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Council debates use of remaining Co‑relief funds; motion made for blanket employee stipend subject to legal review
Summary
With roughly $114,000 remaining in city Co‑relief funds that must be spent by Dec. 31, council debated options and several members pushed for an across‑the‑board stipend. A motion was made to approve a blanket stipend (amount to be computed from available funds divided by eligible employees) subject to city‑attorney review of eligibility including whether councilmembers may be included.
Councilmembers on Nov. 12 debated how to spend an estimated $114,000 in remaining Co‑relief (CARES‑type) funds before the Dec. 31 deadline. Staff presented two stipend options and listed roughly 35 employees who could qualify under the proposed distributions.
Several councilmembers argued for an equal, across‑the‑board stipend to boost morale, noting employees have taken on more duties amid staffing reductions and that many essential maintenance and emergency projects previously used other funding. One councilmember proposed a $3,000 stipend for each employee; others recommended a single equal payment that divides available funds among eligible employees to avoid perceived unfairness from tiered amounts.
Council asked staff to confirm legal eligibility for types of recipients and whether elected councilmembers could be included. The city attorney had not provided a formal written opinion on council inclusion at the time of the meeting. A motion was made to approve a blanket stipend to be calculated as available funds divided by the number of eligible employees, subject to city‑attorney review of eligibility and compliance with fund rules. The motion was seconded; the meeting record ends before a roll-call vote appears in the transcript.
What’s next: Staff will seek a legal opinion on eligibility (including whether councilmembers can be included) and calculate the stipend amount based on the confirmed number of eligible employees and the available fund balance. Council is expected to formalize action at the next meeting if a legal determination is provided.
