Council OKs ordinance readings, fire agreement, paid leave year

The Worthington City Council approved the second readings of three different ordinances on Monday night.

The first of the ordinances pertained to the prohibition of off-premise signs in the city. The second addressed by the council establishes which zoning districts permit the sale of lower-potency hemp edible products (it would be permitted in all commercial districts). The third requires low-potency hemp edible retailers to obtain local retail registrations, similar to cannabis businesses.

In another matter, the council approved a new six-year fire agreement negotiated between Worthington Township and the City of Worthington through Dec. 31, 2030. The six-year agreement includes annual rates with a 3% increase each year. It begins with a 2025 rate of $14,530.

In a late addition to Monday’s agenda, council members took action to define the city's Minnesota Paid Leave year.

Previously, the city’s practice had always been to follow a calendar year when it came to employees’ Family Medical Leave Act leave. With the implementation of Minnesota Paid Leave (MPL) effective Jan. 1, 2026, city staff received recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development and the League of Minnesota Cities to change the city’s FMLA leave year to align with the Minnesota Paid Leave benefit year. That is a rolling 52-week period calculated from the first day of leave.