Agenda - Council - 01/23/2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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State-wide Policy Priority: • Employee Sick and Safe Time (ESST) In 2023 the State of Minnesota passed legislation requiring employers to provide employees sick and safe time (ESST). The law provides employees who meet a certain threshold of hours worked within a year to earn paid sick and safe time. The law does regulate acceptable uses for the time, but generally these eligible uses are more flexible than the city's existing sick leave policy. The City of Ramsey had existing leave benefits within policy prior to the new legislation that encompassed sick time, vacation, funeral leave, etc. The existing policies allowed many of the employees to earn more paid leave throughout the year than the new law requires. Ramsey believes the new law is challenging to administer along side existing paid leave policies due to the record keeping and the definition of an employee. Furthermore, small businesses within the community have expressed concerned about the cost of the new law when implementing it into their business operations. • The City will monitor discussions by legislators and support amendments to the law that redefines an employee. The City would support the removal of temporary or seasonal positions and paid on call positions from being eligible to earn the paid leave under the ESST law. • The City would support and amendment to the law that exempts small businesses from being required to follow the legislation. State-wide Policy Priority: • Exemption of residential gardens from water emergency restrictions Staff will work with legislators to research possible legislation to ensure that, in the event the governor declares by executive order a critical water deficiency, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes section 103G.291 implementing mandatory emergency water conservation measures and mandatory restrictions upon nonessential water use is enforced and outdoor irrigation is prohibited, that gardens created by Minnesota residents for the cultivation of vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers for food and medicinal purposes will not be subject to water restrictions, nor shall they be limited to reclaimed water. State-wide Policy Priority: • Statewide licensure of massage therapy Support legislation that seeks to adopt a state license requirement for massage therapists. Lack of a statewide license for massage therapists has hampered law enforcement's ability to regulate illegal activities across municipal boundaries related to this profession. State-wide Policy Priority: • Amend remote open meeting law requirement (MS13D.02)that requires notification of a remote place accessible to the public Support legislation that will simplify the remote meeting process for local elected bodies, such as,the requirement that all remote locations be advertised and accessible to the public. 2020 City of Ramsey Legislative Platform Page 4 of 6