HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Meeting of the Ames City Council 07/02/2018MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING
OF THE AMES CITY COUNCIL
AMES, IOWA JULY 2, 2018
The Ames City Council Special Session was called to order pursuant to law by Mayor John Haila at
2:37 p.m. on the 2nd day of July, 2018, in the City Council Chambers in City Hall, 515 Clark Avenue.
As it was impractical for them to attend in person, Mayor John Haila and the following Council
members were brought in telephonically: Bronwyn Beatty-Hansen, Gloria Betcher, Amber Corrieri,
Tim Gartin, and David Martin. Council Member Chris Nelson and ex officio Member Allie Hoskins
were absent.
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (MOU) WITH INTERNATIONAL UNION OF
OPERATING ENGINEERS (IUOE) FOR ONE-TIME HIRING BONUS FOR CYRIDE
MECHANIC ASSISTANT POSITION: Assistant City Manager Brian Phillips explained that
CyRide has had two failed recruitments for the Mechanic Assistant position. In reviewing the reasons
for the difficulty in finding a qualified individual for the position, CyRide reviewed the wages and
hiring practices of its major competitors. According to Mr. Phillips, it was found that many of the
firms were paying hiring bonuses to new employees, and it is believed that that initial pay differential
is negatively impacting the attractiveness of CyRide’s position.
As a proposed solution, for the next Mechanic Assistant recruitment only, which will begin in July
2018, CyRide proposed to include a hiring bonus, payable in three installments ($500 at the first
paycheck, $500 after six months, and $1,000 after 18 months). Mr. Phillips emphasized that the hiring
bonus will be offered only one time to determine if the addition of the hiring bonus made a difference
in attracting more qualified applicants to the job opening. Assistant City Manager Phillips advised that
it is critical that the position be filled as soon as possible as the summer months are when they catch
up on maintenance of the CyRide vehicles.
According to Mr. Phillips, the membership of the IUOE, which represents CyRide’s mechanics, is
supporting of this approach. In addition, the Transit Board of Trustees approved the hiring bonus at
its meeting held June 28, 2018.
It was pointed out that the proposed MOU attached to the Council Action Form stated that the change
would be made to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement effective July 1, 2019. Mr.
Phillips stated that the year should have been July 1, 2016; that was a typo and will be corrected.
Moved by Corrieri, seconded by Betcher, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 18-408 approving a
Memorandum of Understanding with the International Union of Operating Engineers that would allow
a one-time hiring bonus for the CyRide Mechanic Assistant position.
Roll Call Vote: 5-0. Resolution declared adopted unanimously, signed by the Mayor, and hereby
made a portion of these Minutes.
COUNCIL COMMENTS: Council Member Betcher commented that she had heard from Julie Weeks,
Ames Convention & Visitors Bureau, that there is an opportunity for the Mayor and City Council
members to volunteer to staff the information booth to be located Downtown for RAGBRAI. Ms.
Betcher also mentioned that If others are interested in volunteering during RAGBRAI, those
opportunities are listed on AMESRAGBRAI.com.
ADJOURNMENT: Moved by Corrieri to adjourn the meeting at 2:44 p.m.
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Diane R. Voss, City Clerk John A. Haila, Mayor
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