Grants Pass council backs immediate pay‑equity fixes, approves retroactive 3.02% COLA for eight nonbargaining positions

Grants Pass City Council voted on Oct. 15 to address immediate pay‑equity gaps for eight nonbargaining positions and apply a retroactive 3.02% cost‑of‑living adjustment, after hearing staff and task‑force recommendations to overhaul the city’s nonbargaining pay schedule.

The council’s decision follows a presentation by Stephanie Nuttall, city staff, who said the task force recommends a market‑based reclassification and a new placement methodology, with an effective date of July 1, 2025. Nuttall told the council the package is intended to balance fiscal sustainability with the need to recruit and retain staff and to comply with Oregon pay equity law.

The vote funds and authorizes one near‑term step in a larger review. Councilor Seth moved the proposal to address the immediate pay‑equity issues for the identified positions, add a retroactive COLA of 3.02% (the 2024 CPI‑U), and continue work on the full compensation project; the motion passed on a 5–2 roll call. The council directed staff to place the action on the next council agenda for formal adoption.

Why it matters: city staff said the recommended changes adjust pay bands and placement rules so market average aligns with step 6 of the schedule and creates a consistent step progression (4% between steps…