Santaquin council approves consent agenda and adopts employee medical‑cannabis policy amendment

The Santaquin City Council approved its consent agenda and adopted a resolution amending the city's employee policy on medical cannabis during its March 18 meeting.

The consent agenda, which included minutes from the March 4 work session and regular session and routine bills, was approved by voice vote with council members recorded as "Aye." The motion was moved, seconded and passed unanimously.

Later in the meeting council members considered a staff‑draft resolution to revise the employee policy to address medical cannabis use by city employees. Staff described the draft as a more restrictive policy that clarifies standards for impairment, testing and federal compliance. "With this direction the council gave us was to bolster it to be a little bit more restrictive and give the city the ability to act in a certain way," a staff member said.

Brett, the city attorney, and staff noted the policy addresses on‑the‑job impairment regardless of substance and also recognizes federal legal distinctions: state law allows medical cannabis but federal law does not. Staff and council discussed director responsibilities for communicating the change to employees; directors will meet with administration to review the adopted changes.

A motion to adopt the resolution was moved and seconded. The roll calls recorded the following votes: Council Member Lynn — Aye; Council Member Jeff — Aye; Council Member Art — Aye; Council Member Bridal — Aye. The resolution passed and staff said directors will brief employees and follow up with written acknowledgement of policy changes.

No fines, penalties or specific disciplinary schedules were enumerated during the public portion of the meeting; staff said the policy would be applied in cases of observed impairment, routine testing protocols, or incident‑driven testing.

The meeting closed after routine reports and a motion to adjourn.