Members of the business community are speaking out about St. Paul's proposed sick leave rules — with messages ranging from distrust and frustration about the process to unwavering support.

A group of business owners who gathered Monday morning at Workhorse Coffee Bar, holding signs proclaiming "another small business supporting earned sick & safe time," were firmly in the second camp.

Their show of support came shortly after the Grand Avenue Business Association looked through city e-mails about sick leave and said they show that businesses were not given an equal voice in the creation of the ordinance.

City officials were talking with advocates and labor representatives who support earned sick leave for months before reaching out to the business community and convening a community task force to draft ordinance recommendations, said Jon Perrone, executive director of the association.

"It comes down to the fact that we feel duped," Perrone said. "People felt the task force was just kind of a front … to appease the businesses."

Eric Foster, co-owner of the East Side restaurant Ward 6, was a member of the task force. He was also among those who held a news conference Monday to talk about why they think the city should require all employers to offer paid sick time. Foster said he does not share the Grand Avenue Business Association's concerns about the process.

"The council's job is to prepare and to think about things and have things ready to go," Foster said.

The task force, which included small-business owners, officials from large companies, labor representatives and advocates, tailored the ordinance to St. Paul, he said. The city can always alter the rules later if they are not working, Foster said.

It would have been irresponsible of the city not to study the issue before proceeding, City Council President Russ Stark said.

"I'm frustrated … because I thought we were very up front," Stark said, noting that St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce President Matt Kramer was involved in early work on the ordinance.

"I don't know how we could be more transparent," Stark said.

Kramer was also concerned about the e-mails, but for a different reason than Perrone.

He has repeatedly questioned the city's premise that the ordinance is aimed at protecting public health. He said that's a "cover" and pointed to an e-mail Deputy Mayor Kristin Beckmann sent in January, after city officials had been discussing sick leave for a few months. Beckmann wrote that because the city is talking about the ordinance as a public health issue, "We should at least inform our director of Public Health, Rina McManus."

"Let's be really clear: This is not motivated by public health. It is a union-driven, activist-driven initiative that is going around the country," Kramer said. "This isn't a public health issue. It's a political issue."

Beckmann said in that e-mail she was just suggesting that they get a local public health perspective on a state health study about people who went to work sick.

"It's not that we were making up a public health argument," she said. "I feel like they're trying to create a spin. They have cherry-picked a few e-mails to challenge the process because they don't like the outcome."

The City Council's public hearing on the draft sick leave ordinance is scheduled for Aug. 17.

Jessie Van Berkel • 612-673-4649