Spokane City Council suspends talks on sick leave policy

The Spokane City Council will set aside discussions about a proposed paid sick leave policy to focus on next year’s city budget, according to a news release. The council had been talking about the proposal since April, including creating a panel to draft an ordinance. “Although council members have already received numerous comments on the proposal, some stakeholders request additional time for public input and a more detailed analysis of potential economic and community health impacts,” the news release said. The council will defer further discussion of the paid leave policy until after the 2016 city budget is done, the release said. “I look forward to revisiting a sick and safe leave policy after the council has adopted a strong budget that prioritizes city services for 2016,” council president Ben Stuckart said in the release. The policy was backed by the Spokane Alliance, a coalition of religious, labor and health groups, and championed in the council by council members Jon Snyder and Amber Waldref. Representatives of local business oppose the measure, however, saying it will increase their costs and could drive some outside city limits.