On July 1 following the annual performance evaluation, an employee’s salary may be increased by an amount previously approved by the City Council by non-code ordinance for the applicable fiscal year. A merit increase must be earned and is not granted automatically. Merit increases shall be based upon objective evaluation of an employee’s work performance, recorded on a performance evaluation report. When the overall report shows a satisfactory or higher rating, and when it is shown that the employee has demonstrated satisfactory performance of a progressively greater value to the city, a merit increase shall be approved.
(A) Such advancement may be made annually until the employee has reached the maximum pay rate of the salary range for the employee’s position. During a year when the wage range is increased, employees hired between April 1 and June 30 shall also move up to the new minimum of the wage range on July 1, in which case they will not be eligible for an increase on October 1.
(B) When an employee reaches the maximum pay rate in their pay range, or if the percentage increase granted to other employees who are still within their pay ranges will cause the employee to reach or exceed the maximum pay rate in their pay range merit increases equal to one-half the percentage increase granted to other employees who are still within their pay ranges may be granted annually on July 1.
(C) When the Department Director determines that an employee has not demonstrated satisfactory performance of a progressively greater value to the city during the employee’s past merit anniversary year, the Department Director may defer the merit increase for a stipulated time during which certain specific improvements must be made, or deny the increase. Notice of such deferral and reasons shall be given to the employee on the performance evaluation report. The deferred merit increase may be approved any time during the deferral period that the Department Director determines that the employee has demonstrated satisfactory improvement.
(D) Cost of living increases may be authorized by the City Council by non-code ordinance. All employees shall be entitled to receive the full cost of living percentage increase even if this increase will cause an employee’s pay to exceed the maximum pay in their pay range.
(Am. Ord. 99-01, passed 3-9-99; Am. Ord. 2001-22, passed 11-13-01; Am. Ord. 2019-10, passed 9-10-19)