The committee’s discussion on the city’s Paid Parental Leave Policy took center stage as Amy Friedman from Human Resources presented proposed amendments to align the city’s policies with new state law mandates. These mandates require a 12-week partial wage replacement for employees taking leave due to personal medical conditions or family care needs, including parental bonding with newborns or caring for foster children. The existing city policy grants 12 weeks of full salary for childbirth or adoption but omits foster care placements, prompting the proposed inclusion of foster care as a qualifying event.

Under the new state law, employees can take up to 20 weeks of leave annually, combining personal medical and family care needs. The city aims to offer a plan equivalent to the state’s, exceeding minimum requirements. Vice Chair Linea Palmisano inquired about the city’s need to file an exemption due to its compliance with or exceeding state mandates. Friedman clarified that an equivalent plan is in the works pending state approval. Funding for the program will come from a 0.88% payroll tax, shared between employees and the city, not to exceed 0.44% for employees.

Councilmember Katie Cashman voiced concerns regarding the payback provision for parental leave in light of the new policy, with Friedman indicating that the provision would likely be removed due to non-compliance with state law. Palmisano, who played a role in drafting the policy, praised the city’s leadership in advocating employee protections and benefits and commended staff efforts in setting a high standard for working families.

The committee unanimously approved the motion to amend the policy after a roll call vote.

A significant part of the meeting also focused on the Police Department’s repeated delays in gift acceptance submissions. Vicky Troswick, Director of Finance for Police, reported two recent gift acceptance requests: $2,750 from the Arnold T Foundation for recruitment travel and $842 for the Chief of Police to speak at a leadership academy. Chair Robin Wonsley expressed concern over the department’s history of late submissions, emphasizing the need for compliance with city policies. She proposed forwarding the items to the full council without recommendation, stressing the importance of ensuring staff adherence to submission policies.

Vice President Aisha Chughtai echoed Wonsley’s frustration and sought clarity on measures to improve submission processes, expressing skepticism regarding current policy adherence. Vice Chair Palmisano noted that travel requests for professional development typically receive approval when free, but she questioned the frequency of staff travel. Palmisano defended the value staff bring by representing the city at conferences, citing their contributions to the city’s image.

Chughtai countered by emphasizing the primary role of city staff in serving constituents rather than engaging in external educational opportunities. Wonsley reiterated the need for transparency on corrective measures, pointing out the Police Department’s ongoing issue with late submissions. The committee agreed to follow up with staff to ensure necessary documentation and policy adjustments are presented at the upcoming full council meeting. The motion to forward the items without recommendation passed with five ayes and one nay.