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AGENDA ITEM <br />Prepared By: RJO Reviewed By: RJO Approved By: RJO <br />1.Purpose: Staff would like to extend two COVID-19 policies that expired on December <br />31, 2020. One policy involved the use of up to two weeks of sick leave that was not <br />deducted from an employee’s sick bank. The other is the City’s Policy for Temporary <br />Outdoor Customer Service Areas. <br />2.Background: As part of the CARES act, the city was required to provide employees <br />time off for COVID-19 that was not deducted from their sick leave balance. The city was <br />reimbursed for the sick leave used through November 15th by funding provided by the <br />Federal Government. There was no reimbursement for the leave used between <br />November 15 and the end of the year. The requirement to provide the additional sick <br />leave ended on December 31, 2020. Staff would like to continue this policy so that <br />employees requiring sick leave due to COVID-19 in 2021 will be treated in the same <br />manner as an employee in 2020. <br />The other policy that staff would like to continue involves allowing temporary outdoor <br />seating for businesses. Businesses like bars and restaurants continue to operate with <br />reduce seating requirements. Allowing them to continue to provide outdoor seating is a <br />way that the city can support them that does not cost anything. By passing the extension <br />now, businesses will not need to wait on the city to extend it as the weather warms in the <br />spring. <br />3.Cost: Based on the amount of COVID time used in 2020, the value of the leave time <br />associated with extending its use would is estimated to be $15,000. Currently, the <br />maximum sick leave payout when an employee leaves is 50%. This reduces the cost to <br />$7,500 or less. There is no cost to continuing outdoor seating. <br />4.Funding: There is adequate funding in the 2021 budget to cover the expense. <br />5.Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends extension of the two COVID-19 policies <br />that expired on December 31, 2020. <br />COUNCIL ACTION REQUESTED <br />Motion to amend the Policy for Temporary Outdoor Customer Service Areas and a motion to <br />approve the attached resolution extending the use of COVID-19 sick leave. <br />Exhibits <br />A.Policy on Outdoor Food and Alcohol Sales <br />B.Resolution to Provide COVID-19 sick pay <br />Item No.: Date: January 25, 2021 <br />Item Description: Covid-19 Sick Pay and Outdoor Seating Resolution <br />Presenter: Ron Olson Agenda <br />Section: <br />Consent Agenda