City salaries get raise City salaries get raise (September 17, 2004)

Council votes increase for management, confidential employees

The City Council voted unanimously last week to approve a 3 percent compensation pool for management employees and a 5 percent compensation pool for confidential employees.

These employees will be receive raises from the pools based on performance, said City Manager Deborah McKeehan.

The city's management group has about 60 middle managers and department heads, who serve at-will, which means they are not part of a formal bargaining group or union. The 3 percent compensation increase was needed to keep a 15 percent differential between management and subordinate classifications, according to the staff report.

The management employees include those at the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, but do not include McKeehan or City Attorney Michael Roush, whose salaries are handled separately. The city has nine classifications with confidential responsibilities.

The figures were arrived at by reviewing other agencies, the Consumer Price Index for the Bay Area, and the Employment Cost index for the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

The estimated cost of the increase to the city is approximately $220,000 and the increase to benefits is about $62,000. This includes Pleasanton's share of $25,000 for the Fire Department.

Councilman Matt Campbell questioned whether the Livermore City Council had to approve the increased compensation pool for the firefighters. McKeehan explained that the Fire Department Joint Powers Authority, with Pleasanton members Mayor Tom Pico and Councilwoman Jennifor Hosterman, approved the recommendation, and it would also go to the Livermore council.

With no other discussion, the Pleasanton council approved the compensation 5-0. -Dolores Fox Ciardelli

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