Friday, January 24, 2025

My 1.21.25 Meeting Summary

On Tuesday the Council met to discuss a couple significant items.  While I was unable to attend due to schedule conflict, I did watch the recording and wanted to provide an update as to what was discussed and decided.

- The Council approved several organizational changes including eliminating two positions, adding three positions,  updating job descriptions for many roles, and changing the reporting hierarchy within the City staff to better align with those changes. The result is a modest annualized increase of approximately $70K and a much better aligned staff to the roles and responsibilities that the City needs.

What was presented by staff was the culmination of a significant amount of analysis and work by City staff, our new City Manager, and the Budget and Audit Committee.  Starting back as early as March 2023, there were various voices suggesting that much more staff was needed, and at significantly higher rates. Instead of taking significant action without sufficient analysis, myself and Mayor Trupiano as part of the Budget and Audit Committee, worked with staff to bring forward a more needs based staffing model.  

The updated organizational structure has a flatter structure - reducing the instances where a management level position only has one direct report.  We also focused on the compensation ranges for the positions we needed and aligned them with both market rates and the duties they'd be performing.  Our City Manager has stated that these updates "would be amazing".

- The Council also approved the application of a grant to assist in funding bicycle lane improvements on Mountaire Parkway in connection with potential street striping changes.  The substantive discussion around the street work will occur at our next meeting on 2.4.25.