURT YOU.I MEAN. AND I THINK I'VE DEALT ENOUGH WITH CATHY THAT SHE KNOWS THAT I DON'T COME IN AND.
TRY TO BE, YOU KNOW, RUDE OR ANYTHING ELSE.
I TRY TO CONSIDER WHAT WE ARE AND WHERE WE'RE AT.
SO, WHEN IT REALLY BOILS DOWN TO IS THAT.
THE REASON THAT YOU COME BACK WITH FOUR WAS BECAUSE OF OUR MEMBER THAT COME UP HERE AND TOLD YOU AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS A UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICE AND IT WASN'T.
SO, THAT'S WHERE THE REAL ISSUE IS.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE RATES OF PAY.
SO, IT IS A, THAT'S WHERE OUR ISSUE IS.
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE THEM AT A LIVING WAGE.
AND. WE DON'T FEEL THAT THIS IS A LIVING WAGE.
AND FOR THEM TO TELL US THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF A MEMBER THAT AFFECTED EVERYBODY ELSE IS WHERE WE HAVE THE PROBLEM AT.
PRETTY MUCH WHERE WE'RE AT WITH THIS.
AND I'M OPEN FOR QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS OR ANYTHING ELSE.
OKAY. REGARDING THE THE DATES AND THE TIMES THAT THAT BARGAINING HAPPENED.
SO THE INITIAL DATE CAUGHT FROM JASON WAS MAY 26TH.
AND. YOU ASKED FOR 6% AT THAT TIME? YES. AND DURING THAT TIME, THE CITY CAME WITH 5%.
AND WAS IT VOTED ON BY YOUR UNION WORKERS THE WAY IT WAS? THE 4% IS WHAT WAS VOTED ON.
BUT THE REASON IS, IS BECAUSE OF WHAT WAS SAID, THE REASON THEY WOULDN'T AGREE TO 6%.
AND THEN THE UNION MEMBERS HAD A CHANCE TO VOTE YES, AND THEY VOTED NO.
AND THEN WHEN WAS THE NEXT MEETING THAT HELD IN PROBABLY.
AND THEN IN JULY, THAT'S WHEN YOU FOUND OUT THAT IT WOULD BE 4%, THAT THE CITY OFFERS 4%.
AND THAT WAS AFTER MR. EMILIO PEREZ DID COME UP.
I HAVE A QUESTION. ONE THING, MAYBE A MISCONCEPTION.
I, FOR ONE, DID NOT CHANGE MY IDEA ABOUT THE PERCENTAGE BECAUSE OF THAT.
OKAY, THAT THAT DIDN'T EVEN ENTER IN MY MIND.
OKAY. THE ONE THING I THINK IF YOU LOOK BACK IS THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TODAY IS NEGOTIATING CBAS.
I'M TALKING FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
THAT WAS A THAT WAS A NICE RAISE.
AND I GET THAT. I THINK THE QUESTION FOR ME IS MORE WHEN YOU LOOK ACROSS THE CITIES THAT ARE INVOLVED HERE IS THAT WE DON'T HAVE A MERIT INCREASE, RIGHT? CORRECT. SO THAT MERIT INCREASE COULD BE IN THE FUTURE A WAY THAT, YOU KNOW, THE BEST EMPLOYEES THAT WORK THE HARDEST GET THE MOST CREDIT.
I THINK I THINK THAT'S ADMIRABLE.
BUT I GUESS I'D WANT TO MAKE THE POINT.
THERE'S THE STATISTICAL NUMBERS ABOUT ANYBODY ELSE.
BUT FOR ME, THAT WASN'T THE REASON.
OKAY. AND THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
I'M OKAY WITH THE ATTACHMENT OF A QUOTE FROM ME, BUT I'VE NEVER SAID THAT I WANTED BETTER EDUCATION.
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WELL, YEAH.AND I SAID I WASN'T QUOTING YOU.
I CERTAINLY WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BETTER EDUCATED PEOPLE AND MORE WELL ROUNDED IN ALL CASES.
I WASN'T SINGLING OUT THE UNION AS BEING LESS EDUCATED OR LESS.
