This comment is submitted on behalf of both the PSA and CEA unions. Re-opening City offices to the public requires careful deliberation regarding not only public access but the general office environment for city staff. We recommend that in-person services be a two-phased approach. The health and safety of staff should be the priority. The first phase should include staggered work schedules, clear protocols for masks, social distancing, sanitizing, and the proper use of shared spaces. Internal protocols should be consistent between departments and diligently monitored. Consideration needs to be given to those staff members who have been unable to obtain the vaccine, have health concerns, or care for vulnerable individuals. The second phase should include appointment-based public access with a specific point-person managing the City office lobbies and libraries. Visible signage, floor stickers, and enforcement of safety procedures by either a Management team representative or law enforcement, needs to be addressed. Public waiting areas should be created outside the City offices. City offices should not be open to the public until we have established and tested the schedules and protocols for City staff. The PSA and CEA Boards recommend that office schedules and protocols be established in the month of May, with a re-opening to the public on an appointment-only basis not occurring until June, at the earliest.
This comment is submitted on behalf of both the PSA and CEA unions. Re-opening City offices to the public requires careful deliberation regarding not only public access but the general office environment for city staff. We recommend that in-person services be a two-phased approach. The health and safety of staff should be the priority. The first phase should include staggered work schedules, clear protocols for masks, social distancing, sanitizing, and the proper use of shared spaces. Internal protocols should be consistent between departments and diligently monitored. Consideration needs to be given to those staff members who have been unable to obtain the vaccine, have health concerns, or care for vulnerable individuals. The second phase should include appointment-based public access with a specific point-person managing the City office lobbies and libraries. Visible signage, floor stickers, and enforcement of safety procedures by either a Management team representative or law enforcement, needs to be addressed. Public waiting areas should be created outside the City offices. City offices should not be open to the public until we have established and tested the schedules and protocols for City staff. The PSA and CEA Boards recommend that office schedules and protocols be established in the month of May, with a re-opening to the public on an appointment-only basis not occurring until June, at the earliest.