Council Looks At City Manager Pay Increase

The Plymouth City Council has agreed to bring back a resolution that establishes a 3 percent pay increase for City Manager Laurie Ahrens in 2012.

The resolution is up for council approval on the consent agenda for the 7 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 10, regular council meeting at City Hall.

The resolution also includes increasing the city's annual VEBA contribution by $660. VEBA or Voluntary Employees' Beneficiary Association, is like a trust fund that is permitted under tax law to provide employee benefits like childcare costs, continuing employee education, life insurance, severance pay, sick leave, vacation, etc.

Last month, the council met in a closed session to conduct the annual city manager's performance review and determined Ahrens' performance was satisfactory or better.

The increase in pay has no budget impact of 2012 as that budget has funds to accomodate the adjustment.

Also up for approval at tonight's meeting is a Planned Unit Development (PUD) Amendment for improvements to Plymouth Station Auto Center at 16825 County Road 24.

The applicant, Ebert Construction, making the improvements to the Auto Center there, asked for an extension to look at what was discussed by the council and others before moving forward for approval.

City staff recommends approval with the three conditions: the hours of operation are 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. only, no vehicle service or detailing can happen outside the building and no LED banding can be installed around the existing monument sign or around individual elements of the sign.

Prior to the regular meeting is a special council meeting at 5:30 p.m. to review updates from the city's attorney and prosecutor and the annual legal report.