City of Windsor Heights Work Session Meeting Minutes Monday, March 16, 2026 - 6:00 PM WINDSOR HEIGHTS COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 1133 66th ST

City of Windsor Heights Work Session Meeting Minutes Monday, March 16, 2026 - 6:00 PM WINDSOR HEIGHTS COUNCIL CHAMBERS - 1133 66th ST 1. Call to Order/Roll Call Mayor Mike Jones called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Members present: Susan Skeries, Joseph Jones, Lauren Campbell (attened via Zoom and dropped at 7:23PM), Threase Harms, Fletcher Barry. Staff present: City Administrator Adam Plagge City Clerk Adam Strait, Finance Director Rachelle Swisher, Public Works Director Andy Larson, Police Chief Pete Roth, Fire Chief Jim Mease, City Attorney Erin Clanton 2. Strategic Planning Session A. Discuss Strategic Plan Council held a strategic planning session focused on employee benefits and long-term dispatch/PSAP considerations. Staff presented a high-level review of the City's employee benefits package, including healthcare incentives, employee premium contributions, longevity pay, merit bonus pay, deferred compensation, and other handbook benefits. Council discussed concerns about the overall cost of benefits in light of current budget conditions and expressed interest in comparing Windsor Heights' employee healthcare contributions and related benefit practices with those of peer metro cities. Council also discussed the City's merit pay policy, including whether the current six-month eligibility threshold should be extended, and noted concern about pay compression affecting police lieutenant positions. In addition, Council supported modifying deferred compensation language so that employees must contribute in order to receive a City match. Other benefits, including disability and life insurance, PTO, holidays, and less common handbook benefits, were reviewed at a general level. Council indicated that additional information is needed before making broader policy decisions and that the discussion should continue at a future strategic planning session. Staff was directed to return with additional research and comparison data, including peer city employee healthcare contribution levels, information on whether other cities require employee contributions toward disability and life insurance, and a clearer total-compensation summary showing wages and City-paid benefits for a sample employee. Council also received a high-level overview of potential future changes affecting WESTCOM and public safety dispatch services. Staff outlined concerns regarding "double taxation," as residents help fund county dispatch services through property taxes while the City also pays WESTCOM membership costs. Staff further noted that possible state legislation could require greater PSAP consolidation, which may have significant implications for WESTCOM member communities, including Windsor Heights. Discussion addressed Windsor Heights' current provisional status in WESTCOM, the possibility of becoming a full member, the complexity and cost of any future regional consolidation, and the importance of maintaining compatible dispatch service with neighboring response partners. No formal direction was requested or given, but Council acknowledged the importance of monitoring the issue as it develops. 3. Adjourn Motion by Threase Harms to adjourn at 7:54PM. Seconded by Susan Skeries. Motion passed 4-0. March 20 2026 LIOW0481801