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Home My WebLink About08-24-2026 City Council Work Session MinutesSTATE OF ALABAMA ) COUNTY OF BALDWIN ) The City Council met in a Work Session at 4:00 p.m., Fairhope Municipal Complex Council Chamber, 161 North Section Street, Fairhope, Alabama 36532, on Monday, 24 August 2026. Present were Council President Jimmy Conyers, Councilmembers: Jack Burrell (arrived at 4:45 p.m.), Joshua Gammon (arrived at 4:25 p.m.), Jay Robinson, and Andrea Booth, Mayor Sherry Sullivan, City Attorney Marcus E. McDowell, and City Clerk Lisa A. Hanks. Council President Conyers called the meeting to order at 4:03 p.m. The following topics were discussed: • The first item on the Agenda was Department Updates: Human Resources Director Hannah Noonan addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Item No.11; and answered any questions if needed. • Recreation Director Pat White addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Item No. 18; and answered any questions if needed. • Public Works Director John Thomas addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Item No.10; and answered any questions if needed. • City Treasurer Kim Creech addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Items No. 12, No. 13, No. 14, and No. 15; and answered any questions if needed. • Planning Director Hunter Simmons addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Item No. 4; and answered any questions if needed. • City Engineer Richard Johnson addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Items No. 6, No. 7, No. 8, No. 9; and answered any questions if needed. He also addressed Work Session Agenda Item No. 2: the presentation of the Transportation Plan pursuant to the Rebuild Alabama Act. • Police Chief Stephanie Hollinghead addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Items No. 19, No. 20, and No. 21; and answered any questions if needed. • Building Official Erik Cortinas addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Item No. 5; and answered any questions if needed. Removing the item or tabling the item was discussed. • Councilmember Jack Burrell addressed the City Council regarding Agenda Items No. 16 and No. 17; and answered any questions if needed. • The next item on the Agenda was the Presentation of the recommendation from the Evergreen Solutions Compensation & Classification Study completed for the City of Fairhope by HR Director Hannah Noonan. (See attached Power Point Presentation) • City Treasurer Kim Creech began the Discussion of the FY2027 Budget for Fairhope Utilities. (See attached Power Point Presentation) Monday, 24 August 2026 Page -2- • Councilmember Burrell mentioned the two Agenda items for the Fairhope Airport Authority's grant applications. He mentioned a Street and Traffic Control Committee coming up in a week or so. • Councilmember Gammon mentioned the Tree Committee and the Fairhope Environmental Advisory meetings this month. • Councilmember Robinson gave a Recreation Board update regarding rental terms. • Councilmember Booth gave a Library Board update. • Council President Conyers gave a Parking Authority update. There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was duly adjourned at 5:28 p.m. Reid Conyer�Jr. / C ncil President As�,anks, MMC City Clerk Y OF FAIRHOPI 10MIFICOTION A Stasey Whichel, Project Manager Rev. August 24, 2026 Il1411LTA I J 30 ZTA 1 to]0 .'11111 a] EVERGREEN SOLUTIONS, LLC STUDY GOALS In January 2026, the City of Fairhope, Alabama engaged Evergreen Solutions to evaluate its compensation and classification systems. The study assessed internal equity, external competitiveness, and employee perceptions, and developed recommendations to keep the City's systems equitable, competitive, and sustainable. 