HomeMy WebLinkAbout4. Economic Development Coordinator Staffing
#1
CITY OF SHAKOPEE
Memorandum
TO: Economic Development Authority
FROM: Mark McNeill, Executive Director
SUBJECT: Economic Development Coordinator Staffing
DATE: January 13, 2005
INTRODUCTION:
The EDA is asked to make a recommendation to Council regarding staffing for the
position previously held by ED Coordinator Paul Snook.
BACKGROUND:
At its meeting of December 21 st, the Council reviewed a recommendation from the City
Administrator regarding structuring of three vacant employee positions, including that of
the Economic Development Coordinator. The recommendation at that time was to
combine ED responsibilities with a re-formatted Assistant to the City Administrator
position, and reduce the number of hours spent on economic development administration
to approximately one-halftime ofa full-time position.
Our recommendation to go to halftime is so that we might more efficiently use the
number of staff positions that are currently allocated. This would reduce the Assistant to
the City Administrator "general" responsibilities to half time as well. However, such a
proposal (EDA and general assistant responsibilities) is not an unusual combination in the
metropolitan area. What this would do would be to make the EDA support more general
in nature. Ifthere is a situation which requires a more seasoned EDA professional, that
could be contracted out to a number of individuals or firms which specialize in this area.
There would be more than $44,000 available that would otherwise have been provided in
the EDA fund under salaries for contracting out.
There was considerable discussion at the December 21 st City Council meeting about the
role of the City regarding marketing for commercial or industrial prospects. If a decision
is made in the future to have the City more actively market available space, or do work
regarding the creation of another industrial park, it would probably require the position to
be reinstated as full time.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The EDA Fund provided for $64,920 in wages in 2005. Assuming a $50,000 hiring wage
(and a March 1 st starting date), the budgeted amount of the revised Assistant/EDA
position in 2005 should be $20,750. As described previously, this would mean $44,170
would be available for contracting services, should those be needed.
RECOMMENDATION:
I recommend that the EDA recommend to City Council approval to consolidate the ED
Coordinator position into combined Assistant/EDC position.
ACTION REQUIRED:
Ifthe EDA concurs, it should, by motion, recommend approval to the City Council to
consolidate the Economic Development Coordinator job responsibilities into that ofthe
Assistant to the City Administrator position.
McJL~
Mark McNeill
Executive Director.
MM:th