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Council halves funded amount for unfilled golf equipment tech amid recruitment challenges
Summary
Council reduced the funded amount for an unfilled golf equipment technician by $32,333 (50% of the ordinance amount after amendment) following presentations that the posted salary was not competitive and the job remained vacant despite repeated recruitment attempts.
The council voted to reduce the funded level for a longstanding unfilled golf equipment technician position after hearing from golf management that the current ordinance salary had failed to attract qualified candidates.
Golf superintendent Jerry Dunkley told the committee the mechanic role is "the backbone of the operation," responsible for keeping mowers, carts and hydraulics running, and that candidates were seeking roughly $10,000 more than the posted salary. Management had relied on retired staff working part-time but said that approach leaves the operation vulnerable.
Councilor Lataff moved to reduce the full-time funded salary, and after amendments and discussion the council settled on cutting the funded level by $32,333.03 to permit a partial-year funding approach while staff re-evaluates the ordinance salary and recruitment plan. The motion passed on a roll call vote (8–3).
Councilors emphasized they did not want to undercut the golf course’s ability to operate or degrade course quality, but cited tight overall city finances. Finance staff and the superintendent said they will return with options to increase the advertised salary and/or shift to a part-time interim arrangement until a qualified candidate is found.