LIKE I SAID, I'M USED TO THIS WITH 23 PUBLIC EMPLOYEE CONTRACTS ALL OVER THE STATE OF FLORIDA, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO MELBOURNE, ALL ORLANDO, THE GREATER ORLANDO AIRPORT AUTHORITY, ALACHUA COUNTY, LEVY COUNTY.
I RUN INTO ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT ISSUES AND DIFFERENT THINGS.
IF I CAN RESPOND TO MR. BOLT'S STATEMENT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU VOTING THE 12%, AND I WAS HERE WHEN YOU TOOK THE VOTE.
BUT I DON'T NEGOTIATE FEDERAL CONTRACTS.
SO I CAN TELL YOU THAT FERNANDINA BEACH, ACCORDING TO THAT PACKAGE THAT I JUST GAVE YOU, IT WAS 5%.
I CAN TELL YOU THAT JAA IS 6.3% THIS PAST OCTOBER 1ST.
BUT AS WE DISCUSSED, THEY GAVE $5 LAST YEAR PLUS 9% PLUS THE INTEREST, I MEAN, PLUS THE INSURANCE.
AND WE ALL KNOW WHAT INSURANCE IS LIKE AND THE COST OF INSURANCE.
SO, FOR THEM TO TAKE THAT COST, THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY.
SO. I MEAN, I COULD SIT HERE AND PROBABLY TELL YOU ABOUT WHAT EVERY ONE OF MY GROUPS IS GETTING.
EDGEWATER WAS 6% OCTOBER 1ST OF THIS YEAR.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH WAS SOMEWHERE AROUND 3.75 OR 4.
SO. I UNDERSTAND THE THE SITUATION AND I UNDERSTAND BUT UNDERSTAND WHERE THESE EMPLOYEES ARE COMING FROM.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE BEING GREEDY.
I DON'T THINK THEY'RE BEING RESTLESS.
BUT THEY WANT TO MAKE A DECENT LIVING.
SO, I MEAN, THE COST OF LIVING HAS GONE UP IMMENSELY FOR ALL OF US AND FOR THEM ALSO.
MR. BORIS, HOW DO WE COMPARE? HOW DOES THE CITY OF ATLANTIC BEACH COMPARES FOR ITS BENEFITS GO? I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PAY, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE BENEFITS? CAN YOU. YEAH.
YOURS IS NO BETTER OR NO WORSE THAN ANYBODY ELSE'S.
YOU MENTIONED THAT NEPTUNE BEACH.
YOU'RE NOT THERE. AND THAT'S PROBABLY.
I DON'T KNOW, 12 TO $15,000 A YEAR FOR FAMILY COVERAGE FOR EMPLOYEES.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT COST ANYMORE.
YES. SO, I WAS NOT TURNED OFF BY MR. PEREZ'S PLEA.
AND I SUPPORT HIS DESIRE TO HAVE A LIVING WAGE.
WE DO SUPPORT THIS COST OF LIVING RAISE.
I MEAN, I MEAN, WE WE ALL GET THE COST OF LIVING AND THE COST OF LIVING HERE.
SO I REALLY DON'T WANT TO HEAR ANY MORE ABOUT WHAT ALL THOSE OTHER PLACES ARE DOING.
I GOT A RAISE TODAY FROM THE CITY.
ALL RIGHT. I GOT A RAISE IN MY SOCIAL SECURITY.
I GOT A RAISE IN MY VA, AND I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD HAVE A RAISE.
UM. CAN I? YES, PLEASE. SO, MS. KELLY, I AGREE WITH YOU.
WHEN TRUST ME, WHEN I START TALKING ABOUT WHAT OTHER CITIES ARE GETTING MY MEMBERS DON'T CARE.
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I JUST ROLL MY EYES. IT'S LIKE MY MOTHER WOULD HAVE SAID, YOU KNOW, IF HE JUMPED OFF THE CLIFF, WOULD YOU JUMP OFF THE CLIFF? RIGHT. NO, I AGREE.AND SO MY MEMBERS SAY THE SAME THING TO ME, BUT I FEEL THAT IT'S ONLY APPROPRIATE IF SOMEONE BRINGS UP RAISES THAT.
