During their policy and planning session following a regular meeting this week, the Pella City Council reviewed a revised employee compensation plan.

City Administrator Mike Nardini says a comprehensive review of current policies was reviewed during a study conducted over the last year. The salary survey did identify some positions whose entry compensation levels were below market, and the proposed plan includes internal equity adjustments which are necessary to ensure separation exists in compensation levels between newly hired employees and employees who have been with the City for a number of years. The intention of a proposed step system is to reward employees for superior performance during their annual review. The estimated cost to adopt the new wage scales is approximately $200,000, and city staff is proposing to utilize funds allocated for the FY 18-19 cost of living adjustment to fund the plan’s adoption.

Nardini says they aim to implement an updated salary scale by the end of next spring. Presentations will be made to the city’s workforce about potential changes over the next two months, with the Pella City Council planning to review further possible action in December.