City council has agreed to provide two management groups with an increase in wages and benefits equal to six and seven per cent over four years.

Council gave first reading to the bylaw at its meeting Monday.

City manager Christine Smith said the new package is a product of a review involving management staff, and in-camera discussions with members of city council.

Management did review the proposal, but does not get to vote on it.

Smith said in reviewing the wage and benefit provisions for city managers and their support staff, the details of recent contracts reached with city employees belonging to the three unions are very much taken into consideration.

The six and seven per cent over four years for the two management groups is a reflection of recent collective agreements with union employees, the city manager said.

Smith said the seven per cent is also a reflection of the total cost, given that some benefits have been reduced while some have been increased.

Management has been without a new agreement since the old one expired Dec. 31, 2014.

The new arrangement is retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015 and runs through to Dec. 31, 2018.

Barb Walker, the city’s director of human resources, said this morning the 21 senior directors and managers will see seven per cent increase in wages and benefits over the four years.

The 9.5 positions dedicated to management support staff will receive the six per cent over four years, she explained.

Under the arrangement, both groups will see a 1.5 per cent wage increase in the first year from Jan. 1, 2015 to Dec. 31, and one per cent each year after to the end of 2018.

Walker said the wage boost alone for 2015 amounts to at total of approximately $49,058.

Second and third readings of the bylaw are scheduled for Sept. 12.

The manager of human resources said it will take about 60 days after the third reading to issue cheques for retroactive payments, and include provisions of the new arrangements on the payroll.

The wage and benefit package for the city manager is separate, and is currently under review by council, she said.

With the 1.5 per cent increase of Jan. 1, 2015, the wage for the lowest of five management categories for directors and managers is set at between $88,228 and $99,381 annually, or $48.31 an hour to $54.42, according to the administrative report released Monday evening.

For the highest of the five management categories, the wage as of Jan. 1, 2015 ranges between $126,083, or $69 an hour to $155,192 or $85 an hour.

In year four after the total increase of 4.5 per cent has been implemented, the wage for the lowest of the five management categories will range from $90,902 or $49.78 an hour to $102,393 or $56.07 an hour.

For the highest of the five management categories, the wage in year four will range from $129,904 or $71.14 an hour to $159,895, or $88.56 an hour.

For the lowest category of management support staff affected, the wage on Jan. 1, 2015 ranges from $55,417 annually or $30.35 an hour to $65,182, or $35.69 an hour.

For the highest category of management support staff affected, the wage on Jan. 1, 2015 ranges from $69,995 or $38.33 an hour to $82,351, or $45.10 an hour.

In year four, wages for the lowest category will range from $59,096 or $31.27 an hour to $69,157 or $36.78 an hour.

Wages for the highest category of affected support staff in year four will range from $72,116 or $39.49 an hour to $84,845, or $46.46 an hour.

The pay range for the city manager currently sits at $175,000 to $195,000.