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Richfield adds pay grades, reclassifies city manager and approves employment agreement change
Summary
The council approved an amended 2026 general pay plan that adds pay grades 23–25, reclassifies the city manager into the new grade 25 (maximum listed at $238,522), and approved a resolution amending the city manager's employment agreement to reflect a salary adjustment.
The Richfield City Council voted to amend the 2026 general pay plan, adding pay grades 23 through 25, and to reclassify the city manager position into the newly created grade 25. Council also approved a resolution amending the city manager’s employment agreement to reflect a salary adjustment.
Councilmember Christensen said a market review showed the city’s previous salary range capped at about $206,044 for the city manager position, below the market average. The staff report and HR Director Kate Cartou said market data suggests a competitive salary on average near $230,000 (salary only) and about $237,000 when accounting for additional compensation; the proposed maximum for grade 25 was shown as $238,522.
Kate Cartou, introduced at the meeting as the new HR director, explained the pay-plan adjustment followed a 2023 legislative change that removed a prior statutory cap on local government compensation. The new grades are intended to help the city remain competitive and provide room to adjust other positions if needed.
The council then moved, seconded and approved the amended pay plan. Following a separate motion and second, the council summarized the closed-session city manager performance review and approved a resolution amending Katie Rodriguez’s employment agreement to reflect a salary adjustment.
What’s next: Staff will implement the amended pay plan gradations and update the city payroll structure; details of the city manager’s adjusted salary were reflected in the employment agreement approved in open session but are not separately enumerated in the public transcript.
