HomeMy WebLinkAbout15.E.1. IT/GIS Specialist Position and Planner I Position
/S.E.l
CITY OF SHAKOPEE
Memorandum
CASE NO.: NA
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: R. Michael'Leek, Community Development Director
SUBJECT: Proposal to Add an IT/GIS Specialist Position, and to Fill the
Planner I/GIS Position with a Planner I Only
MEETING DATE: October 5,2004
INTRODUCTION:
With the recent departure of Planner I/GIS Nicole Peterson, the author of this report took
some additional time to evaluate whether the Planner I/GIS position fills the City's current
need for GIS support as well as planning staff needs.
In the last couple of years interest in and use of GIS (geographic information systems) has
grown beyond the realm of planning departments. Public safety (police and fire
departments) are interested in making use of GIS tools to track incidents and further
community education and awareness programs. Engineering departments can also make use
of GIS tools to keep track of infrastructure information Because of this increasing interest,
recently City staff set up a regular GIS users group. Also because of this interest it appears
to this author that an IT support position specializing in GIS may now be appropriate.
Staff has contacted a number of cities, and has learned that many ofthem are now, or have
moved to an IT/GIS position to provide broad support of GIS. The early indication from
contacts with other cities is that the market salary for such positions is between about
$40,000 and $50,000. That means that the total annual additional cost of such a position
would be between about $60,000 and $67,000.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. Offer and pass a motion directing staff to prepare a job description for the new position
of IT/GIS Specialist,
And
Authorizing the appropriate city officials to advertise for a Planner I to fill the
Vacancy created by Nicole Peterson's departure.
2. Offer and pass a motion directing only filling the Planner I/GIS position vacated by
Nicole Peterson.
3. Table the matter for additional information.
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ACTION REQUESTED:
Offer and pass a motion consistent with the Council's direction.
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R. Michael Leek
Community Development Director
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