Adopt Resolution #21-080 to Update the Intern Wage Scale

The purpose of this case is address the City's temporary intern wage scale.   The current intern wage scale is $12.00 to $14.00 per hour, depending on qualifications.   

As the Council may recall, temporary seasonal (public works maintenance worker)  wages were increased in March last year due to difficulty attracting enough qualified candidates; that wage scale is now $13.00 to $15.00 per hour, and does not require candidates to possess a post secondary education. 

However, the City's intern positions do require college coursework and/or a completed degree.  The City has had a significantly poor response rate to both the 2020 and 2021 intern recruitment.  A wage analysis was completed and it was determined that an increase is in order.  The current average pay scale for internships is $14.34 to $17.72 per hour, with some municipal engineering internships paying up to $20.00 per hour.  Additionally,  many private sector internships are offering wages beyond these amounts.  To be more competitive in the market, Staff proposes revising the intern wage scale to $13.00 to $18.00 per hour, depending on qualifications. 

The 2021 funding for interns is included in the general fund budget at $14.00 per hour.   The amount budgeted for two Engineering Interns and one Admin Intern is $16,943 each, which is enough to allow for the increased hourly wage provided staff monitors and limits the hours worked rather than allow the interns to reach 1040 hours, as is currently in the budget.  Due to school schedules, etc., historically, interns have not stayed on long enough to reach the 1040 hours.  If approved, Staff will monitor the costs on a bi-weekly basis and will not exceed the 2021 intern budget.

Staff recommends adoption resolution #21-080 increasing the intern wage scale to a range of $13.00 to $18.00 per hour.  

Motion to adoption resolution #21-080 increasing the intern wage scale to a range of $13.00 to $18.00 per hour.