Council hears plan for pay-and-classification study retroactive increases; city staff proposes April 5 effective date and July 1 implementation

City Human Resources Director Jessie (first name not given) updated the council on the second phase of the citypay-and-classification study on April 21 and described the proposed timing and payroll mechanics for increases approved by council.

Human Resources told the council that increases would be made effective April 5 — the start of a pay period — rather than April 1, which falls in the middle of a pay period and would require additional calculations. The director said staff proposes implementing the new rates as of the July 1 pay period and including retroactive pay for April 5 through June 30 through regular biweekly payroll rather than a single lump-sum payment.

When asked whether a budget amendment was required, the HR director said no; the retroactive pay would be covered by salary savings and the July 1 implementation would be accommodated within the new budget line items. Councilmembers asked for a follow-up timeline and asked that the city manager include department-head conversations in his next update; HR said it could return to the May work session to present a fuller timeline and communications plan.

No formal vote was taken; staff will return with a recommended implementation schedule and communication plan to impacted departments and employees.