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Council adopts volunteer policy to formalize roles for parks and recreation volunteers
Summary
Umatilla council approved a formal volunteer policy setting expectations, copying applicable staff handbook sections into an appendix and directing annual reviews.
The Umatilla City Council on May 6 adopted a new volunteer policy intended to formalize expectations for volunteers who support parks and recreation programming.
Why it matters: Councilors and staff said the city has seen increasing volunteer interest tied to events and recreation programs and lacked a formal policy to manage volunteer recruitment, roles and liability. The adopted policy includes an appendix that reproduces applicable employee electronic communications policy language and requires an annual review.
Key points: Staff told the council volunteers are unpaid and therefore do not fall under the employee handbook; the volunteer policy includes an appendix that pulls relevant sections of the staff handbook (for example, the city’s electronic communications policy) to set consistent expectations. Staff said the policy would guide volunteer use for events such as Rock the Locks, flag football and soccer and could be amended in the future as operational needs change.
Decision: Council moved and approved the resolution adopting the volunteer policy (resolution number referenced in packet). Councilors said the policy will be reviewed annually and can be amended as needed.
Next steps: With the policy adopted, staff may begin active volunteer recruitment tied to upcoming seasonal programming and event needs. Staff and councilors said they would monitor the policy’s application and bring back amendments if needed.
Ending: The policy establishes a consistent framework for volunteers across city programs and clarifies that volunteers are unpaid and subject to specific policies replicated from the employee handbook.
