Keizer staff and committee members discussed implementing volunteer-background checks after a CIS (public entity insurance) review recommended a formal policy on which volunteers should be screened.

Staff said CIS’s baseline recommendation would be to require background checks for volunteers who have direct, unsupervised contact with children and other vulnerable populations. Committee members and staff discussed practical approaches: a policy covering appointed board and commission volunteers, stronger onboarding language for recurring volunteers, and simple best-practice guidance (for short-term, one-day volunteers) such as signage or instructions that youth remain with a responsible adult.

Council President Star said she preferred taking the background-check policy directly to the full City Council rather than delaying it through multiple quarterly committee meetings because of the safety implications for children and youth.

On risk-management financials, staff reported two new workers’ compensation incidents during the quarter involving sworn officers; both involved short time loss on modified duty and both officers have returned to work. Staff also reported a settlement related to a 2021 claim: SAFE has agreed to a settlement amount of $23,050 that resolves the claim and any future claims arising from the denied conditions. When asked, staff confirmed the $23,050 is the full amount being paid; committee members asked whether attorney fees were included and staff said the settlement amount covers the total payment.

Staff also reported the city received an $11,978 annual dividend from SAFE.

What happens next: Staff will draft options for volunteer-background-check policy and, per committee preference, may bring the recommendation directly to City Council for consideration. The settlement and dividend items will be reflected in the city’s risk-management records.