(a) The minimum rate of pay for a class shall be paid upon appointment to the class, except that appointment rates above the minimum rate may be paid by the Director of Public Service and Safety. The department head may submit a request, outlining reasons for such action, for approval by the Director of Public Service and Safety. Justification for approval will be limited to recognition of exceptional qualifications or experience of an eligible employee, or lack of available eligible employees at the minimum rate. If a former employee is re-employed in a class in which he or she has previously been employed, the Director of Public Service and Safety may make an appointment at the same rate of pay which the employee had been receiving at the termination of his or her service if that rate is at or above the established minimum rate at the time of re-employment.
(b) Increases within appropriate ranges shall be from one step to the next higher step. Except for the position of Director of Public Service and Safety, the employee must have completed six months at the lower pay range when advancing from Step 1 to Step 2. Except for the position of Director of Public Service and Safety, the employee must have completed one year at the lower pay range before advancing from Step 2 to Step 3, from Step 3 to Step 4, and from Step 4 to Step 5. However, if it is determined that an employee is improperly classified, or in the case of a promotion, the provision that an employee must have completed not less than twelve months at the next lower pay range may be waived by the Director of Public Service and Safety. If an employee, other than the Director of Public Service and Safety, starts in a step other than Step 1, he or she is eligible to advance to the next step in six months.
The Director of Public Service and Safety shall advance to the next step on January 1 of each year subsequent to the date of his or her appointment.
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) hereof, salary increases of more than one step or more frequently than specified may be made by the Director of Public Service and Safety on recommendation from the department head, in exceptional circumstances.
(d) Each step of the five-step salary and hourly range shall not be considered automatic. The department head must justify to the Director of Public Service and Safety and the employee the denial or approval of an increase on the basis of the employee's job performance.
(1) Each new employee shall be regarded as probationary for a period of six months. After such probationary period, the employee is advanced to the next step or is not retained as an employee.
(2) The employee is expected to constantly develop his or her ability. Improvement may be attained by greater skill in performing assigned tasks, increased work effort and satisfactory completion of work relating to the position.
(e) Employees appointed to positions within pay ranges 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 may be assigned to any step within the approved range as deemed appropriate by the Director of Public Service and Safety. After a probationary period of six months, the employee may be advanced to the next higher step. Advancement through these steps shall not be considered automatic and will be made on the basis of positive employee performance.
(f) Each year the Director of Public Service and Safety shall meet with the heads of the various departments and shall compile a personnel evaluation and review of the department heads. The Director then shall make recommendations to City Council as to salary increases and/or benefit adjustments which should be made in the pay plan. Personnel evaluations shall generally take place during the fourth quarter of each year such that adjustments to wages and benefits can be considered and made effective during the proceeding January of the next calendar year.
(Ord. 2003-26. Passed 5-5-03; Ord. 2006-31. Passed 7-17-06; Ord. 2022-75. Passed 1-16-23.)