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Home My WebLink About2014-01-15 PACKET 04.F.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION PREPARED BY Administration COUNCIL AGENDA MEETING ITEM # DATE 1/15/2014 � � Joe Fischbach ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT STAFF AUTHOR **:�***�***************************************** COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Consider adopting a Resolution approving the 2014 Fire Department Paid-on-call Pay Plan. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Adopt a Resolution approving the 2014 Fire Department Paid-on-call Pay Plan. BUDGET IMPLICATION $ BUDGETED AMOUNT ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION DATE ❑ PLANNING ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS �I ►1 ■ ■ ■ � $ ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE REVIEWED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ APPROVED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ DENIED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ MEMO/LETTER: Memo from Joe Fischbach and Ryan Schroeder dated 1/10/2014 RESOLUTION: Paid-on-Call Fire Pay Plan Resolution 14-xxx ORDINANCE: ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: OTHER: ADMINISTRATORS COMMENTS `� ity Administrator COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED Date ❑ OTHER CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE � MINNESOTA � To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Joe Fischbach, Human Resources Manager Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator Date: January 10, 2014 Subject: 2014 Paid-on-Call Firefighter Pay Plan As part of the 2014 budget process the Fire Department submitted a budget addition recommending changes to the Paid-on-Call Firefighter pay plan. Specifically, the recommendation includes eliminating the casual and .6 FTE Medic positions in favor of adjustment in pay of the Firefighter/Medics. As part of the duty crew model, the Fire Department finds it practical to only have personnel that can provide both EMS and fire suppression functions. Additionally, when our Paid-on-call Firefighter/Medics served as the primary Medic on the Fire side (at times when full-time staff were unavailable) the casual and .6 Medics were paid a$22.00 per hour rate premium (up from the $15.00 per hour rate when they were not the primary Fire Medic). As part of the budget proposal, this scenario would be discontinued. Alternatively, Paid-on-call Firefighter/Medics with less than 2 years of ALS experience would be paid $15.00 per hour (the current rate) and those with 2 or more years of ALS experience would be paid $18.00 per hour for all hours worked. We currently have nine employees who are Paid-on-Call Firefighter/Medics. Six have two or more years of experience and would qualify for the higher rate. During the period April through December 2013, non full-time Firefighter/Medics worked about 2,613 hours as the primary Fire Medic at a cost to the EMS system of $57,500. Assuming the same number of hours is allocated to the EMS system in 2014, the cost would be $44,370, for a savings to the EMS system of $13,130. However, given that this new $15.00/$18.00 rate becomes the new base rate for all EMS/Fire response this savings would be offset by increased costs for non primary Medic wages as an expense to the Fire Division. Additionally, to address a wage compression issue, staff is recommending that the District Chief position pay rate go from $18.00 to $18.50 per hour. As stated, this was part of the approved budget and additional funding is not required. Both requested actions are as was proposed during the budget process. It has been the long standing practice to adopt a general increase for Paid-On-Call staff when market metrics dictate that a general wage adjustment is necessary to keep pace with the market. Resulting from this practice is that in the years 2009-2013 upward general adjustments were made in order to keep pace with the external market. During that period Paid-on-Call wages increases by a factor of 3.269 times more than the general percentage wage adjustment for full-time regular staff positions. Staff did nof budget, nor is it recommending, � general wage increase for Paid-on-Call Firefighters in 2014. An external market was completed this week and the Firefighter/EMT wage of $13.00 per hour is at about 101.90% of the average. It should also be noted that we have concurrently been attempting to adjust pension benefits to a closer relationship to the market. However, our position has been that the City benefit guarantee must have 130% investment fund coverage. The Fire Relief Association and investments is self managed (outside City control) which necessitates the conservative coverage ratio. The pension guarantee for the relief association is currently at $3,150 for each year of service in 2013 and thereafter, up from the prior level of $2,700. Future changes to the guaranteed benefit level will occur separate from wage discussions. We believe that implementation of the duty crew model has had a positive impact on the work/life balance/scheduling for Paid-on-call staff and on response times. In total, combined budget impacts appear to be on target. Action Staff is recommending Council adopt the attached Resolution updating the Paid-on-Call Firefighter Pay Plan. RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE 2014 PAY PLAN FOR FIRE DEPARTMENT PAID-ON-CALL EMPLOYEES FOR THE CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE ARTICLE I. WAGES Wage for FF1 & EMT Training FF/EMT Trainee FF/EMT FF/Medic FF/Medic Engineer Lieutenant Ca pta i n District Chief Standby Pay 1 13 2014 $200.00 stipend $8.00 $13.00 $15.00 $18.00 $13.50 $14.00 $15.50 $18.50 $2.25 With less than 2 years ALS experience With more than 2 years ALS experience Employees will be paid 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for all hours worked between 12:00 AM and 11:59 PM on the actual holidays as defined in the City Personnel Policy. ARTICLE II. EFFECTIVE DATE This resolution shall become effective January 13, 2013 and shall remain in effect until amended by the City Council. NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, County of Washington, State of Minnesota, that the above listed plan be adopted. Passed this 15th day of January 2014. Myron Bailey, Mayor Attest: Caron Stransky, City Clerk