Agenda - Council - 05/14/2024 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilmember Musgrove asked if the leave that would be paid out after an employee leaves the City in good standing would be the sick and safe leave only in the examples that were presented. Administrative Services Director Lasher explained that this would be specific to sick and safe leave. She said that all cities that she is aware of pays out accrued vacation leave if an employee is in good standing when they resign. She noted that unused vacation time is paid out at 100%, whereas, sick and safe leave is paid out at a percentage based on time in the position. Acting Mayor Riley asked if the City has any policies that require employees to take vacation. Administrative Services Director Lasher said yes and explained that vacation time cannot exceed two times the accrual or the employee will lose this vacation time. Councilmember Howell said she would like to see the payout of sick and safe leave at 3 3% after five years with the City and do increases after this point for longevity, such as 45% after 10 years and 50% after 15 years. Councilmember Musgrove says she likes this idea as well. She noted that this would be helpful information to have in a table which will be easier for employees to see how their benefit will increase the longer they stay. Administrative Services Director Lasher stated that during their last discussion they mentioned offering an incentive to those employees who give a very advanced notice of when they would be leaving. She asked if this is something the Council would like to consider. City Administrator Hagen noted that Council had agreed to this incentive during the last discussion. He said Staff can bring this back based on the other suggested changes that are made to the policy. Councilmember Howell asked if they anticipate there to be a large percentage of employees that would give such an advanced notice or if this is mainly for employees who would be retiring. Administrative Services Director Lasher said their assumption would be that this would be for people who are retiring or know that they will be moving out of the area. She noted that there would be a limited number of people who would utilize this. Councilmember Musgrove asked if there is a way that Staff could get the dollar amounts on what some of these sick and safe leave payouts could look like. City Administrator Hagen explained that Finance Director Lund can do these calculations and added that she has done calculations on what the liability would be to the City if all employees walked away. He noted these numbers and considerations are included in the budget calculations. Councilmember Musgrove asked if they would want specific language in the policy that addresses the payouts for retirements rather than resignations. City Council Work Session/April 23, 2024 Page 5 of 7