Rock Creek council reviews proposed employee handbook updates, seeks PERA clarification

Deputy Clerk Ashley Rauschnot presented updates to the City of Rock Creek’s draft Employee Handbook at the City Council meeting on March 26, 2026. The review, prepared with input from Julia Risland, covered new leave sections, administrative procedures and training recommendations.

The council examined proposed additions to paid-leave policy that include bereavement, military leave, civic responsibility leave and parenting-related leave. According to the minutes, Risland incorporated those sections into the draft and provided a sample bereavement policy that the council reviewed and received positively. Ashley told the council that the City already uses a Time-Off Request Form; Risland reviewed that form and approved it with minor revisions. The minutes also record a suggestion to create a shared Google Calendar to track employee leave.

Ashley reported that Risland asked for clarification on whether the City provides a PERA contribution match; the minutes note the request but do not record an answer. The City did not specify a contribution-match amount or policy in the meeting minutes.

The council discussed adding a Procedure/Chain of Command section to the handbook and emphasized the importance of annual handbook training and requiring employees to sign an acknowledgment form each year. No formal vote or adoption of the handbook occurred; the council provided feedback and the matter remains under staff review. The council did not set a timeline for final adoption during the meeting.