The meeting opened with Joe Patton, the Director of Human Resources, introducing the results of a salary benefits consultant study conducted by the Garing Group. John Muller from Garing Group presented the findings, which showed that 146 city employees were below the new minimum salary set, with an annualized cost of $725,000 to adjust their pay to the new minimum. The study proposed a total annualized impact of just under $1.6 million to adjust salaries, which would result in an immediate increase in pay for 223 employees. The consultants emphasized the need for ongoing data refreshes to prevent the pay plan from becoming unbalanced and suggested implementing the proposed changes by March 31st. They also noted that the city’s health insurance plan was already top of the market and that short-term and long-term disability benefits were competitive.

In the discussion that followed, the council deliberated on the importance of annually adjusting pay ranges based on the Consumer Price Index to avoid compression issues. They considered the competitiveness of pay ranges and the challenges of adjusting salaries for employees who take on additional responsibilities. The council requested the job description survey to be sent to them for reference and inquired about the municipalities used for benchmarking. They agreed on the need for further discussions on the next steps and potential additional work required beyond the current study.

Attention then shifted to the Main Street program, with Katherine Beck discussing the economic development potential of utilizing historic assets to maintain and establish a community’s identity. She highlighted the four-point approach of promotion, design, economic vitality, and organization and shared data on the return on investment and success of Main Street programs in terms of job creation, business growth, and volunteer hours. The council members expressed support for initiatives such as the market on 5th and the development of a permanent space for vendors, emphasizing the importance of art and culture in the community. The need for a library in the downtown area and the impact of upgraded parking facilities on attracting people to the area were also discussed.

Further discussions revolved around the challenges and strategies for revitalizing the downtown area, with the speaker emphasizing the need for a unified vision and strong commitment from the city, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), and the community. The potential for crossover and resource utilization between local municipalities and the CRA was considered, with a recommendation to consult the City attorney on what the CRA can support. A concern was raised about a 2019 opinion indicating that CRAs cannot pay for promotion and marketing materials, prompting suggestions to explore other funding sources.

Michelle then presented a table outlining the responsibilities across different entities, proposing monthly or bi-monthly meetings to bring organizations together for collaboration. She discussed the key factors for implementing a successful Main Street program, including district alignment with the CRA, community understanding and commitment to the program, organizational readiness, and financial strength. She underscored the importance of a paid professional to lead the program and avoid focusing solely on fundraising.

The potential accreditation of the Main Street program was also a topic of discussion, with anticipation for the application period opening in June. There was debate over the necessity of a financial contribution from the community, and the council discussed the need for a solid commitment before making a financial investment. The proposed next steps included a new presentation to the council with specific recommendations, the identification of board members, a proposed budget with funding sources, and a list of in-kind contributions. The council debated the need for at least two liaisons to the organization and discussed the availability of grants and suitable office space for the program. Despite the pressing timeline, the council members appeared willing to move forward with further discussions and decision-making.