When is the city going to match the County for work hours/hours worked? Closing at 4pm makes public meetings available to start earlier in the evening, reduces traffic stress on roads as a major employer (remote work accomplishes this too), and creates less confusion on need of City versus County services and what hours they can be reached.
County is getting 16 paid holidays and discussion of 8.5% COLA raise with starting salaries already at a higher wage than most comparable positions within the City, in addition to many roles working 8am-4pm. Will this continued deficit in pay and benefits be addressed in the upcoming budget decisions for City staff?
Is city going to be closed for solar eclipse? Seems all orgs in BTown aside from essential services will be yet this hasn’t been announced yet… why the delay?
What benefits are to be applicable to all employees in the upcoming year? This information is not easily available as certain programs were passed and allocated funding for apparently only a “trial basis”. Is paid parental leave still occurring? No information about this has been provided to staff or public for 2024. Additionally, where are the results of the salary study that was supposed to inform this upcoming years budget (voted on in 2023)? This information will already be behind, and the COLA is behind as it is not keeping pace with inflation or similar employers (see the County at 8.5% raise for 2024). Is any information going to be provided about how these things previously voted on by council are implemented, working, not working, etc.?
Where is information regarding commuter benefits and alternatives for those who don’t/cannot afford to live in city limits? Heard there is an incentive for electric vehicle trips but not hybrid vehicles. As well, is it true that carpool trips for dropping off children/dependents at school counts towards this reimbursement? That seems to be an interesting policy choice rewarding individuals with dependents and not prioritizing those dependents instead utilizing school bus transit. Will there be inclusivity and care for employees who make less, don’t have proximity/access to walk or bus into work, and certainly cannot afford an electric vehicle? This policy seems to continue to reward only a select group and has barriers.
Where is information about the new commuter program? Is it true that electric vehicles get money back but hybrids don’t? There is still a cost barrier to most for getting electric vehicles so that doesn’t seem inclusive. Additionally, it seems many employees do not live in city limits and cannot afford to. Where is data on this? Most would not have access to biking routes or bus route. Is an alternative being thought of for those groups not eligible for this commuter program?