The City Council voted to continue paid time off (PTO) benefits for transit employees managed through ROCS, after staff reported the benefit had been included in grant budgeting and last year’s PTO payout totaled about $8,400.

ROCS, the entity that manages the city’s transit program, planned changes to remove PTO for its division staff; transit employees objected. City staff reviewed costs and told council the grant budget included PTO and removing it would affect employees. Staff reported that about $8,400 was paid out in PTO benefits last year, and the agency indicated at least one other transit provider planned to retain PTO for its staff.

A councilmember moved to continue PTO benefits for the transit employees; a second was recorded and the motion carried. Staff said continuing the PTO would not change the management agreement with ROCS and could be covered under the budget submitted for the grant program.

Council members noted the importance of maintaining employee benefits and the relative scale of the cost within the transit budget. No change to the management agreement was recorded; staff will proceed with the benefit continuation as budgeted.