OR FOR THE PEOPLE THAT SERVE US.
OKAY. WELL, THANK YOU FOR THE PRESENTATION.
[4. CITY COMMISSION DISCUSSION/ACTION ON ISSUE BEFORE THE COMMISSION]
AND IF I MAY, I'LL LEAD OFF ON THIS ONE.BUT THE WAY I UNDERSTOOD IT WAS THERE WAS AN ASK IF FIVE WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO THE UNION, NOT AN OFFER TO GIVE FIVE TO THE UNION. THAT IS CORRECT.
AND THEN I'M ALSO CURIOUS, HOW DO WE COMPARE BECAUSE WE REALLY RELY A LOT ON YOU AND YOUR DETAILED REVIEW OF COMPETING SALARIES AND BENEFITS IN NEIGHBORING CITIES.
SO CAN YOU GIVE US A BROAD BRUSH WHY YOU FEEL THAT WE'RE OKAY WITH WITH HONORING THE SAME PAY INCREASE OF 4% THAT WE'RE GIVING TO NONUNION MEMBERS OF OUR STAFF? I'M SORRY. I DON'T THINK I UNDERSTOOD THAT.
SO, I'M WONDERING, DO YOU ARE YOU COMFORTABLE WITH WHERE WE STAND WITH THE 4% PAY RAISE FOR REGULAR STAFF AND ACCORDINGLY, A 4% PAY RAISE FOR UNION MEMBERS? DO YOU FEEL? OKAY.
DO YOU FEEL THAT WE ARE SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERPAYING OR NOT? EVEN SIGNIFICANTLY, ARE WE UNDERPAYING OUR STAFF RELATIVE TO NEIGHBORING CITIES? AND I GUESS WE COULD START WITH WHAT WE HAVE ON THE HOURLY RATES BECAUSE WE HAVE THEM PUBLISHED IN FRONT OF US, BUT THEN MAYBE FOLD IN YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF BENEFITS. OKAY.
MR. MAYOR, JUST TO I THINK WHAT OUR MISS BARIUM CAN OFFER HERE IS FACTS WITH RESPECT TO NEIGHBORING MUNICIPALITIES OR WHAT HAVE YOU.
ELECTED OFFICIALS AS OPPOSED TO APPOINTED OFFICIALS.
THANK YOU. AGREED. SO, YES, AS I PRESENTED INITIALLY, MY UNDERSTANDING WAS THAT JAX BEACH AND NEPTUNE BEACH WERE GIVING A 3 OR 3.5% INCREASE.
AND I THINK IT'S HOW I ASKED THE QUESTION.
BUT I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THEY THAT IS ON TOP OF A MERIT INCREASE THAT THEY ALSO GIVE.
SO SALARY WISE, WE ARE STILL IN THE RUNNING, BUT WE'RE CERTAINLY NOT IN THE SAME POSITION I THINK THAT WE WERE IN.
AS FAR AS BENEFITS, I JUST FOUND OUT THAT NEPTUNE BEACH IS NOT ONLY PROVIDING THEIR FULL OFFERING THEIR FULL FAMILY COVERAGE TO EVERY EMPLOYEE, BUT IF THE EMPLOYEE CHOOSES OR HIS WIFE, THE SPOUSE GETS INSURANCE FOR ANOTHER COMPANY, THEY REIMBURSE THEM.
THEY GIVE THEM A CHECK FOR THAT.
SO, DO WE COMPETE WITH THAT? NO. WE HAVE INCREASED OUR BENEFITS, AS YOU KNOW.
WE HAVE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT CERTAINLY NOT IN THAT LEAGUE.
SO, MAY 26TH WAS THE FIRST MEETING THAT MR. BORIS MENTIONED, AND THE UNION WORKERS AND HIMSELF WANTED A 6%.
CAN YOU MEAN AT THAT POINT? DON'T MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OF WHAT THIS THE COMMISSION WILL PROVIDE.
