Committee advances eight MOUs on earned sick and safe time, asks council to approve updated leave policies

The committee of the whole voted to forward eight memorandums of understanding that outline how the city will administer state-mandated earned sick and safe time and paid family medical leave.

Alicia, a city staff presenter, told the committee that the MOUs “established how the state mandated benefits will be administered for each group and have been already approved by the collective bargaining groups,” and that council approval would allow the city to “move forward with the implementation and remain in compliance with the state requirements.” She said the eight MOUs are substantively the same across bargaining units and asked the committee to place them on the consent agenda so a single resolution can approve all at once.

Alicia explained a technical change to how sick time is handled: after implementation of the new payroll system last June, the city will consolidate previously separate front‑loaded buckets into a single sick-time accrual beginning in January. She also said the paid family medical leave arrangement has been brought to bargaining groups and aligned with the equivalent plan discussed previously by the council.

Laurel moved to forward the MOUs to the council consent agenda and the chair seconded; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The committee also agreed to forward two updated personnel policies—the paid family medical leave policy and the updated sick/earned sick and safe time policy—so the policies and MOUs will come to the full council together. A councilor asked how many permanent part‑time employees the city has; staff said that number will be reported in the city’s annual report.

Next step: the MOUs and policy updates are scheduled for the full council consent agenda at the Monday meeting for formal action.