City of Lake City - Common Council - Sept. 8, 2025 Workshop Meeting

THE FOLLOWING IS A SUMMARY OF THE MINUTES FROM THE COMMON COUNCIL MEETINGS. COPIES OF THE FULL TEXT ARE AVAILABLE AT CITY HALL OR CAN BE ACCESSED ON THE INTERNET AT www.ci.lake-city.mn.us.

Lake City Common Council
WORKSHOP MEETING
September 8, 2025, 5:00 p.m.
CITY HALL
COUNCIL CHAMBERS
Members Present: Mayor Brian Quinn, Cindy McGrath, Megan Kramer, Faye Brown, Amy Alkire, Robert Newsome
Members Absent:    Russell Boe
Staff Present: City Administrator Rob Keehn, Finance Director Jerome Illg, City Clerk Michelle Seydel, Public Works Director Mitchell Rigelman, City Planner Kristi Gross.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. with a quorum present.
Review adopt/amend agenda
Motion Mcgrath, second Alkire to adopt the agenda. All ayes 6-0-0. Motion carried.
Informational Reports
Presentation from Mark Goldberg from David Drown Associates (DDA) on the Pay study.
Mr. Goldberg did a compensation and classification study for the city.  The purpose of the pay study is to develop a compensation system that is internally equitable and externally competitive. The pay study is not intended to reduce pay or eliminate positions.  The JETT system was used by Mr. Goldberg to assess job value based on qualifications, decision-making, problem-solving, relationships, physical & mental effort, and working conditions.  The City of Lake City was compared to around 25 public sector organizations across Minnesota.  
Findings:
1. Proposed a 14-grade salary structure (down from 20).
2. Average pay positioning: 3.5% above market.
3. 21 employees identified as below the proposed salary range.
4. 5 employees are above the proposed salary range.
Cost Implications:
Estimated cost to implement:
$176,000 annually, $119,000 for salary adjustments, and $57,000 for step increases.
Implementation options discussed: immediate adjustment, phased over time, or freezing salaries for those above the range.
City Administrator Rob Keehn discussed the importance of regular review to avoid future discrepancies and continue to place the City of Lake City in an internally equitable and externally competitive position. Consideration for implementation of the new structure in 2025 was discussed.
Multiple council members communicated an interest in seeing detailed breakdowns of current vs. proposed grades and steps.  Mayor Quinn commented that the JETT system focuses on positions, not individuals and is a validated, verified, and trusted system focused on methodology.
Motion McGrath, second Newsome to adjourn the meeting at 5:50 p.m. All ayes 6-0-0.

/s/ Brian Quinn, Mayor

ATTEST:
/s/ Michelle Seydel,
City Clerk

Published in the Lake City Graphic
on October 23, 2025