AT THAT POINT, I HADN'T EVEN GONE BACK TO OUR THEN CITY MANAGER TO DISCUSS IT.
WHAT WAS VOTED DOWN THEN? THE 4% IS THE ONLY THING THAT WAS VOTED DOWN.
[00:35:02]
THAT'S THE ONLY VOTE THAT I'M AWARE OF.OKAY. ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, COMMISSIONER.
OKAY. AGAIN, I'M NOT SURE AND YOU MAY NOT KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS AND SO ON, BUT I'M NOW UNDERSTANDING THAT NEPTUNE BEACH HAS GONE TO FULL FAMILY COVERAGE AT NO EXPENSE TO THE EMPLOYEE.
DO YOU KNOW WHERE JACKSONVILLE BEACH STANDS? I THINK THEY OFFER A COMPETITIVE BENEFIT PACKAGE LIKE WE DO.
I DON'T BELIEVE THEY'RE WHERE NEPTUNE BEACH IS.
MY UNDERSTANDING IS THEY OFFER, GREAT HEALTH INSURANCE BENEFITS AT REASONABLE RATES, AS DO WE.
BUT IF YOU CHOOSE TO GET IT SOMEPLACE ELSE, WE, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T REIMBURSE.
ONE THING THAT WE DID DO, AND I'M NOT SURE YOU'RE AWARE OF IT, MAYBE IS WE HAVE VETERANS CHOICE NOW.
WE GIVE THEM $200 OR SO A MONTH.
THANK YOU FOR THAT CLARIFICATION.
YES. SO, I'LL OPEN IT BACK UP TO THE COMMISSIONERS, BUT I'LL START WITH MY STATEMENT.
I. I FEEL BADLY TO BE IN A POSITION WHERE GIVING A RAISE OF 4% IS CONSIDERED A BAD THING.
ON TOP OF THE 24% THAT HAS BEEN GIVEN OVER THE PAST TWO PLUS YEARS, IF I TAKE YOU BACK TO ONE YEAR AGO, WE GAVE A 5% RAISE AND THEN SIX MONTHS BEFORE THAT, WE GAVE AN OFF CYCLE, 12% RAISE.
SO, AS WE'RE COMPARING TO OTHER CITIES AND NO DISRESPECT TO MR. BURRIS, YOU'RE ADVOCATING FOR YOUR CONSTITUENTS.
AND I APPLAUD THAT. AND BY THE WAY, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY IS GREEDY AT ALL TO WANT TO TRY TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND AFFORD THE COST OF LIVING. BUT I FIND IT DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND WHY WE'RE COMPARING IN ISOLATION THE MOST RECENT PAY RAISES OF OTHER CITIES. AND YES, YOU CAN COME UP AND RESPOND TO THAT.
BUT WHY WE'RE DOING IT IN ISOLATION WITHOUT REGARD TO THE FACT THAT WE GAVE IN LITERALLY A LITTLE OVER A YEAR'S PERIOD WE GAVE.
21% INCREASES TO THE CITY EMPLOYEES.
SO. MR. BURRIS SO YOU'RE CORRECT.
AND AS I SAID, TOLD MR. BOLE I WAS HERE THE NIGHT THAT IT WAS VOTED ON.
YOU DID. THE COMMISSION DID DO THAT.
BUT. LET ME JUST SAY ONE THING ABOUT JAX BEACH.
AND THAT'S IMMENSE COMPARED TO A NON-PENSION AS.
JASON AND I BOTH KNOW THE CITY OF JACKSONVILLE GOT RID OF THEIR PENSION DEFINED BENEFIT AND WENT TO A DC PLAN FOR NEW EMPLOYEES, AND THAT'S A SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE.
MR. BORIS, CAN YOU TELL TELL ME, WHAT DOES OUR WHAT DO OUR CITIZENS OR OUR EMPLOYEES GET AS FAR AS RETIREMENT? THEY DON'T GET A PENSION? NO. AND WHAT DO THEY RECEIVE? THEY WHATEVER THEY CONTRIBUTE.
