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City Council Minutes Page 12 <br /> September 4,2018 <br /> ----------------------------- <br /> Ms. Wipper said there had been some. <br /> Councilmember Wagner asked if there was any negative feedback from the public <br /> regarding summer hours.Are there any issues with coverage? <br /> Mr. Portner said department managers take staffing needs into consideration when <br /> approving vacation requests. <br /> Mayor Dietz asked if vacation hours were consistent for all staff members. <br /> Ms. Wipper said some applicants negotiate starting at a greater number of vacation <br /> days. <br /> Councilmember Ovall said the current amount of vacation compensation seems <br /> extremely generous and he can only carry over 40 hours per year in his profession. <br /> Mayor Dietz does not see a need to change the current policy. <br /> Councilmember Wagner added the city recently went through a large compensation <br /> plan update which included salary adjustments. She can't support the vacation hour <br /> adjustment at this time. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard agreed the current policy is generous considering sick <br /> time and bereavement time where in addition. Employees who have been with the <br /> city for a long time are looking at an accrual of up to five weeks. <br /> Councilmember Ovall said it may be understandable if it were difficult to find <br /> employees. <br /> Councilmember Olsen asked Ms. Wipper if the current hiring environment was <br /> competitive and if vacation incentivizes people to take the job or not. <br /> Ms. Wipper said it is currently a competitive hiring environment and the vacation day <br /> incentive would depend on if they were coming from the public or private sector. <br /> The consensus was not to change the current policy. <br /> Ms. Wipper outlined a proposed parental leave policy. The policy would provide 2-3 <br /> weeks of paid leave in the event of a birth or adoption. Currently, employees must <br /> use vacation or sick time down to 40 hours and then continue using time without <br /> pay. Younger employees,who are more likely to be starting a family,have not <br /> accrued a very large vacation balance to use. The city does not have very many <br /> employees having or adopting children each year. <br /> Councilmember Westgaard has seen this trend with the younger workforce <br /> preferring to have time off as a benefit and their value drivers are different. <br /> UREJ <br />