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Council approves employee handbook updates including a 16‑hour volunteer leave policy
Summary
Council approved Resolution 54‑2026, adopting updates to the employee handbook that include mostly cleanup items and a new volunteer‑leave policy allowing up to 16 hours of paid volunteer time per fiscal year for staff to volunteer with eligible organizations; the action repealed Resolution 24‑2025.
The city’s HR manager presented the annual handbook update and highlighted that most changes are clarifying edits to travel, meals and conference rules and to reduce enumeration of benefits tied to third‑party administrators. A new volunteer‑leave policy was introduced that allows up to 16 hours per fiscal year of paid leave for staff to volunteer with approved community organizations (501(c)(3/6) nonprofits and other qualifying entities, excluding city governance functions). The policy gives the city discretion to disallow leave for volunteer activities it determines would be detrimental to the city’s image.
Council approved Resolution 54‑2026 and concurrently repealed Resolution 24‑2025 per the ordinance text. Council members voiced support for encouraging staff community involvement and confirmed administrative control over eligibility.
The updated handbook will be distributed to staff through HR channels and the city will continue to coordinate with its benefits administrator for specifics.