AND I BELIEVE WE TALKED ABOUT IT A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO BECAUSE THE CITY WASN'T DOING ANYTHING.
AND WE TALKED ABOUT 3%, AT LEAST PUTTING 3% INTO A 401.
SO, THEY DON'T HAVE A RETIREMENT OR.
SO, IF I MAY, I'D LIKE TO BRING KATHY MARION BACK UP TO ADDRESS THAT AND WE'LL CALL IT.
OKAY. SO THE CITY DID GET RID OF THEIR DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN IN 2012.
THEY REPLACED IT WITH A DEFINED CONTRIBUTION PLAN THAT HAS A MATCH OF 6% UP TO 6%.
AND AFTER TEN YEARS, EXCUSE ME, WHICH I WILL REACH ON OCTOBER 21ST.
SO, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE SAME AS A DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION.
BUT TRULY, THE STATE HAS GOTTEN RID OF THEIRS THIS YEAR.
[00:40:07]
DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN BUT I THINK WE OFFER A VERY FAIR.BUT QUESTION IS OUR CONTRIBUTION IS IT A MATCH OR IS IT A CONTRIBUTION REGARDLESS OF THE IT IS A MATCH AND BETWEEN THE DEFINED BENEFIT.
THE DEATH OF THE DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN IN 2012 AND 2017.
I BELIEVE OUR EMPLOYEES WERE NOT REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE ANYTHING.
WE, JOE AGREED WITH ME AND SO NOW ARE ALL NEW EMPLOYEES ARE REQUIRED TO CONTRIBUTE 3%.
THE CITY MATCHES THAT WE JUST LAST WEEK BROUGHT IN FOR TWO DAYS SOMEBODY FROM THE RETIREMENT PLAN THAT WE'RE WITH TO TALK TO EMPLOYEES ABOUT UPPING THEIR CONTRIBUTIONS.
THOSE IN THE DEFINED BENEFIT PLAN ARE ELIGIBLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE 450 TO THEIR 457.
WE ARE GOING TO START OFFERING A 401.
SO, WE'RE TRYING TO BE AS CREATIVE AND HELPFUL AS WE CAN.
SO, I KNOW WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SALARY, NOT BENEFITS.
BUT GOT TO CLARIFY, YOU SAID WE'RE DOING 3% MATCH NOW, UP TO 6% MATCH.
OKAY. SO SO AND THEN IF YOU'VE BEEN HERE TEN YEARS, IS IT TEN YEARS? TEN YEARS, YOU GO TO 10%, IT GOES TO 10%.
YOU PUT IN 6% AND THAT WILL GIVE YOU TEN.
SO THE 3% IS THE MANDATORY MINIMUM CONTRIBUTION FOR NEW EMPLOYEES.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT MEN AND WOMEN WHO ARE OUTSIDE MOST OF THE TIME.
WHAT IS WHAT? WHAT IS THEIR REQUIREMENT? HOW LONG CAN THEY GO DOING THIS JOB? IF YOU HAVE, LET'S SAY, A 50 YEAR OLD WORKING IN THE OFFICE COMPARED TO MOWING THE GRASS OR THE LIFT STATION, THE PUBLIC WORKERS AND UTILITIES, I THINK THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD CONSIDER, NOT JUST ATTRITION.
FOR SOMEONE WHO'S GONE TO ANOTHER CITY TO GET THE SAME JOB A BETTER BENEFITS, BUT ATTRITION FOR THOSE WHO CAN'T MAINTAIN THIS TYPE OF WORK FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME? WELL, FOR THE MOST PART, THERE'S ONLY ONE POSITION THAT'S IN THE UNION THAT IS NON LABOR.
THAT'S THE RECEPTIONIST OF PUBLIC WORKS.
THE REST ARE ALL LABOR WORKERS.
AND. WELL, HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN HERE? WHAT'S PROBABLY THE LONGEST PERSON HE'S BEEN? THREE YEARS, I BELIEVE.
SO PROBABLY NOT AS LABOR INTENSIVE JOB, BUT HE'S STILL OUT IN THE TRENCHES.
LITERALLY THE KING, LITERALLY THE PUBLIC UTILITY.
