Remedy for Fire Department Manager/Administration Wage CompressionCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Action Items # 05.
Copyrighted
July 1, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Remedy for Fire Department Manager/Administration Wage
Compression
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending the approval of salary percentage
increases effective July 1, 2024, in order to remedy the wage/salary
compression that would exist for the management/administration ranks of
Assistant Fire Chief/Division Chief/Bureau Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, and
Fire Chief related to the percentage wage increases provided to union -
represented Fire ranks per the CBA effective on July 1, 2024.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Approve
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Type
MVM Memo City Manager Memo
Request for Salary Increase for Fire Mgmt Staff Memo
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
DUB TEE1.
All -America City
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Remedy for Fire Department Manager/Administration Wage Compression
DATE: June 26, 2024
Chief Human Resources Officer Shelley Stickfort is recommending City Council
approval of salary percentage increases effective July 1, 2024, in order to remedy the
wage/salary compression that would exist for the management/administration ranks of
Assistant Fire Chief/Division Chief/Bureau Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, and Fire Chief
related to the percentage wage increases provided to union -represented Fire ranks per
the CBA effective on July 1, 2024.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Shelley Stickfort, Chief Human Resources Officer
Amy Scheller, Fire Chief
Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer
Connie Palm, Compensation and Classification Manager
Dubuque
THE CITY OF
DUB Et
AII•Ameriea City
iece on the Mississippi
Masterpiece pp
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2017*2019
TO: Mike Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Shelley M. Stickfort, Human Resources Director
DATE: June 27, 2024
RE: Remedy for Fire Department Manager/Administration Wage Compression
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to recommend salary percentage increases effective July
1, 2024, in order to remedy the wage/salary compression that would exist for the
management/administration ranks of Assistant Fire Chief/Division Chief/Bureau Chief,
Deputy Fire Chief, and Fire Chief related to the percentage wage increases provided to
union -represented Fire ranks per the CBA effective on July 1, 2024.
BACKGROUND
To begin to address the identified issue of wage compression occurring between Fire
Department management/administration ranks and union positions, effective in January
2024 the City Council approved a 5% wage increase for those sworn personnel
(supervisors/managers)' who are not represented by the Dubuque Professional
Firefighters Association/Union (DPFA). The Fire Chief position received a 6% increase2.
In the late fall of 2023 and early months of 2024, information was received from the
Compensation and Classification vendor Carlson Dettman Consulting (CDC) that
indicated gaps in wages for Fire personnel along with recommendations for percentage
increases in order for the City to remain competitive for recruiting new, qualified talent
and retain existing talent. This information was used for bargaining with the Dubuque
Professional Firefighters Association's (DPFA) for a new collectively bargained for
contract that would become effective July 1, 20243. As a result, two significant changes
were bargained for and are included in the ratified DPFA contract that goes into effect
The position of Assistant Fire Marshall was re -leveled to a higher classification (and compensation) level
(G-36F) on the General Wage Plan and the Deputy Fire Chief position was added after January 1, 2024
and was classified and compensated at a commensurate level taking into consideration the
organization/department restructuring and related increases that occurred throughout FY24.
2 The July 1, 2023 wage increase for all sworn personnel, except the Fire Chief, was a 6% increase. The
Fire Chief received 5%. The additional 1 % (6% instead of 5%) provided to the Chief in January 2024
corrects the resulting disparity from the lesser percentage increase provided for on July 1, 2023.
3 The DPFA/City of Dubuque CBA effective July 1, 2024 has a duration of three (3) years or until June 30,
2027.
on July 1, 2024. The first was an increased number of steps for the wage plan that
includes the Fire positions represented by the DPFA, the second provided for targeted
increases versus across-the-board increases to address identified gaps in
competitiveness of wages at certain intervals/steps for each of the position levels on the
DPFA Wage Plan. These actions over the course of the three-year (FY 25, FY26, and
FY27) DPFA wage plan increases permit the City to close the identified competitive
wage gaps per the CDC Classification and Compensation review and conclusions.
The bargained for increases address and remedy the concerns about competitive
wages for the recruitment and retention of represented (Union) fire personnel.
However, the base pay difference between the top step Captain (union) level and
bottom or entry step Assistant Chief/Division Chief/Bureau Chief4
(management/administration) level and all the other manager levels would experience
compression again when the DPFA wage plan goes into effect on July 1, 20245.
DISCUSSION
To remedy the resulting compression the identified fire management/administration
positions would need to receive adjusted and targeted percentage increases averaging
10% for FY25. The targeted increases would range from 5% to 12% as follows:
Asst FM/EMS Asst = 5%
Asst Fire Chief/Div Ch/Bureau Ch = 12.00%
Dep Fire Chief = 10.25%
Fire Chief = 10.25%
BUDGETIMPACT
The recommended changes to remedy compression that would occur on July 1, 2024
would cost approximately $97.0706.01. This number includes the approved cost of
living adjustment (COLA) of 5%. Jenny Larson, Chief Financial Officer, has reviewed
the data/information and concurs with the likely cost increase. Chief Financial Officer
Jennifer Larson recommends funding the additional fire employee cost from the Fiscal
Year 2024 General fund interest revenue which has exceeded budget by
$1,306,451.00.
RECOMMENDATION
I respectfully request your support for the targeted percentage wage increases as
identified above to proactively address wage compression from occurring on July 1,
2024 within the City of Dubuque Fire Department.
4 The assistant chief rank is also known as division chief for operations positions and will soon be bureau
chief for administrative positions. The assistant chief title will phase out after the promotion occurs for the
EMS bureau chief position.
5 For example, the starting wage for an assistant chief at Step ! represents $8,969 (9.26%) LESS in pay
than the lower leveled captain position at its top step.
2
cc: Fire Chief Amy Scheller
Chief Financial Officer Jenny Larson
Compensation and Classification Manager Connie Palm