League City City Council on Nov. 24 unanimously approved a Capital Improvement Plan Project Delivery Employee Recognition Program. Under this program, the city’s about 15 project management office employees—who are responsible for proposing and overseeing capital improvement projects such as drainage and street projects—will be able to earn bonuses based on individual and group success over the fiscal year.
According to a city memo, the first set of bonuses will be awarded in December 2021, after FY 2020-21 ends Sept. 30, at an estimated total cost of $100,000 per fiscal year. Performance will be based on whether projects were delivered on time, on budget and if the group reached the city manager’s annual investment goal.
For FY 2019-20, the goal was $50 million, and the project management office employees invested over $60 million after two years of investing about $25 million each. The next goal is $75 million, City Manager John Baumgartner said.
Baumgartner said if employees exceed that goal, employees could see bonuses of $7,000, $8,000 or perhaps even 10% of their salary.
Mayor Pro Tem Todd Kinsey called it an “outstanding idea,” and Council Member Hank Dugie agreed.
“We are hyperfocused on getting projects done, and this is a creative way that you’ve put together that you think you can motivate the team and reward them for a job well done,” he said.
The program meets the city’s strategic plan goal to create an employee recognition program for capital projects by Jan. 1. The program also furthers the city manager’s goal to deliver 90% of projects on time and on budget, according to the memo.
In other business
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League City City Council on Nov. 24 also approved Dugie as mayor pro tem. The council voted 5-2, with Council Members Nick Long and Andy Mann opposed and Mayor Pat Hallisey absent.
Kinsey, the current mayor pro tem, is leaving the council, having not run for re-election.
Long tried to postpone the vote until the new council members—who will replace Kinsey and Council Member Greg Gripon, who also did not run for re-election—were on council. Long was told such a move would violate the city charter.
Council candidates Rachel McAdam and John P. Bowen will be heading to runoff elections for Kinsey's council position, and Justin A. Hicks and Wes Chorn will be going to a runoff for Gripon's chair. The runoff election is Dec. 15.