SO HE IS DEFINITELY IN THE TRENCHES.
WELL, I WOULD JUST IMPLORE MY FELLOW COMMISSIONERS TO CONSIDER THAT THE TYPE OF WORK.
I THANK YOU, MS. VARIAN. MR. BURRIS, DO YOU HAVE ANY FINAL COMMENTS? LET ME JUST ADD SO EVERYBODY KNOWS I'VE NOT ALWAYS BEEN A BUSINESS MANAGER FOR A UNION.
I RETIRED FROM GE AS A WASTEWATER OPERATOR.
I STILL CONSIDER MYSELF A PUBLIC EMPLOYEE.
YOU'RE ONE OF THEM. SO, I DID RETIRE IN 2010, AND DUE TO A MOTORCYCLE WRECK AND I CAME BACK TO WORK FOR THE UNION IN 2015.
SO, I'VE NOT ALWAYS BEEN A UNION OFFICIAL IN THIS CAPACITY.
I WAS THE PAST PRESIDENT AND DIFFERENT OFFICES.
BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT REAL QUICK MERIT RAISES.
WE JUST NEGOTIATED MERIT RAISES OUT OF FERNANDINA CONTRACT.
I PERSONALLY DON'T LIKE MERIT RAISES.
[00:45:08]
MONEY. SO, I'M NOT A FAN OF A MERIT RAISE, AND WE NEGOTIATED AMOUNT OF MELBOURNE AND FERNANDINA BEACH.SO, I'M NOT A FAN OF, THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS AND AS I SPOKE.
FERNANDINA HAS A PLAN AND WHAT THEY DO IS YOU GET CERTAIN CERTIFICATIONS, OR YOU GET YOUR DIFFERENT LICENSES AND YOU GET EXTRA MONEY THAT WAY AND.
IT'S USUALLY IT'S A LOT EASIER FOR YOU AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL.
AND BUT THESE EMPLOYEES ARE ACTUALLY GETTING 6 OR 7, 8% BECAUSE THEY'RE GETTING EXTRA MONEY BECAUSE THEY WENT AND GOT THEIR MET, THEY GOT THEIR DISTRIBUTION LICENSE, THEY GOT THEIR WASTEWATER LICENSE, THEY GOT THE DIFFERENT THINGS AND MOVED UP AND. EXCUSE ME.
DO SOME OF THAT. SOMEWHAT, BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT OF SOME OF THE OTHER CITIES.
BUT I'M NOT A FAN OF MERIT INCREASES.
THANK YOU. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU.
SO IF THERE ARE NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, DO WE HAVE A MOTION TO EITHER APPROVE OR DECLINE THE REQUEST? I MOVE. WE ACCEPT THE REQUEST TO PAY 6%.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION? DO WE NEED TO BE MORE SPECIFIC BECAUSE WE RECEIVED THAT CHART THAT SAYS FOR GENERAL VERSUS [INAUDIBLE].
SO, CANDACE, MAYBE YOU HAVE TO SAY WHICH ONE? DON'T WE MATCH IT FOR ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES, FOR THE OTHER, THE NON-UNIONIZED BUILDING WORKERS? IT WOULD MAKE IT HELPFUL, I BELIEVE, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU WOULD STATE WHETHER THE 6% WAS JUST FOR [INAUDIBLE] BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPASSE HEARING FOR [INAUDIBLE], OR IF YOU WISH TO MAKE IT 6% FOR LIUNA AND ALL THE OTHER EMPLOYEES.
AND THEN MY MOTION YOU AMEND YOUR SECOND.
OKAY. IF THERE'S NO OTHER COMMENT, I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND GIVE MY COMMENT.
OH, YEAH. WELL, I THOUGHT WE HAD A SECOND.
I'M SORRY. CATHY, DO YOU HAVE A CLARIFICATION? I DO NOT SECOND WITH THE GENERAL.
SO THERE'S THE TWO FAILED RIGHT THEN.
