Keizer city staff told the Personnel Policy Committee on Oct. 28 that the city pushed the formal launch of its new human resources information system (HRIS) to Jan. 1, 2025, to allow additional configuration and employee training.

HR Director Cleaver told the committee that the later date gives staff time to fine-tune payroll configuration and training so employees are paid correctly on the first paycheck after launch. “I would say we are 90% the way there,” Cleaver said when asked about implementation progress.

Cleaver said the later launch date has allowed more intensive meetings with the HRIS vendor to resolve details such as timesheet coding and how employees will select comp time versus overtime. Staff added recurring meetings focused specifically on payroll configuration are now part of the implementation schedule.

The committee also received an update on the personnel policy manual. Staff said drafts are being prepared to align city leave policies with recent Oregon legislative changes, including updates to Oregon paid leave and the Oregon Family Leave Act that went into effect July 1. Cleaver said the city is applying the law now and wants to ensure the written personnel policies will reflect current law and best practices before being presented to the council for approval.

On labor relations, staff reported the Keizer Police Association will represent a new sergeants unit in upcoming bargaining. The city’s first bargaining session with the sergeants unit is scheduled for Nov. 13, and staff said the terms and any budgetary impacts will become clearer as negotiations proceed.

Staff also reported active recruitment in public safety: Cleaver said the Keizer Police Department had two officers start in the month of the meeting and expected additional offers to be accepted in the near term. “We may have this week as many as four active offers out to additional candidates,” Cleaver said.

What happens next: Staff expects to present finalized personnel-policy drafts to the committee and the council when they are ready; the HRIS team will continue vendor configuration and employee training through December ahead of the Jan. 1 go-live date.