§ 16.810. Workers' compensation claims payable without formal council approval.

(a) The following workers' compensation claims against the city are payable from appropriate city funds, without city council approval, as follows:

(1)

Any claim made payable by order, after a trial on the merits, if not appealed;

(2)

Lump sum settlements of current bills incurred by the city arising out of workers' compensation claims, not exceeding seventy-five thousand dollars ($75,000.00), exclusive of any amounts previously paid pursuant to section 16.810(a).

(3)

Wage payments authorized by workers' compensation statutes or regulations;

(4)

Current bills incurred by the city authorized by workers' compensation statutes or regulations.

(b)

All claims, payable pursuant to this section, shall be immediately payable, and shall be processed electronically by the workers' compensation unit of the department of risk management and claims. All such bills or claims in appropriate form with an authorized signature will be received by the city's accounts payable unit and approved for final payment. Copies of all such claims shall be kept on file in accordance with applicable city requirements. A report of all current authorizations for payment of such claims shall be filed and received once each fiscal quarter by the city council's standing committee on claims or another committee designated by the city council, as an agenda item. Authorizations for payment of current claims and bills received and filed by a council committee shall, before and after filing, retain the same data classification that would otherwise apply under the Government Data Practices Act.

(c)

The director of risk management and claims shall establish a settlement approval process and settlement authority limits within the workers' compensation unit. The director of risk management and claims shall countersign all settlements in excess of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00).

(d)

If the case is in litigation, the city attorney shall approve all settlements in excess of thirty-five thousand dollars ($35,000.00).

(e)

The director of risk management and claims or the city attorney may delegate any authority herein to qualified staff. (82-Or-235, § 1, 11-24-82; 89-Or-212, § 2, 10-27-89; 2001-Or-008, § 1, 2-2-01)