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City Council Meeting August 16, 2000 Page 6 City Attorney Schenk appeared before the City Council presenting his proposed budget stating that we are on track to be slightly under budget this fiscal year. City Attorney Schenk said the primary change in the budget for his office that he is proposing is the retention of his current Court Prosecutor as a full-time Assistant City Attorney. City Attorney Schenk said it would be his intention to elevate Ms. Stephanie Harris to that position. City Attorney Schenk advised that she has indicated a desire to serve in that capacity and he felt she would be a valuable asset to his department and to this city as a full time employee. City Attorney Schenk advised that he has put together a package that he thinks is fair both to the city and to her, and she is satisfied with what he is proposing. City Attorney Schenk stated that he sees the need for a couple of reasons, one which Judge Hunt alluded to, first of all Ms. Harris also is very rare in that she interfaces very well with everyone that she has to work with, that would be the Courts, Police Department and the citizens. City Attorney Schenk felt that the Police Department is more than satisfied with her involvement in what they do and Judge Hunt has also indicated the same to him. City Attorney Schenk said he would like to expand her responsibilities to include not only what would be additional work load through the courts, but also expand her into other responsibilities associated with the City Attorney's office so that they can continue and hopefully enhance the quality, speed and efficiency of the work that we do for the city, council and staff. He said it was always his goal and will continue to be his goal, to have the best city attorney's office, not only for cities of our size, but any city in the state of Texas. City Attorney Schenk advised the City Council that he has detailed in memorandum form to the them what he would see as to what Ms. Harris would do and put the cost of elevating her to that level in there. City Attorney Schenk advised that at the present time, she is on a per hour basis, and if you project the amount that the city pays her per hour for a full-time employee, she would actually make more money on a eight hour five day a week basis on the contracted hourly rate that she is being paid, but this does not include her benefits or opportunity for involvement in retirement. City Attorney Schenk stated that is the primary change in his budget. City Attorney Schenk said another item is to do an upgrade to one employee in his office who is currently at a clerk level