ITEM TITLE:
#26-07 - Amending the City of Valdez Employee Personnel Regulations
SUBMITTED BY: Rhea Cragun, Human Resources Director
FISCAL NOTES:
Expenditure Required: N/A
Unencumbered Balance: N/A
Funding Source: N/A
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve amendments to the City of Valdez Employee Personnel Regulations
SUMMARY STATEMENT:
As part of the annual review of the City of Valdez Personnel Regulations, staff have identified sections requiring additional clarification and supplemental guidance. In addition, input from the City’s emergency service departments (Fire and Police), along with employee feedback received through the Employee Resource Team (ERT), has resulted in proposed policy updates. These revisions are intended to improve clarity, strengthen understanding of expectations and benefits, and enhance overall working conditions.
For details of changes please refer to the attached document: Personnel Regulations Recommended Changes for 2026
A brief summary follows:
• Multiple sections have been modified for clarity and to capture current practices:
o 6.6.03 Promoted Employees: Adding clarification to existing practices when an employee is promoted but for a non-disciplinary reason is returned to prior position.
o 6.7 Performance Evaluations: Simplifying the language and removing redundancies
o 6.9 Timekeeping: Clarifying use of PTO/Comp time impact on overtime
o Sections 6.10, 6.13, 7.1.01, and 7.1.03: Adding clarity and referencing Emergency Services Exceptions in Appendix C
o 7.2 Administrative Leave: Clarification of how and when City Manager approved Administrative leave can be used
o Sections: 7.2.02, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5: Clarifying calculations of various leaves and referencing Emergency Services Exceptions in Appendix C
o 8.4 Education Assistance Training: Change of threshold due to IRS changes
• Two new policies have been added to enhance benefits and improve work-life harmony:
o Sections 7.6.02: Paid Maternal Leave
o Section 7.6.03: Paid Parental Leave
• Appendix C has been added: Emergency Services Exceptions and Alternatives to the Personnel Regulations.