Effective the first pay period in July, the Alabaster City Council unanimously approved a new pay plan and the reclassification of 16 employees Monday night that amounts to an average 10 percent pay raise for most city employees.

According to Personnel Director Clark Boyd, the exception are entry level public service employees who saw their pay increased last January.

Councilmember Jim McClain said the reclassifications and new pay plan would cost the city an estimated additional $262,000 for the remainder of the year. And Boyd said the annual cost of the changes would be an estimated $677,655.

McClain explained that the new pay plan knocks off the first four pay steps under the old plan and adds four additional pay steps to the top.

He said the action was taken &uot;to get our employees more equally compensated with surrounding cities.&uot;

The following positions were reclassified with increases in grade as follows:

Due to a market study and value added:

Administration: City clerk from 25 to 26; assistant court clerk from 20 to 22; chief revenue examiner from 22 to 23; building official from 22 to 23; deputy city clerk from 21 to 22; and personnel clerk from 19 to 20.

Public Service: Parks and recreation director from 22 to 27.

Public Safety: Police chief from 27 to 32 and fire chief from 27 to 32.

Due to a five-year study:

Administration: Account clerk from 15 to 17. Public Service: Building inspection clerk from 10 to 12.

Under the new pay plan:

Police: Sergeant from 19 to 22; Lieutenant from 22 to 25; and captain from 24 to 27.

Fire: Lieutenant from 19 to 22; and captain from 22 to 24.

All other positions of the city of Alabaster will remain at the same pay grade.

While Mayor David Frings was away on vacation Monday night, he expressed his desire to see the changes in pay approved through a letter to the council read by City Administrator Tony Rivera.

Frings wrote that an important issue vital to Alabaster’s future was the compensation of Alabaster’s employees. He said, &uot;All of us have said for years when funds are available we will do the right thing.&uot; He called for a &uot;yes vote&uot; and said he was &uot;in favor&uot; of the actions.

According to Boyd, cities Alabaster used for comparison of pay included Pelham, Trussville, Hoover, Homewood, Helena, Tuscaloosa, Shelby County, Calera and Vestavia.

In other matters, Rivera reported on behalf of the mayor that the city of Alabaster is letting its soccer fields recover and the police have been informed to stop teams from playing on them.

He also said progress reports will be made as to status of drainage projects in the city.

In other actions, the City Council:

*Approved changes in the zoning ordinance including clarifying language, tickets for zoning violations as opposed to arrests, a mixed use district that allows for a city center and city shopping area and a change in reference from the Southern Building Code to International Building Code.

*Approved a rezoning request for Crim Lands LTD that allows for an RV Storage Area with plans for an electric entrance gate.

*Approved an amendment to the fine schedule that allows for fines for interference with city park and recreation employees and violation of the flood drainage restriction ordinance.

*Approved a refinancing of debt by Shelby Baptist Medical Center where some $39 million will be spent on such things as the ER and Women’s Center.

*Set public hearing for July 18 on a rezoning request for 27.2 acres at the end of Lake Lane off Highway 68 from R-3 (single family 10,000 square foot lot, 80 feet wide) to R-4 (7,500 square foot lot. 60 feet wide).

Councilmember Tommy Ryals said in precouncil the intent is for more lake homes but no more units than in an R-3 zoning. He said a question of entrances would be addressed when the preliminary plat is presented to the Planning and Zoning Board.

*Set a public hearing for July 18 for 8.54 acres off Highway 11 west of CSX Railroad from R-3 to B-3 (Community Business) and 37.02 acres from R-3 to R-6 (Apartments). Ryals said in pre council the intent is for business in the front and apartments in the back.

*Approved a bid from Ewing Company for park and recreation fertilizer and weed killer.

*Rescheduled the July 4th regular City Council meeting for July 5.

*Set a work session for 6:30 p.m. on June 13