| Council asked to approve raises Request totals nearly $1 million 05/31/2001 By Wendy Hundley / The Dallas Morning News
The Plano City Council was asked Tuesday to approve almost $1 million in
pay raises for city employees over the next four months to remain
competitive in the job market.
Despite a slumping economy, Plano had a 2 percent unemployment rate in
March, less than half the 4.5 percent national unemployment rate. The
Dallas area leads the nation in the number of new jobs created,
officials said.
"We continue to see growth in the job market," said LaShon Ross, Plano's
director of human resources, noting that the economy is experiencing a
phenomenon known as "churning," when new jobs are being created at the
same rate that other workers are being laid off.
Currently, the city is experiencing a 16 percent job turnover rate –
down from 17 percent in 1999.
Ms. Ross asked the council to approve $982,225 in pay increases to be
distributed before the city's next fiscal year begins in October to help
the city be in a better position to recruit and retain employees. The
proposal would give non-civil service employees raises equal to 3.5
percent of the midpoint of their pay classification. Civil service
workers, including firefighters and police officers, would receive 4
percent base-salary adjustments.
The pay increase would affect about 2,000 city employees and would
reduce the number of employees paid below the market level from 47
percent to 43 percent, Ms. Ross said.
While the council is expected to approve the request when it's presented
as an ordinance in June, several council members said they'd prefer to
consider this costly item during the regular budget period and asked the
city's human resources staff to look at enhancing employee benefit
packages as an incentive for workers.
"My disappointment is that we have about the same turnover rate as last
year," Mayor Pro Tem Rick Neudorff said.
Other budget priorities
In other business, council members began outlining their priorities for
the 2001-02 budget year.
Funding for building code enforcement and infrastructure improvements
rated high on the list for several council members.
Council members John Roach Jr. and Pat Evans said the budget should
include funding to buy cameras for red-light intersections in case Plano
decides to follow the lead of Garland, which plans to install traffic
cameras even though the measure has not been approved by the Legislature.
"I'd like to have funds available," Ms. Evans said.
Plano City Manager Tom Muehlenbeck said the photographic equipment costs
$150,000 per intersection, but some companies provide the devices at no
cost and are reimbursed through municipal traffic fines.
Parks are a priority for council member Phil Dyer. "Make sure we have
enough to maintain our parks in top-flight condition," he said.
Ms. Evans said the new Safe Streets Initiative should have adequate
funding to build chicanes and other devices to slow speeding on
residential streets.
The recommended budget will be presented to the council on July 24, and
work sessions will be held in August.
Unhappy dentists
The council also heard from several local dentists who were unhappy with a
requirement that their offices be equipped with costly devices to prevent
backflow of contaminants into the local water system.
"We think dental offices should be exempt," because they aren't
specifically mentioned in the state requirements and many dentists
already have equipment that prevents water line contamination, Dr.
Marcus Whitmore told the council.
Public Works Director Jim Foster said cities are required to enforce the
state's public water safety regulations or risk fines of up to $1,000 a
day.
"We will not be in compliance if we excluded them," Mr. Foster said.
The council asked Mr. Foster for more information about the state's
requirements for dentists.
Staff writer Wendy Hundley can be reached at 214-977-6980 and at .
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