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Councilmember Bullock reiterated his request for more financial data. He expressed his position <br /> that the City can recruit top talent without providing additional benefits of this nature. He <br /> expressed concern that personnel expenses can be the top cost driver for cities. He recalled that <br /> when this was discussed in 2019 that the collective bargaining members stated a preference for <br /> different types of benefits such as increased pay rather than parental leave. <br /> Councilmember Shachner and Assistant Law Director Swallow discussed whether there were <br /> any concerns about providing the benefit to unions outside of bargaining. Assistant Director <br /> Swallow assuaged those concerns and stated that it could be bargained for at the next contract. It <br /> would be provided as a matter of City policy during the interim period. <br /> expressed concern that the benefit could be taken away by an arbitrator if it was not bargained <br /> for. He expressed support for the benefit but wanted assurance that providing it to the unions in <br /> this way wouldn't have unintended consequences. <br /> Ms. Swallow referred to a substitute version of the ordinance that was emailed to the committee. <br /> The substitute version removes gender-specific references. <br /> Councilmember Litten asked the administration to provide data on the cost of the benefit to the <br /> City throughout the year end, should it pass and Director Rancatore was agreeable to that. <br /> In response to a question from Councilmember Rader, the administration stated that there would <br /> be negligible impact of this ordinance on this year's budget. <br /> Mark Tiberia of Wilbert Road was present to express concerns about the ordinance. He <br /> referenced a lengthier written comment that he submitted and is attached here. He questioned the <br /> administration's estimate that the benefit will cost$32,000 annually. He asked if the calculations <br /> could be run to incorporate overtime and/or temporary employees to cover absences for parental <br /> leave. He also stated that the benefit divides the community between the haves and have-nots; <br /> those with access to these benefits and those with very few benefits. <br /> Councilmember Litten asked the administration to consider the comments and to look into <br /> modifying the calculations to include overtime and temporary employees. <br /> Director Dillinger stated that she would run the calculations but pointed out that new parents are <br /> still taking the time off,just from their own paid time off banks. Under that current structure, <br /> overtime has not been impacted. <br /> Councilmember Bullock suggested that the ordinance be reviewed, if even informally by the <br /> Civil Service Commission. <br /> Ms. Swallow replied that the Civil Service Commission mainly deals with hiring and layoffs and <br /> that employee benefits are not within their purview. <br /> 3 <br />