Council codifies existing personnel practices into updated manual; vote 4–1

City staff presented consolidated updates to the personnel manual that move existing benefits and pay‑practice language into a single, easier‑to‑find Chapter 7. Staff clarified these are codifications of practices already approved during the budget process rather than new benefits; items discussed included a 3% 401(k) match, lateral hiring bonuses (with council discussion about parity across job classes), and premium pay codes for mandatory court appearances and other duties.

Council discussed whether codifying existing practices requires separate policy review; one member said codification helps clarity while another noted that policy changes should be subject to council deliberation during budgeting. After discussion the motion to approve the manual updates passed 4–1; staff will publish the updated manual and track any future requests to amend policy language during the strategic planning or budget processes.