Market Survey Vote - Addendum to MOU

Please be advised that the City is requesting that the TSA sign an addendum to the current MOU that would forgo the upcoming market survey (see attachment) due to the existing fiscal crisis. I have been working with the City Manager and Human Resources on this process, so that if approved, TSA could agree to void the market survey scheduled for implementation in January. This would include both the range adjustments and any actual dollars associated with those range adjustments.

The TSA board has met and agreed that voiding this year’s market survey is a prudent idea to the help the City in this time of financial crisis.

What the board is asking of you is to read the proposed addendum and vote on whether you agree to forgo the market survey as stated in the addendum or not. This vote will both allow the TSA board to move forward with voiding the market survey and membership ratifying the addendum.

If TSA membership does not agree to the proposed addendum the process would be as follows: the City Council could decide to implement the fiscal crisis provision of the MOU and the meet and confer process on the market survey portion of the MOU would start again. If TSA and the City could not reach a resolution, the impasse language of the MOU would come into play and ultimately the City Council would make the final decision.

Ron Smith - TSA President

Click here to vote on proposed addendum.

Click here to view proposed addendum.

November Meeting Minutes

The representative meeting began at 1:40 pm.


Ken Jones, Internal Audit Manager, budget presentation

Ken is heading the Financial / Revenue team that is evaluating revenue opportunities and financial restructuring. Other members are Cecilia Robles, Brenda Buren and Debbie Bair

The projected deficit this year is $12 million dollars.

Our current policy is to keep 25% of revenue as an unreserved/undesignated fund balance each year. The recommendation is to keep a flexible unreserved fund balance between 20% and 30%. The rainy day fund, currently $8 million dollars, would be eliminated and rolled into the unreserved fund balance. In addition, due to an accounting rule change, the designated compensation fund is no longer needed and the balance of $7.5 million will be rolled into the unreserved fund.

An additional $8 million is needed from payroll/benefits this year and next. Reductions of part time, contracted services and non personnel costs of 4% (1% equals $400,000) will be required as well.

Other cities generally maintain a 20% reserve balance. The ASRS will have an estimate sometime in January for possible contribution rate increases.

The Human Resources evaluation team is looking at the value of benefits received.

The Reorganization Team is trying to determine how the organizational structure will look like with less positions. Keep in mind that the recommendations are a "converstion starter".

At this time the only the General Fund is under review, not Capital Funds.

The council will have the final say in determining policy.


Renie Broderick, Human Resources Director

Renie comes to us as the former HR Director of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh PA area). In her last two years they were forced to downsize 700 positions out of 6,500.

She presented a draft of a Priority Placement Program for employees who's positions will be eliminated. One question will be whether the program will be based on senority or be competitive.

Renie would like input on HR performance, ideas, etc. from supervisors.

Ron Smith, TSA President

Ron told us the reorganization group's report is completed. How to release the recommendations is under debate.


The October Meeting minutes were approved. They are posted on the website.

The TSA Treasurer, Linda Saliani reports membership now totals 104.

Board Member Lucy Morales is working on the possible formation of a TSA Toastmaster Club. She said there is some interest and is targeting January 2009.

The Holiday Toy Drive starts November 17. More information on flyer link on website.

We are working to better define the TSA Attorney's services available to members and a procedure for members to initiate communication. One representative noted that it took one and a half days to get a response. The board will follow up on this.

Committee Reports:

Community Service - Lucy Morales

Sustainability - Wendy Springborn-Pitman

Deferred Compensation - Tom Hartman