The code was last updated in 2017 and city council members were concerned about the use of medical marijuana by city safety employees who operated vehicles, specifically first responders.

“Most of the comments that we’ve heard up to this point are to protect us in a situation where an employee would be driving a vehicle, even though medical marijuana is prescribed. You are still responsible to make sure that you’re driving (safely, and) not under those things,” Mayor Dan Olson said.

The use of medical marijuana for those patients who qualified was legalized in 2018 in Utah. City safety employees have their own state rules and regulations concerning marijuana use.

“I mean, frankly put, I think most of our employees would fall into the category where they would not not be able to take medical cannabis. … it’s good clarification to have in our policy on that topic, since it’s becoming, you know, something that’s more common,” said Jason Bond, Santaquin assistant city manager.

The city also added time off for parental bereavement, if their child dies, to the procedures handbook. The policy was updated to reflect S.B. 63 Bereavement Leave Amendments, which gives Utahns three days of paid leave.

“It is a bill that requires the cities provide bereavement to employees that are involved in a stillborn or a miscarriage — employee or the father of the child lost. So that language is now added and almost word for word from that state legislation,” Bond said.