Agenda Packets - 2020/05/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

M0U__N_DitSVVfE_W Item No: 8.A. Meeting Date May 26, 2020 Type of Business: Council Business Administrator review: City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Rayla Sue Ewald, Human Resources Coordinator Item Title/Subject: Resolution 9275, Approving Certain Employee and Volunteer Appreciation Events Background The City Council approved Resolution 5617 October 8, 2001 approving certain employee and volunteer appreciation events. On July 11, 2005 Resolution 6579 passed approving revisions to the original resolution which included having appreciation events for employees or volunteers at the Mounds View Banquet and Conference Center or the Mounds View City Parks. Additionally, Resolution 6579 included giving retirees the option of receiving either a retirement plaque or a gift certificate. Discussion The City Council decided to cancel the annual employee appreciation luncheon due to the Coronavirus. During the May Work Session Council requested staff use the funds designated for the annual employee appreciation luncheon and divide the amount between regular full-time and regular part-time staff, requesting the amounts be used to purchase gift cards from local restaurants. Staff conversed with Kennedy & Graven regarding Resolution 6579, inquiring if the purchase of gift cards would be acceptable. Kennedy & Graven crafted Resolution 9275 which addresses the public fund expenditures and identifies a Minnesota Supreme Court ruling regarding public expenditures fulfilling public purpose when the expenditure benefits the community as a whole; the purpose of the expenditure is directly related to a governmental function; and the purpose of the expenditure primarily benefits the public interest, not a private interest. The ruling includes public expenditures for employee and volunteer recognition programs, as formally recognizing significant contributions leads to higher moral and productivity. An additional change to the resolution includes increasing the annual employee appreciation event amount from $1000 to $1500. This fee has not increased since it began in 2001. Also, there is a provision allowing for gift cards to be given should there be an emergency declared, such as we are currently experiencing, and in-person attendance is not advisable at the appreciation event. Strategic Plan Strategy/Goal: Create a culture where employees desire to work. Financial Impact: This is a budgeted item. Recommendation Staff recommends approval of Resolution 9275, Approving Certain Employee and Volunteer Appreciation Events. The Mounds View Vision A Thriving Desirable Community