Independence staff outline plan for program administrator to address workers' compensation and risk management

Melissa (identified in the meeting as the finance/risk lead) updated the committee on work to address workers' compensation and risk management shortfalls and staffing needs.

Melissa said staff have met with a Power & Light safety training specialist, the city attorney, human resources and their risk management consultant (Charles Worth Consulting). She said one of the key identified needs is a program administrator to provide citywide oversight of workers' compensation claims, develop policy, and coordinate risk‑management activities. "One of the things that we've identified is a real need for a program administrator, to oversee workers' compensation," she said.

Melissa described the city's approach as reworking existing positions to create capacity for the program administrator and indicated staff will include the proposed position in the FY2026 budget. She also said the city plans to establish a citywide safety committee and to engage the risk consultant more directly.

Committee members expressed concern about workload for the safety training specialist at Power & Light and asked how many positions the city will need across high‑risk departments (Power & Light, municipal services, water/sewer and public safety). Melissa said those staffing requirements and fiscal impacts will be part of budget recommendations next year and that staff will return with more detail during a study session.

Next steps: staff will present a more detailed staffing and fiscal proposal in the budget process and follow up in the scheduled study session.