On August 3, following an increase in COVID-19 infection rates, the City Council directed its Human Resources department to collect the vaccination status of all employees, and establish a mandatory vaccine or weekly testing requirement for unvaccinated employees, and contact the City’s employee labor associations to negotiate the impacts of the decision.

The city's COVID-19 screening testing program became effective on August 12, and the city now mandates weekly testing for all employees that are not vaccinated or have not provided a self-attestation form confirming their fully vaccinated status.

Testing is offered several times per week at various city facilities and employees are accountable for ensuring that they comply with the weekly testing requirement, with supervisor follow up as needed.

In addition, fully vaccinated employees are allowed to participate in the onsite COVID-19 screening testing on a voluntary basis. 

According to the city, as of September 15, 83% of city employees have submitted a self-attestation form attesting they are fully vaccinated. (This excludes employees out of the workplace, such as on leave or seasonal employees not currently scheduled to work.)

Additionally, the screening testing has been going on for five weeks. Approximately 60 to 70 employees participate in the onsite screening testing weekly, of which approximately 40 employees participate on a mandatory basis. To date, one employee who was not exhibiting symptoms has been identified as COVID positive through the screening testing.