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Council discusses community and employee awards program; staff to return with criteria
Summary
Council held a workshop on instituting a community servant and employee recognition program including a permanent recognition wall, confidential nominations and possible separate first‑responder awards; staff will refine criteria and return with a detailed proposal and budget options.
Council and staff discussed a proposed community awards program during an Oct. 28 workshop that would recognize exemplary city employees, first responders and community servants.
Staff reported they researched award structures and proposed a confidential nomination and review process to limit hard feelings among nominees. The staff recommendation would ask department heads to nominate exemplary employees; staff would review nominations confidentially and recommend a winner to the mayor. Council members discussed categories that could include police officer of the year, firefighter of the year and other department awardees and whether to hold an annual dinner or rely primarily on a perpetual recognition wall in city hall or a park.
Council members raised concerns about fairness and logistics (how to compare different departments and whether smaller departments would be disadvantaged), costs and whether nominees would want public ceremonies. Staff suggested beginning program implementation in January 2026 and budgeting during an upcoming budget adjustment. Council directed staff to refine rubric options, consider confidentiality, and return with a more detailed product for council review.