0 0 0 0 Assess Current Evaluate Internal Equity Evaluate External Equity Develop Conditions Recommendations Review the current pay plan, salary placement, tenure, and compression to set a baseline. Conduct focus groups and an all -employee survey. Review classification content to define internal relationships, levels, and job families across departments. Benchmark the City against 20 regional and statewide peers and measure competitiveness across market percentiles. Deliver a market -aligned pay structure that reflects the local cost of living and supports recruitment and retention. � 10 11 � i 0 rmil 4 ON i Ok Assessment of Current Conditions Quartile Placement (all employees) 15.6 % Q1 36.1% Q2 Q3 Q4 Salary Placement — most employees sit in the middle of very wide ranges WHAT THIS MEANS ® About 53% are paid above the midpoint and 47% below yet wide ranges keep midpoints below market. ® Employees concentrate in the middle quartiles; only 17% reach the top quartile. Less than 1% are paid at the range minimum and about 4% at the maximum. ® With average tenure of 9.2 years, salary placement is generally tied to length of service. �, 10 114 WN2 Fil 4 Oki :01��'I Employee Outreach WHY EMPLOYEES JOIN THE CITY WHY EMPLOYEES STAY Benefits 64.1% Benefits Location / convenient --_ 51.4% Hours / schedule (incl. commute holidays) Make a positive community -- 39.6% Convenient location / impact commute Career growth opportunities 38.0% Enjoy the work & daily duties 64.0% 53.6% 52.8% 50.8% 4,711 10 114 Lal Umil 4 ON Employee Outreach - Perceptions of Pay & Classification COMPENSATION CLASSIFICATION Pay competitive vs. market (yes) 17% Job title is accurate Pay competitiveness — unsure = Report some title concern Pay not competitive (no) 50% Job description is accurate Internal practices consistent (yes) See some path to advance Internal practices not consistent ®®■■ 49% Want pay tied to performance (no) 70% 65% 70% L L ATI I i A i � al 01mi-To al Om Market Survey Goals The market survey benchmarks the City's pay ranges against peer organizations to measure competitiveness. Results are aggregated against the 50th, 60th, and 75th percentiles to define the City's market position. Select Peers Identify comparable regional and statewide Alabama local governments. Collect Data Survey benchmark classifications for salary ranges and benefits across responding peers. Compare Ranges Measure the average percent difference at the minimum, midpoint, and maximum of each range. Determine Position Aggregate results against the 50t" percentile adj for COLT. EXTERNAL REVIEW Market Peers SELECTED MARKET PEERS - ADJUSTED FOR COST OF LIVING • Baldwin County • Foley • Mountain Brook • Baldwin Co. Sheriff • Gulf Shores • Northport • Athens • Homewood • Opelika • Auburn • Hoover • Robertsdale • Bay Minette • Huntsville • Tuscaloosa • Daphne • Madison • Mobile County • Florence a Mobile Data received from all 20 targeted peer organizations (100% response). EXTERNAL REVIEW Market Analysis — the City trails the market at the minimum and midpoint Average percent difference between the City's salary ranges and the peer market (statistical outliers removed). The City is below market at the minimum and midpoint and competitive at the maximum. 50th Percentile -15.1% -9.5% +1.9% 55% A negative value indicates City pay is below the market. The gap is widest at the entry (minimum) level. AVERAGE RANGE SPREAD City 85.6% Peer market 55.2% The wider City spread reflects low minimums and high maximums, not market competitiveness. RECOMMENDATIONS Eight recommendations across three areas Compensation Plans Adopt two market -aligned plans: a general plan (Grades 101-130, 60% spread) and a separate public safety plan (Grades 201-214). Raise entry rates to be competitive at the minimum and midpoint of the grades . Pay Grade Assignment Slot every classification into the new structure using internal job value and market data. Compensation Administration Use a tenure -based implementation that