MEMORANDUM

To:     Mike Wildgen

          City Manager

From: Debbie Van Saun

          Asst. City Manager

Re:     language in MOU related to salary discussions

Date:  April 28, 2005

The following wording is included in the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that currently exists between the City of Lawrence and the Lawrence Police Officer’s Association (LPOA):

· “The City and the LPOA acknowledge that ‘compensation objectives’ were established in the 2003 City of Lawrence, Kansas Compensation Study Final Report.  Per that Report, market positioning was listed as a compensation objective.  Specifically ‘…the City of Lawrence will attempt to position its pay grades at approximately the median level of the primary market pay for positions contained within a particular pay grade.  As resources become available and the performance programs indicate it is appropriate, the City will attempt to incrementally increase its market position based on the overall performance of the City and the expectations for City services.’  To that end, the City agrees to undertake a primary market study in 2005 in order to determine the market positioning in FY 2006 of the Police Officer and Detective pay grades in relationship to the primary market established in the Report.” 

· “Subsequent to the completion of that study, discussions between the City and LPOA will take place to determine any adjustments to the Police Officer and Detective pay grades in order to maintain the aforementioned median level positioning.  It is understood that resource availability is a factor in the City’s ability to continue to incrementally increase its market position for these positions.”

The work that Lori Carnahan, Personnel Manager, and Regan Gerlt, Management Assistant, have been doing on the salary survey of the City’s primary market is being completed.  They anticipate updating the Management Team on the results at the May 4^th meeting.  Additionally, I have scheduled a meeting with the LPOA representatives for May 5^th.  At that meeting, we will be discussing the salary survey results, the market positioning projected in FY 2006 for the Police Officer and Detective pay grades, and related issues.

The MOU that currently exists between the City of Lawrence and the International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) contains the following wording on the subject of 2006 wages:

· “If during FY 2006 the City institutes a general wage adjustment to any City employee, employee group, or bargaining unit during the term of this memorandum, such general wage adjustment shall also be instituted for employees covered by this Agreement.”

This memo serves as an update on these planned activities and discussions.  Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

c:       Dave Corliss, Asst. City Manager

          Frank Reeb, Administrative Services Director