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Portland is a Sanctuary City

192067

Emergency Ordinance

*Pay Workers’ Compensation Claims of Robin Scheffer in the sum of $75,000 involving Portland Permitting & Development

Passed

The City of Portland ordains.

Section 1.The Council finds:

  1. Robin Scheffer sustained two work injuries on May 6, 2016, and September 14, 2022. Risk Management Services accepted the claims and provided benefits pursuant to statute and administrative rules. 

  2. Further investigation indicates there is risk the City may be found liable for additional expenses. Therefore, to limit the risk of an adverse decision, it is prudent to compromise the claims at this time. 

  3. Risk Management Services and the City Attorney recommend the claims be compromised for the total sum of $75,000, less payment of $4,827.18, to Columbia Pain & Spine Institute, subject to claimant providing the City with a release in a form to be approved by the City Attorney.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Council directs:

  1. The City Administrator is authorized settle this claim in the amount of $70,172.82 made payable to Scheffer’s attorneys: Bottini Bottini & Oswald.

  2. The City Administrator is authorized settle this claim in the amount of $4,827.18 to Columbia Pain & Spine Institute.

  3. Risk Management Services will execute a payment authorization in the amount set forth in subparagraph A and B.

Section 2. The Council declares that an emergency exists in order to avoid undue and costly delay in settling these workers’ compensation claims; therefore, this Ordinance shall be in full force and effect from and after its passage by the Council. 


An ordinance when passed by the Council shall be signed by the Auditor. It shall be carefully filed and preserved in the custody of the Auditor (City Charter Chapter 2 Article 1 Section 2-122)

Passed by Council

Auditor of the City of Portland
Simone Rede

Impact Statement

Purpose of Proposed Legislation and Background Information

This Ordinance settles workers’ compensation claims brought by Robin Scheffer for injuries sustained on May 6, 2016, and September 14, 2022.

Financial and Budgetary Impacts

This legislation will have no impact on City revenue.

Total cost to the City to settle these claims is $75,000.  The source of funding is the City’s Workers’ Compensation fund.  All cost of the settlement is in the current fiscal year. This Ordinance does not amend the budget.

Economic and Real Estate Development Impacts

Not applicable.

Community Impacts and Community Involvement

This Ordinance settles workers’ compensation claims resulting from an occupational disease involving Robin Scheffer. No public involvement or input was sought regarding this Ordinance.  The City Attorney’s Office and Risk Management have concluded that it is not appropriate to have public involvement in settlement negotiations regarding workers’ compensation claims against the City.

No future public involvement is anticipated or necessary.  Approval by City Council of this Ordinance will fully settle a tort claim against the City of Portland.

100% Renewable Goal

This legislation will have no impact on City energy use.

Financial and Budget Analysis

Analysis provided by City Budget Office

Workers' Compensation claim for two work injuries sustained on May 6, 2016 and September 14, 2022 involving Portland Permitting & Development. Total cost to the City to settle the claim is $75,000. The source of funding is the City's Workers' Compensation Claims Fund. All costs of the settlement are in the current fiscal year.

Economic and Real Estate Development Analysis

Analysis provided by Prosper Portland

An Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis was not submitted for this proposed action. Pursuant to City Council Resolution 37664, Prosper Portland staff has reviewed the action and agree that it does not require an Economic and Real Estate Development Impact Analysis. 

Document History

Document number: 2025-224

President's referral: City Council

Agenda Council action
Regular Agenda
City Council
Passed

Votes
  • Aye (12):
    • Kanal
    • Ryan
    • Koyama Lane
    • Morillo
    • Novick
    • Clark
    • Green
    • Zimmerman
    • Avalos
    • Dunphy
    • Smith
    • Pirtle-Guiney

Document number

2025-224

Introduced by

City department

Service area

Contact

Erin Nielsen

Senior Workers' Compensation Analyst

Agenda Type

Regular

Date and Time Information

Meeting Date
Time Requested
10 minutes
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