HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/22/2009 Regular (2)
City of Springfield
Special Regular Meeting
MINUTES OF TIlE SPECIAL REGULAR MEETING OF
THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD
WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2009
The City of Springfield Council met in special regular session in the Jesse Maine Meeting Room,
225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Wednesday, July 22,2009 at 6:50 p.m., with Mayor
Leiken presiding.
ATTENDANCE
Present were Mayor Leiken and Councilors Lundberg, Wylie, Leezer, Ralston, Simmons and
Pishioneri. Also present were City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Joe Leahy, Clerk III
Trudy Borrevik and members of the staff.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - Please limit comments to 3 minutes. Request to speak cards are
available at both entrances. Please present cards to City Recorder. Speakers may not yield
their time to others.
1. Stormwater Systems Development Charge Rates.
Assistant Public Works Director Len Goodwin requested to postpone the hearing based on
discussion during the Joint Elected Officials meeting with Lane County held earlier in the
evening.
Mayor Leiken postponed the hearing.
BUSINESS FROM TIlE CITY MANAGER
1. Collective Bargaining Agreement with Local 1148, American Federation o(State County and
Municipal Employees, AFL-CIO.
Assistant Public Works Director Len Goodwin presented the staff report on this item. Staff has
reached a tentative agreement with the AFSCME collective bargaining unit with respect to the
terms of an agreement to succeed the agreement which expired as of June 30, 2009. Staffwill
review that tentative agreement and seek action by the Council.
The tentative agreement generally meets the guidance previously provided by Council. It
provides for no increases in wages during the three year term. It does allow for reopening in 2010
to address economic terms. This will give the City a chance to implement any decisions by the .
Council on the current classification and compensation study, as well as to respond to changes in
the economy.
The tentative agreement does increase an allowance to employees for required safety footwear.
Now employees are allow $100 a year toward the cost of this equipment. The amount would
increase to $150, which will cover modest steel toed boots, but is still below what many
employees believe they need to spend to get top-quality footwear.
The only other change with economic impact is a change in the split between employer and
employee on health and dental insurance. The current formula results in the City paying about 87
City of Springfield
Council Special Regular Meeting Minutes
July 22, 2009
Page 2
percent ofthe premium cost; the tentative agreement would move that to 90 percent (still well
below most of our traditional comparators) as of January 1, 2010. Over the full three years, this
change will add less than $60,000 to the City's current projected costs increases.
As is common, there were several additional language changes that have no economic impact, but
clarify operational issues.
AFSCME is scheduled to complete voting on ratification on July 22,2009. The negotiations were
amiable throughout. AFSCME representatives, although zealous in asserting their interests,
seemed to clearly understand the circumstances the City faced and recognized their responsibility
to join in meeting the challenge ofthe current recession.
Staff recommends approval of the agreement.
Mr. Goodwin advised Council that AFSCME had overwhelmingly ratified the agreement.
Mayor Leiken asked Mr. Goodwin to thank the ASFCME leadership very much for ratifying the
agreement. The approval of the agreement showed good leadership and concern for the
community.
Mr. Goodwin stated that the union was zealous in the bargaining, but clearly recognized the
situation for the City and recognized their responsibility in playing a part in maintaining the
City's good fiscal balance.
Councilor Pishioneri asked Mr. Goodwin to thank the union as well.
Councilor Ralston stated he noticed the change in the $60,000 maximum for increased costs over
the term of the agreement.
IT WAS MOVED BY COUNCILOR RALSTON WITH A SECOND BY COUNCILOR
LUNDBERG TO APPROVE THE PROPOSED AGREEMENT WITH LOCAL 1148,
AMERICAN FEDERATION OF STATE, COUNTY AND MUNICIPAL WORKERS,
AFL-CIO. THE MOTION PASSED WITH A VOTE OF 6 FOR AND 0 AGAINST.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:53.
Minutes Recorder Trudy Borrevik
Attest:
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