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Council reviews ordinance to change COLA rules, HR salary authority and leave policies
Summary
Controller Abby Hanson presented Proposal 162 to change how cost‑of‑living adjustments apply to salary ranges, shift final salary offer authority toward HR (in conjunction with departments), establish a benefit leave donation program and expand short‑term leave to cover more family caregiving and intermittent leave.
Controller Abby Hanson told the committee that current municipal code applies COLA to salary ranges, which can compress pay progression for longer‑tenured employees when the floor rises at the same time. "For people who have the minimum qualifications required for their job, their salary is often set at the grade minimum… the floor comes up too," Hanson said, and the proposal would change how COLA attaches to salary schedules.
Hanson also proposed clarifying language to make HR an arbiter of salary offers so compensation remains equitable across departments, and she described a benefit leave donation program for employees to donate time to colleagues with emergency needs. The ordinance includes short‑term leave updates to permit intermittent use for serious medical conditions and to extend short‑term leave coverage to spouses, children and parents, and updates to jury pay in line with guidance from the State Board of Accounts. Hanson said HR will continue collaborating with departments and the change is intended to align practice with code.
