Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Compensation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council approves emergency pay increase for seasonal pool staff to aid lifeguard recruitment
Summary
Facing lifeguard shortages and competing wages in neighboring cities, Council voted unanimously to raise the top of the pay range for seasonal pool staff (Ordinance 2025-05) as an emergency measure so the city can offer higher starting wages immediately.
Council approved an emergency amendment to the non-bargaining salary schedule so the city can raise top-of-range pay for seasonal and part-time pool staff.
Mayor Brennan and pool managers reported recruitment challenges, particularly for male lifeguards needed for single‑sex swim nights. The Mayor said nearby municipalities are offering $17/hour starting pay while University Heights had been paying around $13/hour. Council members noted the potential budget impact: Finance Director Dennis Kennedy said an amendment to salary lines would likely be necessary and that a precise fiscal impact was not yet calculated; Council members requested those numbers for the next meeting.
MOTIONs to suspend the rules and adopt Ordinance 2025-05 with an emergency clause passed by unanimous roll-call votes, enabling the administration to offer higher pay immediately in hopes of filling lifeguard posts before the swim season.
Council emphasized the need to be competitive with neighboring communities to preserve programming and hours at Purvis Park and said the Recreation Committee would provide staffing-hour and revenue detail in an upcoming meeting.
