01-13-25 - Council Meeting Agenda

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Use of City funds in reasonable amounts for meals and/or refreshments for elected and appointed city officials and employees is permitted for situations in which City business needs to be discussed during meal hours. In addition, use of City funds is permitted for public and employee meetings and events in which reasonable meals and/or refreshments may be necessary to create a more productive environment and to be responsive to participants' time schedules. The following items are deemed to meet the definition of public purpose expenditure for meals and refreshments: a) Non -routine city council, board and commission meetings held during or adjacent to a meal hour, when it is the only practical time to meet. b) City -sponsored training or work -related meetings where employees are required to participate or be available during meal or break periods (e.g. Annual Benefits Meeting, Workplace Safety Training). c) Employee engagement functions (e.g. Spring Clean -Up Day, Employee Appreciation Events) d) Gatherings for employee retirements and outgoing councilmembers. e) Gatherings following public safety swearing in ceremonies. f) Election day(s) which requires continuous service and it is not possible to break for meals. g) Food and refreshments associated with official City functions serve a public purpose when the provision of food or refreshments is an integral part of the function and is deemed necessary to ensure meaningful participation by the participants. This includes City sponsored community engagement events and events of a community - wide interest where staff are required to be present (e.g., Night To Unite, Safety Camp, Rookery Activity Center events and programs). Recognition and Wellness Public expenditures for appropriate recognition programs serve a public purpose because formally recognizing employees, volunteers, and elected officials who make significant contributions and demonstrate their commitment during the performance of their duties results in higher morale and productivity, and therefore helps the City fulfill its responsibilities to the community more efficiently and more cost effectively. In addition, appropriate safety, health, and wellness programs for City employees serve a public purpose because they result in healthier and more productive employees and reduce certain costs to the City and the taxpayers of Lino Lakes. The following items are deemed to meet the definition of public purpose expenditure for recognition and wellness: a) $600 provided annually for awards in the amount of $25 in value in recognition of an employee having provided excellent service and value to the City by going above and beyond through hard work, initiative, customer service, or innovation.* b) Employees retiring** from the City with a minimum often years of service will receive a monetary gift valued at $100 on their last paycheck.*