2025.10.06 CC Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Minutes for Midyear Budget Review on September 15, 2025 Page 4 of 5 provided separate vacation and sick time, while others, like Hugo, combined the two into personal leave time. Bear presented a chart comparing Hugo to other cities that use personal leave time, which showed that Hugo was behind at the beginning of employment, in line between five and ten years, but lacking again after fifteen years or more. He proposed a revised personal leave schedule that would make the City more competitive. Other proposed items in the updated policy include double-time for work on holidays, vision coverage, short-term disability versus Paid Family Medical Leave, parental leave, bereavement leave, and other mandatory leaves. There would be no policy for remote work, though exceptions could be made. Strub asked about the carryover program for personal leave time. Bear replied that employees were allowed to carry over 520 hours and would be eligible to receive payment for that amount upon termination. Weidt questioned whether there had been pushback from new employees. Bear responded that the policy had been modified to provide them with 40 banked hours at the start of employment, with the opportunity to earn more after six months. He acknowledged that not providing time off for new hires could place the City at a competitive disadvantage. Strub shared that in his past employment, vacation time increased gradually, and another employer allowed employees to purchase additional vacation time using sick leave hours. Bear stated that staff would continue to review the policy and welcomed additional feedback. Krull expressed support for Bear setting the policy, and the Council generally agreed that he was on the right track. Staff will present the updated policy for adoption by the end of the year. Hopkins Schoolhouse City Administrator Bryan Bear provided background information on the restoration of the historic schoolhouse. It was noted that the project had accomplished the first part of its mission, with assistance from the City on brush removal, mowing, and snowplowing. Progress had been made on the exterior of the building. The Mayor reported he had met Liz to talk about the remaining work to be done. Bear stated he received a list of from Hopkins Schoolhouse and Heritage Center Chair Liz Cinqueonce of remaining work to be done that was estimated at approximately $400,000 to make the building occupiable. The Council discussed whether the City should participate financially in the completion of the schoolhouse, and if so, to what extent. What needed to be considered was the City’s expectations for the site and whether that should influence the outcome, and how the future use of the building might affect design decisions.