Council to study pay rates in other cities

The study will take 18 to 20 weeks to compile and include five phases — a review of the city's job classification and compensation system, a market survey, pay structure and schedule, a final report and implementation, and pay equity compliance testing.

The base fee for the services is $8,000. Additional fees may apply but the total amount will remain well below the $15,000 the city included in its Planning Commission Development Fund, according to Assistant City Administrator Karin Tank.

This is the first time the city has done a compensation study in five years.

Council member Virgil Batesole cast the lone vote against the study. He said the city should do its own study, using data that Flaherty and Hood compiled for other cities.

Following are other items from Monday's meeting.

Crowser to retire from ALP

Al Crowser, longtime general manager of Alexandria Light and Power, is retiring.

The council accepted his letter of resignation, which is effective on April 30, 2018.

In related utility matters, the council appointed Mayor Sara Carlson to serve on the Public Works Board. She will replace Kevin Mahoney.

Council member Virgil Batesole voted against the appointment.

Street funds advanced

The council approved a resolution that will allow it to advance state aid funds that are not currently available in the city's state aid street construction account.

The city has passed a similar resolution nearly every year. It's doesn't automatically allocate the funds, but sets an amount aside at the state aid office in order to make the funds available for future use.

The maximum amount the city can advance is five times its annual construction allocation or about $3.8 million.

No interest is charged for the advance.

Strategic plan

Leaders for the city of Alexandria have set their sights on six priorities for the next three years — operational excellence, long-term planning, sustainable infrastructure, economic vitality, a safe community, and better communications.

The goals are part of a strategic plan for 2018-2020 developed by the Alexandria City Council, a senior leadership team and key collaborators. The council reviewed some of the highlights of the plan at an informal work session before Monday night's regular meeting.

No action has been taken at this point.

Licenses approved

The council approved three charitable gambling permits, allowing Voyager Elementary Parent Association to conduct bingo on Feb. 2 and Oct. 26 at the school, the Alexandria Youth Baseball Association to sell raffle tickets at the Broadway Ballroom on May 12 and the Alexandria Youth Baseball Association to sell raffles and conduct bingo for a March 2 event.