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MEMORANDUM <br />TO: ELK RIVER CITY COUNCIL <br />FROM: MICHAEL HECKER <br />MARK MATHISON <br />RE: BACKGROUND SCREENING POLICY <br />DATE: FEBRUARY 28, 2013 <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />Today we present for consideration and adoption by the Council a new policy on <br />background screening that is proposed to be effective January 1, 2014. As drafted, this policy <br />would apply to all Parks & Recreation Department applicants and employees who will or may be <br />expected to have contact during the course of their performing services for the City with <br />children, youth, or vulnerable adults. In addition, this policy would also apply to require <br />background screening of all Field & Facility Users' program participants who will or might have <br />such contact, as a condition of the grant or continuation of a Field & Facility Use permit. <br />Parks and Recreation would be responsible for administration of this policy as written. <br />The background screening proposed under this policy is broader than the screening the City has <br />done in the past for employees and volunteers under the current City ordinance. The new <br />screening would be conducted by a vendor to the City and be integrated into the current software <br />and secure database in use at Parks & Rec. This will logistically streamline administration of the <br />new screening system. The cost for each background screen is a reasonable $18.50, though this <br />is a significant increase in cost over the City's current practices that will require budget planning. <br />In preparing and proposing this policy, careful attention has been paid to the many <br />competing practical and legal considerations that come into play for a municipality with respect <br />to background screening. We believe that the screening proposed here represents a reasonable <br />effort to enhance the safety of the most vulnerable populations we serve. The policy is designed <br />so that its administration will simultaneously observe the rights of individuals to be screened and <br />related duties of the City. We believe this policy represents the City's best opportunity to <br />balance the variety of competing objectives in this context. <br />BACKGROUND SCREENING CONSIDERATIONS <br />The proposed policy will require thorough background screening of individuals who in <br />connection with City service or facility use will have, or might reasonably be expected to have, <br />