Council discusses six-week paid parental leave proposal; HR will draft ordinance

Councilmembers discussed a proposal to guarantee six weeks of paid parental leave for city employees and asked Human Resources to draft an ordinance that could be budget-neutral.

Dr. Isa Thomas and Councilwoman Green framed the item as a workforce and equity measure aimed at improving recruitment and retention. Council members cited the county’s experience (a six-week county ordinance they said was later codified) and said the policy would especially help lower-wage employees who otherwise must use accrued sick and vacation time.

Fonda Fuche, the city’s chief human resource officer, told the committee that the city already supports up to four months of leave via FMLA, TMLA and other accruals and that the proposal under discussion would guarantee the first six weeks as paid time without requiring employees to exhaust sick or vacation balances. "Right now...the first six weeks will be paid and where you don't have to use your your sick or vacation time," Fuche said.

Council members pressed HR on cost and usage: HR and council representatives said many jurisdictions implement similar policies without large new line-item costs by relying on accrual structures, sick banks and workforce planning, but they committed to return with formal cost estimates and a draft ordinance. HR confirmed it will prepare a proposed ordinance for council consideration.

Next steps: HR will write and bring an ordinance to the council with fiscal analysis and implementation details.