JULY 24th CITY COUNCIL MEETING

• The City Council will proclaim August 7, 2007, as National Night Out.  The City of Midland will join other cities around the nation for the 24th annual crime fighting event. Hundreds of Midland residents are expected to head outside, joining neighbors, eating good food, and learning more about preventing crime.  City Officials, Police Officers, members of the Midland Fire Department, Volunteers, Midland County Sheriff’s Office, and other officials will be visiting block parties around the city.  National Night Out is designed to heighten crime prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local anti-crime programs, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police/community relations, and to send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are fighting back.  There is still plenty of time for residents to plan or host a party. 
• The Council will consider adopting recommendations of the Employee Compensation Focus Group regarding the identification of regional and statewide comparative labor markets.  Regionally, salary data will be compared with Abilene, Amarillo, Lubbock, Odessa, and San Angelo.  Statewide market cities include all Texas cities in the 75,000 to 200,000 population range, plus Lubbock.  In addition, the Council will consider approval of another Employee Compensation Focus Group recommendation that would result in pay increases for approximately 60 current city employees who are currently paid less than the recommended minimum rates.  The Council will vote to establish a new minimum rate of $22,080 and allow a 5% pay increase for employees in the broadband who successfully complete their probationary period after October 1, 2007. 
• The Council will consider establishing a project for improvements at Midland Soccer Facilities.  The Midland Soccer Association has raised $25,000 toward improvements to the concession building at Butler Park.  The association also plans to erect a fence along the north perimeter of the Beal Park soccer fields and add benches and shade structures.  The Council will vote to approve matching funds to be used toward the improvements.  The City of Midland and the association will also be cooperatively working on the field conditions and upgrading other soccer amenities within the park system.