Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Requests topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council reviews staffing requests: code enforcement, emergency manager, recreation coordinator
Summary
Council discussed three staffing requests: a combined Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector ($40,000), a full-time Emergency Manager ($120,000) flagged by the fire chief as state-required, and a Recreation Program Coordinator ($80,000). Council asked for more analysis and did not commit to all hires.
City staff presented several personnel requests during the Feb. 8 budget retreat, prompting a mix of support and caution from council members.
Mayor Rod Westbroek raised frequent constituent requests for enforcement and supported creating a Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector position estimated at $40,000; Public Works Director Mark Larsen cautioned that certified building inspectors can be hard to recruit and that the city currently contracts inspection services. Councilman Jeremy Davis and others supported combining code enforcement and inspection responsibilities to improve field presence.
A full-time Emergency Manager position was proposed at $120,000. Fire Chief Derek Tolman said state requirements for emergency management exceed current capacities; he noted that the City Manager and Community Services Manager are currently assigned to the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) but do not live in the city. Council members expressed concern about making the position full time—Councilman Joel Dills suggested contracting to update the emergency plan rather than hiring immediately—while Councilwoman Angie Petty and the Public Safety Committee described the item as a priority.
Larson also proposed an $80,000 Recreation Program Coordinator to reduce workload on the Recreation Manager and provide succession planning; Councilman Dills stressed the need to show a revenue plan because the Family Activity Center (FAC) has not been self-sufficient. The council agreed to require background checks for volunteer coaches ($2,500) and to establish a sprinkler-clock replacement schedule ($10,000).
Outcomes: Council requested additional information and cost breakdowns before approving any full-time hires; the council agreed to the background-check program and the sprinkler-clock rotation budget item.
