Council debates raises, public works director and contract cuts as budget workshop proceeds

Clerk (Speaker 2) presented three budget scenarios — described in transcript as "red," "blue," and "green" — that vary by whether all employees receive raises, whether the Public Works Director position is funded, and how much contract labor remains. The scenario with raises, a Public Works Director and a full-time street worker was presented at roughly $297,000; removing raises reduced the figure to about $269,000. Clerk later included contract pay and provided a combined figure of $305,464.83 when contract pay is included.

Council members debated priorities. One council member plainly said, "We're broke. City's broke," and urged caution on raises while acknowledging staff deserve pay increases. Multiple members proposed interim staffing solutions: hiring temporary OPS positions (six months then review) instead of immediately filling a director slot, or advertising the director position but delaying hiring until the budget can support it. The council discussed the possibility that hiring an on-site Public Works Director could reduce contract labor costs but would increase payroll obligations.

The council approved keeping the director position on the table and to advertise while also endorsing a six-month trial arrangement for Marquez (the employee discussed) to transition to full time with benefits after a probationary period. Clerk recorded the budget numbers and said the package (with contract pay) would land at approximately $305,464.83; members tasked staff to recalculate totals if the council decided to vacate the city building to capture utility savings.

Councilors asked staff to prepare a packet with clarified numbers for the next workshop and to advertise the budget timetable so the council could proceed with tentative adoption at the next scheduled hearing.