AND MAYBE WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST IS BECAUSE WE ARE HERE ON THE IMPASSE PROCEEDING FOR THE LACUNA ISSUE, CERTAINLY MAKE YOUR DECISION 6%, 5%, 4%, WHATEVER IT MAY BE.
AND THEN AFTER THAT, WE CAN EITHER EXTRAPOLATE THAT AND MAKE MAYBE TAKE A SECOND ACTION.
IF WE CAN'T GET TO A CONSENSUS TODAY ON THAT, WE MAY WANT TO TAKE THAT FOR ANOTHER DAY.
BUT THERE ARE TWO VERY INTERRELATED ISSUES, BUT SEPARATE ISSUES, YOU KNOW.
SO I'M GOING TO GO AHEAD AND WEIGH IN AGAIN.
I FEEL FOR ANYONE CHALLENGED IN MAKING ENOUGH OF A LIVING TO STILL NEED A MOTION.
BUT BEFORE WE DO, YOU WANT TO.
YOU WANT TO. OKAY, FAIR ENOUGH.
LET'S GO BACK. IS THERE A MOTION TO APPROVE OR NOT? THE REQUEST BY LEONA.
I MOVE THAT WE APPROVE A 6% FOR LEONA ONLY.
WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.
NOW WE CAN HAVE SOME DISCUSSION.
THANK YOU. AND I'LL START OUT.
I THINK THE CITY HAS DONE VERY WELL IN THE LAST TWO YEARS BY OUR EMPLOYEES.
WHAT I WOULD ASK THIS BODY TO CONSIDER IS IT'S NOT ONE SIZE.
AND TO THE POINT MADE BY COUNCIL, YOU COULD EVEN DO 4.5%.
AND I WOULD ASK THAT WE VOTE NO ON THIS MOTION.
[00:50:08]
4.5%. BUT REMEMBER, YOU'RE GIVING THIS TO EVERYONE WHEN WE DID THE MATH AT THE.AT THE 5%, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ADDITIONAL COST TO THE CITY OF 83,257.
AND MAYOR. MY MOTION IS JUST FOR LIUNA.
BUT WE ALSO HAVE TO ADDRESS, SINCE WE'RE GOING TO BE VOTING ON THIS, WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE FACT THAT AFTER THIS, WE WILL HAVE TO DECIDE, ARE WE GIVING THAT SAME PAY RAISE TO ALL OF OUR STAFF AS WELL AS LIUNA? AND I'M JUST GOING ON RECORD NOW AS SAYING WHATEVER WE DO FOR THE UNION, I THINK WE REALLY SHOULD DO THE SAME FOR THE REST OF THE STAFF.
BUT ANYWAYS, SO I'M AGAINST IT.
I'M GOING TO VOTE NO ON THIS, BUT I WOULD CONSIDER IF SOMEBODY DOES MOVE TO DO A NOMINAL AMOUNT HIGHER THAN THE 4%, I WOULD, I WOULD AT LEAST CONSIDER AND HAVE THAT DIALOG.
SO WE HAD ENOUGH ROOM IN THE BUDGET TO LOWER OUR TAX RATE ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE TO THE.
SWEET ENOUGH MONEY IN THE BUDGET TO DO THAT.
AND THEN AT THE VERY LAST MINUTE, AS MUCH AS I ADORE THEM, WE THREW IN $25,000 FOR BRICKS AT THE PARK, WHICH WAS NOT ON ANYBODY'S RADAR UNTIL THE DAY THAT WE GAVE IT.
SO I AND I CERTAINLY DON'T BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MAKE THIS A BUDGET ISSUE BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY WE HAVE ENOUGH IN THE BUDGET TO DO ALL THESE OTHER THINGS AS WELL.
THE PEOPLE WHO DO THIS WORK ARE THE SWEATIEST ONES, AND I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR THAT.
AND SO I REALLY THINK THAT WE THAT WE OWE THEM A MARK OF RESPECT WITH A LOUSY 2% RAISE. SO I WOULD JUST AND TO SHARE IN THAT THEY'RE ALREADY GETTING FOR THEY'RE ASKING FOR 2%.
