Agenda Item Title:
Title
Council Member Sharkey recommending the City Council provide a $500, six-month retention bonuses to sworn Police and Fire Department personnel.
Body
Presenter:
Council Member Sharkey
Body
Description/Background:
Due to current economic conditions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a high degree of uncertainty with regard to the future impact on City finances, a majority of the City Council has signaled their intent to temporarily refrain from providing the compensation increases envisioned in the FY 2020-21 budget. This includes a 2% increase for all non-sworn City personnel and funding of the step-in-grade program in the Police and Fire Departments.
At the June 9 City Council meeting, City Administration expressed concern that this delayed approach to compensation could potentially result in Police Officers and Firefighters exiting City service thereby compromising public safety. As a good-faith gesture to public safety personnel who may question the City Council's intent to fully fund compensation increases when additional economic data supports that investment, it is proposed to use the City Council's Capital Contingency funds to provide a one-time $500 retention bonus. Police Officers and Firefighters who accept the bonus would agree to remain in City service for six months, from July 1, 2020 through January 1, 2021. Personnel who accepted the $500 retention bonus but leave City service prior to January 1, 2021 would be required to pay the City back in full.
Fiscal Impact:
The current balance of the Council Capital Contingency is $360,840.There are 108 sworn Police positions and 79 sworn fire positions. A $500 retention bonus for 187 positions equates to $93,500. In order to ensure that each Police Officer or Firefighter receives a net $500, this number will be increased by a factor of 40% for a total program cost of $130,900. This will leave a balance in the Council Capital Contingency of $229,940.
Further action to be taken:
Council and Administrative Services staff will include this appropriation in the FY 2020-21 Police and Fire Department budgets.
Recommended Action and/or Suggested Motion:
Recommendation
Motion to:
1). Approve the use of $130,900 from the Council's Capital Contingency to provide a one-time $500, six-month retention bonus to currently employed sworn Police Officer and Firefighter personnel.
2). Direct Council and Administrative Services staff to reflect this appropriation in the FY 2020-21 Budget scheduled for public hearing on June 23.
3) Request the Administration to develop retention bonus program guidelines which ensure payment as soon as possible to effected personnel, and employee agreements to ensure City funds are paid back if the employee chooses to terminate Sandy City service prior to January 1, 2021.