The Odessa City Council will hear the results of the latest compensation study Tuesday. Also on the agenda — on-call contractors, a new municipal parking garage and funding open positions.
Back in June, the council voted unanimously to pay Gallagher Human Resources and Compensation Practice $157,000 to “assist with introducing a total rewards philosophy, design market-aligned pay structures and develop job evaluation methods to maintain internal equity.”
According to the agenda for Tuesday’s 3 p.m. work session meeting, the council will gain insight into whether the city’s existing salary and compensation schedules are competitive.
It will be the second time in two years the council will hear on the topic.
Evergreen Solutions was hired in July 2022 for $111,500 to look at staffing levels and compensation for public safety positions. The company also developed a comprehensive classification and compensation program for the entire city, but their recommendations were never put into place.
Evergreen was wrapping up their work when there was a fierce fight amongst council members about giving Odessa first responders, especially firefighters, a raise. Several city council members weren’t opposed to the raises, but wanted to wait until Evergreen was done looking at all city positions before awarding them. However, three council members, Tom Sprawls, Detra White and Mari Willis, opted not to run for re-election in November 2022 and were replaced.
On Dec. 13, 2022, all first responders received their raise and Evergreen never presented their findings.
The council will also discuss issuing a second request for proposals for on-call electrical, HVAC/plumbing, general contractor and landscape services.
According to materials provided to the city, an RFP for general contractors went out in July, but no bids were received. Staff discovered the insurance requirements posed a financial burden on small businesses so adjustments have been made.
Director of Risk Management Yvette Griffin believes having contractors on-call will save the city time and money by limiting the need for additional meetings, the need to prepare additional RFPs and the need to place additional legal notices in the Odessa American.
In August, the council approved multiple contracts for companies that will be called on an as-needed basis for engineering and design services, land surveying services and architectural services.
The council will also meet in executive session during their work session to evaluate the applicants for the associate municipal court judge position along with his or her salary.
During the council’s regular meeting at 6 p.m., council members will consider awarding a $200,000 contract to WGI to build a new parking garage at Lee Avenue and Third Street.
During their last meeting, the council awarded a $194,721 contract to Veit National to take down the structurally unsound existing garage.
According to materials shared with the council, WGI was one of five companies interested in building the new garage and a committee chose them because they have more than 40 years experience, provided a timeline with benchmarks, plan to include stakeholders throughout the process, offered ideas for additional revenue streams for public parking and submitted a preliminary design.
Also on Tuesday, Finance Director Kaylie Banda will be asking the council for just over $700,000 to fill 10 positions.
Banda said the city has a “needs-based staff methodology” and therefore needs roughly $464,000 for five fire inspectors and the remainder to fill five solid waste and equipment services positions.
The funding will come from the general, solid waste and equipment services funds.