IT'S THE LONGEVITY OF THE WORK, WHICH IS WHY I THINK WE NEED TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN YOU'RE LUMPING IN THE GENERAL THE LONGEVITY OF THE WORK FOR THE LABOR WORKERS, CAN THEY DO THAT IN THEIR 50S AND THEIR 60S? I PERSONALLY HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO DO, AND IT'S HARD AND I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE SAME THING ACROSS THE BOARD.
SO, I'M STICKING TO 6% FOR LIUNA.
I'VE SAID MY COMMISSIONER KELLY SAID I VOTED TO THE ROLLBACK RATE AND I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THAT.
AND SO THAT'S THE WAY I LOOK AT THIS, TO BE FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE.
SO I ALSO WANT TO I ACTUALLY WANT TO AGREE WITH COMMISSIONER KELLY.
YOU'RE RIGHT. IF WE WANT TO PAY THIS, WE CAN.
BUT WE. WE HAVE THIS FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITY TO OUR CITIZENS, TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THIS CITY.
AND SO WE WILL BE IN THIS FOR THE LONG GAME.
PART OF IT EMANATED OUT OF THE FACT THAT WE WANTED TO GET OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES TO MINIMUM WAGE BEFORE REQUIRED BY THE STATE ON THEIR INCREASE.
BUT IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION.
ALL IN FAVOR SIGNIFY WITH AYE.
AYE. OPPOSED? NAY. SO I BELIEVE I HEARD A NAY FROM MR. BOLE, BUT. OKAY, SO WE HAVE MIGHT WANT TO DO A ROLL CALL VOTE.
THANK YOU. TO FOLLOW ON FROM COUNCIL, WE DO NEED TO DECIDE WHAT IT IS WE ARE OFFERING.
[00:55:07]
AND SO, AT THIS POINT, DO WE NEED TO TAKE A VOTE ON RATIFYING THE ORIGINAL PAY RAISE OF 4%? THAT IS ONE OPTION OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN.MOTION. DO WE HAVE A SECOND? DISCUSSION? OKAY.
LET'S TAKE A ROLL CALL VOTE ON THIS ALSO, DONNA.
. SO, TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE WHO TURNED OUT THIS EVENING, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE TO THE EMPLOYEES.
WE WILL CONTINUE THIS ACTUALLY ELEVATES THIS WHOLE CONVERSATION FOR FUTURE DIALOG BECAUSE PART OF THIS REALLY EMANATED NOT ABOUT THE OVERALL PAY RAISE, BUT ABOUT WHAT OUR LOWEST PAID EMPLOYEES ARE EARNING.
SO, YOU'LL HEAR MORE ABOUT THIS AS WE MOVE INTO NEXT YEAR AND APPROACH THE SUBSEQUENT BUDGET.
BUT IF THERE IS NO FURTHER BUSINESS.
GO AHEAD. YES, MR. MAYOR. SO. ACCORDING TO THE EMPLOYEE HANDBOOK, THE CITY MANAGER HAS THE ABILITY TO ADJUST THE PAY CLASSIFICATION PLAN, WHICH INCLUDES THE SALARY RANGE.
OKAY. DOES EVERYBODY UNDERSTAND THAT? WELL, BRUCE, ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT THE EVALUATION MERIT? NO. WHAT HE'S REFERRING TO AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT THE 4% IS SIMPLY A RAISE.
IT DOESN'T CHANGE THE RANGE OF PAY LIKE STARTING PAY.
AND SO WE WOULD HAVE TO DECIDE, AM I CORRECT? SO THAT'S CORRECT, MAYOR.
AND I ACTUALLY THINK THAT WOULD BE A SMART MOVE.
AND COULD WE DO THAT WITH CONSENSUS? YEAH. OKAY.
SO WE'RE DIRECTING CITY MANAGER YOUR FIRST TASK TO MANY EFFECT THAT INCREASE IN THE RANGE.
THANK YOU, MR. MAYOR. YEAH. OKAY.
IF THERE IS NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, WE HAVE TWO MINUTES BEFORE OUR NEXT MEETING STARTS AND
THIS MEETING IS ADJOURNED.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.