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REGULAR MEETING October 8, 2018 <br /> recommendations to what that position can do including the collection of demographic data on <br /> these assessments. We also want a moratorium on special assessments for the year just to make <br /> sure we collect and analyze that data. Before we add any more special assessments, we need to <br /> analyze the extent of which citations may be falling disproportionately on communities of color. <br /> Next year we will be implementing these ideas as well so I really think we will see a decrease in <br /> those issues but rather than moving forward without really knowing, we wanted to suggest these <br /> things. I just wanted to put this out there. I am in support of moving forward with that position and <br /> I hope we can work together to help implement some of those ideas. <br /> Councilmember Gavin Ferlic made a motion to accept the Substitute version of Bill No. 51-18 <br /> Councilmember Jake Teshka seconded this motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. <br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, I am in agreement tonight to support 51-18, however, my <br /> concern goes back to several years ago when we started talking about giving everyone two percent <br /> (2%) raises. A person making $20,000 gets a two percent (2%) raise, that's what, four hundred <br /> dollars ($400)? But if a person is making $100,000 gets two percent(2%)that is $2,000. I just did <br /> a presentation the other week for my class and thought that it is equity but it is not equal. I think <br /> several years ago we talked about that. We have to come up with some better way to set that up. <br /> We need to be not just equitable but equal with that issue because the higher range of employees <br /> are rewarded at a higher rate and the lower ones are rewarded at a lower rate,just by the mere <br /> nature of the math. There is nothing against the Administration or this Council but we have to <br /> come up with something. I know Dr. Varner brought that up and the longer I stay on this Council <br /> and the more I read about that, the more that kind of starts getting to me in the sense that we need <br /> to see what the best practices are. <br /> Councilmember Oliver Davis continued,I was reading an article last week and it was talking about <br /> the new generation is coming in and how we have to have more of a cafeteria reward system. I <br /> thought it was a really interesting article. We still need to give the two percent(2%)but for people, <br /> especially on the lower end, we could offer some other kind of benefit or something else to add to <br /> that, you know? I think we could come out of the box and be very creative in looking at that. I <br /> don't know if it's extra time, or more comp time or something. This is a way of saying thank you, <br /> especially for good work. A lot of people have been working for the City for twenty (20) or thirty <br /> (30) years. It is a good job to have with good benefits and we have to come up with ways to keep <br /> our staff here and keep them from falling apart. In a few years, the more I've been on this thing, <br /> the higher ones keep going boom, boom,boom. We give certain salaries and we bump up some of <br /> the salaries but it helps not only create morale for those but also creates and encourages morale for <br /> the government. The whole concept is to promote that whole equity kind of thing and I think as <br /> we plan for next year's budget I really want those in the Administration to think about that cafeteria <br /> kind of way to reward people. If we can't just do the two or three percent (2% - 3%) thing, what <br /> other ways could we help? Especially with these non-bargaining ones. The bargaining ones, of <br /> course,is a whole different ball game. I've been on those Teamsters and other things,I've been on <br /> Fire, Police and everything, and even there we could think about something. But especially these <br /> non-bargaining ones, they have no body to speak for them so really this Council and this <br /> Administration has to be the ones to speak for them because they can't come and do the same thing <br /> Teamsters, Fire and Police do. They have key roles in this community and often times they are the <br /> lowest paid. I think we have to have that cafeteria mindset open when it comes to setting salaries. <br /> Councilmember Karen White stated, I am in agreement with that. What we are talking about is, <br /> really,salary compression.The longer you stay,based on the income level in which you were hired <br /> at,the two percent(2%) will not keep up with newly hired salary individuals. The gap tends to get <br /> wider and wider. Unless we have a pool of dollars that we can put aside to really address some of <br /> the levels of the salaries that will also impact the general budget because once you put the money <br /> on those positions, you have to put it in the budget. I'm in agreement that we need to look at that <br /> because it is critical. We need to also look at different ways of incentives but until we deal with <br /> that gap, it will get wider and wider. <br /> Councilmember Jake Teshka stated, I will just echo that. I will channel my inner Dr. Varner and <br /> say that, for easy math, maybe we do a three-two-one (3-2-1) thing. Maybe if you make under <br /> $40,000 it's three percent(3%),if you're $40,000 to $80,000 it's two percent(2%) and then above <br /> $80,000 it is one percent (1%). I would say that is with Council excluded. That would be my <br /> 26 <br />