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City of <br /> Ells = REQUEST FOR ACTION <br /> River` <br /> TO ITEM NUMBER <br /> Mayor and City Council 6.2 <br /> AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY <br /> Work Session September 10, 2012 Michael Hecker, Parks and Recreation <br /> Director <br /> ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED BY <br /> Safety Rules and Equipment Usage for Volunteers Tina Allard, City Clerk <br /> REVIEWED BY <br /> Cal Portner, City Administrator <br /> ACTION REQUESTED <br /> Review the attached Safety Rules and Equipment Usage for Volunteers policy draft and adopt by motion as part <br /> of the City of Elk River Volunteer Handbook. <br /> BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION <br /> The City Council reviewed and adopted the Volunteer Handbook in March. This is a manual that <br /> outlines the elements of a well-managed volunteer program. Parks staff recently found that the usage of <br /> equipment for volunteers is a section that was missing and should be addressed in the manual. <br /> The Parks and Recreation Department rely heavily on volunteers to maintain our parks. Staff estimates <br /> that volunteers work about 3,000 hours annually at Woodlands Park and over 1,500 hours annually at <br /> Hillside Park. Without the help of volunteers,the parks would not be in as good of shape and would <br /> require the city to hire additional staff to maintain current service levels. The Park Maintenance staff <br /> trains volunteers on the use of equipment and requires and documents the specific training for volunteers <br /> that utilize specialized equipment,including city snowmobiles to groom the trails and chain saws to cut <br /> trees and clear trails. Volunteers receive the same type of safety equipment training as regular employees. <br /> The League of Minnesota Cities states that the use of equipment and vehicles by volunteers is allowed <br /> and recommends that the operation, especially safety procedures,are explained and followed through. <br /> The City of Elk River continues to be proactive in its safety training of volunteers. <br /> City Attorneys Peter Beck and Mark Matheson have reviewed and made suggestions to the attached <br /> Policy. <br /> FINANCIAL IMPACT <br /> Volunteers save the city thousands annually with their efforts to maintain our park system. We hope to <br /> formally continue this effort and minimize legal exposure with the attached policy. <br /> ATTACHMENTS <br /> ■ Safety Rules and Equipment Usage for Volunteers Policy Draft <br /> r uwI8Eo BT <br /> MUR <br />