addresses compression, and maintain the system with clear policies, targeted surveys, and a full study every 3-5 years. RECOMMENDATIONSAll grades carry a 60% range spread (annualized at 2,080 hours). Proposed Pay Plan 101 $28,080 $36,504 $44,928 116 $58,386 $75,899 $93,392 102 $29,494 $38,334 $47,174 117 $61,298 $79,685 $98,072 103 $30,950 $40,248 $49,525 118 $64,355 $83,658 $102,981 104 $32,510 $42,266 $52,000 119 $67,579 $87,859 $108,118 105 $34,133 $44,366 $54,600 120 $70,949 $92,248 $113,526 106 $35,838 $46,592 $57,346 121 $74,506 $96,866 $119,205 107 $37,627 $48,922 $60,216 122 $78,229 $101,691 $125,174 108 $39,520 $51,355 $63,211 123 $82,139 $106,787 $131,435 109 $41,496 $53,934 $66,373 124 $86,258 $112,133 $137,987 110 $43,555 $56,638 $69,701 125 $90,563 $117,728 $144,893 111 $45,739 $59,467 $73,174 126 $95,098 $123,614 $152,152 112 $48,027 $62,442 $76,835 127 $102,211 $132,891 $163,550 113 $50,419 $65,562 $80,683 128 $109,886 $142,854 $175,822 114 $52,957 $68,827 $84,718 129 $118,123 $153,566 $189,010 115 $55,598 $72,280 $88,962 130 $126,984 $165,090 $203,174 RECOMMENDATIONS Proposed Pay Plan Public Safety Play W a -214) PUBLIC SAFETY PLAN Sworn classifications are assigned to a separate plan (Grades 201-214) with a 60% range spread, reflecting shift schedules and ranks. 201 $ 42,042.00 $ 54,654.60 $ 67,267.20 60.0% 202 $ 46,246.20 $ 60,120.06 $ 73,993.92 60.0% 10.0% 203 $ 50,870.82 $ 66,132.07 $ 81,393.31 60.0% 10.0% 204 $ 55,957.90 $ 72,745.27 $ 89,532.64 60.0% 10.0% 205 $ 58,755.80 $ 76,382.54 $ 94,009.28 60.0% 5.0% 206 $ 61,693.59 $ 80,201.66 $ 98,709.74 60.0% 5.0% 207 $ 64,778.27 $ 84,211.75 $ 103,645.23 60.0% 5.0% 208 $ 68,017.18 $ 88,422.33 $ 108,827.49 60.0% 5.0% 209 $ 71,418.04 $ 92,843.45 $ 114,268.86 60.0% 5.0% 210 $ 74,988.94 $ 97,485.62 $ 119,982.30 60.0% 5.0% 211 $ 78,738.39 $ 102,359.90 $ 125,981.42 60.0% 5.0% 212 $ 82,675.31 $ 107,477.90 $ 132,280.49 60.0% 5.0% 213 $ 86,809.07 $ 112,851.79 $ 138,894.52 60.0% 5.0% 214 $ 91,149.53 $ 118,494.38 $ 145,839.24 60.0% 5.0% Representative police ranks shown. *Police Chief is assigned to general Grade 129. Public safety pay reflects a 2,184-hour basis. MZ- 0 N 7 C 80EZE ep!aolj `aasseuellel Z a��ns `alaa!0 u0j�u1aae8 8ZgZ 311'SNOuniOS N33H9H3A3 CITY OF FAIRHOPE BUDGET REVIEW UTILITIES CAPITAL EQUIPMENT & INFRASTUCTURE WAk GAS DEPARTMENT Vehicles & Equipment $47,500 $206,000 333.7% Capital Improvements $500,000 System Improvements $7,118,140 Vehicles & Equipment ($206K) • New PE Electrofusion Machines ($56K) • Smart Calibration Machine for CGIs ($8K) • New CAT 302 Mini Excavator ($80K) • GPS Units for Field Mapping ($12K) • New Vehicle ($50K) Capital Improvements ($120K) • Addition of New Restroom Facility at Utilities Building ($80K) 9 Utility Building Office Additions ($40K) $120,000 $7,312,552 -76.0% 2.7% GAS DEPARTMENT System Improvements ($7.3M) • Purchase of Meters and Regulators ($500K) • Phase 4 Cast Iron Engineering ($175K) • 1-10 Place Holder - Reimbursable ($800K) • County Road 64 Relocation - Reimbursable ($250K) • Phase 3 Construction of Cast Iron Replacement ($4.7M) • On Call Contract ($200K) • Rollover - Magnolia River Engineering, Inspection and GIS for Phase 3 Cast Iron ($582K) • Rollover - General Utility Pipe and Supply Materials for Cast Iron Replacement Project ($7K) • Rollover - Sawgrass Consulting -1-10 Gas Main Replacement ($58K) • Rollover - Volkert Inc - 4" Gas Main Replacement Fly Creek & Rock Creek ($39K) VKV WA Vehicles & Equipment Capital Improvements ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT $687,765 $821,500 s ' -a $20,000 o,000 19.4% 50.0% SCADA Capital Purchase $60,000 $0-100.0% r AMI Capital $681,675 "IV -100.0% ��F T System Improvements $6,125,000 Vehicles & Equipment ($821 K) • Boom Truck '/2 Budget ($213K) • Digger Derrick Truck '/2 Budget ($242K) • Heat/Thermal Camera for Substations ($16K) • Rollover Bucket Truck ($350K) $1,937,701 ELECTRIC DEPARTMENT_ Capital Improvements ($30K) • Install Fence/Rolling Gate to Back of Pole Yard ($30K) System Improvements ($1.9M) • Pole and Reconductor from New Roundabout on Section St. to Bayou - 50 Pole Change Out and 397 Reconductors ($750K) • URD (Under Residential Distribution) Primary Metering Cab that supplies hospital ($50K) • Bon Secour Gully Urd ($100K) • Traffic Light Upgrades on Cab. and Controls at Morphy/Section, Morphy/Ingleside, Church/Fairhope Ave ($150K) • Engineering Fee for N. Section Pole Changeout and Reconductor ($100K) • Install Conduit and Primary Wire at Quail Creek for Loop ($250K) • Rollover- Bagby & Russell -Traffic Control Gayfer/Volanta ($62K) • Volanta/Section Intersection Signal Improvements ($400K) 9 S and S Reclosers ($75K) 5 Vehicles & Equipment Capital Improvements SCADA Capital Purchase WATER DEPARTMENT 8352,000 $290,001 �$120 000 � b195.11 000 62.5QJ $50,000 $50,000 0.0% System Improvements W,1$26,665,000 $17,700,016-33.601 Vehicles & Equipment ($290K) • Submersible Well Pump ($30K) • Dump Truck ($100K) • Full size Truck Replacement ($50K) • Equipment for New Bore Support Truck ($50K) • F-350 or F-450 Truck ($60K) Capital Improvements ($195K) • Base Station/Meters ($60K) • Water Treatment Plant #1 Roof Needs Replacement ($25K) • Water Treatment Plant #2 Roof Needs Replacement ($25K) • Booster Station Building Rehab ($50K) • Asphalt Water Treatment Plant #1($35K) WATER DEPARTMENT SCADA Capital Purchase($50K) • Upgrading Scada at Water Treatment Plants - WTP #2, #4, #5, & #6 ($50K) System Improvements ($17.7M) • New Water Meters ($600K) • Insertion Valves and Taps ($100K) • Water Distribution System Main Replacement and Upgrades ($250K) • Water Main across Fish River ($1M) - Multi -Year Project - Subject to Grant • 12" Water Main Replacement on SH98 between CR34 & CR32 ($2.4M) • CR 13 Water Main Install ($150K) • On Call Contractor Services ($250K) • 12" Water Line Old Pierce to HWY 181($1.5M) • New 2M Water Tank ($9M) - Multi -Year Project • Well #4 - Drill New Well at Treatment Plant ($1.2M) • WTP 3 Well Cleaning & Well Pump and Motor Replacement ($150K) • WTP 1 / Well # 1 & #7 Cleaning & Well Pump and Motor Replacement ($300K) • WTP #1 Liquid Treatment Upgrades ($750K) :'�, T'a WAk WASTEWATER DEPARTMENT ■ T � Vehicles & Equipment $515,999 $525,000 1.7% Capital Improvements $467,733 $30,002 -93.6% System Improvements $21,698,825 $17,649,617 -18.7% Vehicles & Equipment ($525K) • Side by Side Vehicle for Wastewater Treatment Plant ($25K) • New Vehicle ($50K) • Sewer Camera Van ($450K) Capital Improvements ($30K) • Concrete Apron at Wastewater Treatment Plant ($30K) System Improvements ($17.6M) • I&I Mitigation ($500K) • Valley Force Lift Station Main ($200K) • 181 Force Main & 2 Regional Lift Stations($5M)- Multi -Year Project 8 • Hot Taps for Force Mains ($80K) -_ kSTEWATER DEPARTMENTIL m Improvements (continued) ($17.6M) • Insert-Valves(S75K) • Relocating Force Main on Scenic 98 across Point Clear Creek ($400K) • On Call Contractor Services ($200K) • Divert White Grove FM to Fairhope Ave ($100K) • Rollover - Engineering/Design for HWY 181 South Project Force Main ($819K) • Rollover - Gayfer Park Lift Station Rehab ($300K) • Rollover - Scenic 98 Regional Lift Station and Force Main ($2.8M) • Rollover - Rehab Grand Hotel Lift Station ($750K) • Rollover - Engineering/Design for New Lift Station Scenic 98 & Upgrade at Grand Hotel ($143K) • Rhor Lift Station Rehab ($750K) - Shared Cost • Magnolia Beach Apartments Lift Station Rehab ($660K) • East of the Sun Lift Station Rehab ($1.2M) • Air Scrubbers for Lift Stations ($100K) • Twin Beech Permanent Bypass Pump ($200K) • General Lift Station Upgrades ($500K) • Digester Aeration/Blower ($200K) • Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion (Phase II) Engineering/Design ($1.6M) • Wastewater Treatment Plant Blowers ($1M) 9