City starts volunteer program

At the Sept. 25 Placerville City Council meeting, the council approved the evolution of volunteerism in the city.

The new Volunteer in Placerville program (VIP) is the next step in the city’s already thriving volunteer arrangement and an outgrowth of suggestions made by the public at the city’s Neighborhood Chat meetings.

City Manager Cleve Morris explained the expanded program:”People will be able to go to the city Website and click on the VIP button,” said Morris. “That will take them to the application forms. They can be downloaded and completed by a volunteer applicant and brought in. They aren’t interactive yet, so you can’t submit them online.”

On the VIP link will be lists of the volunteer positions available, descriptions of some of the responsibilities of positions and any qualifications needed as well as safety guidelines and where to send completed applications.

“This is an exciting response to the Neighborhood Chats and a great way to utilize the talents of our community in a fiscally responsible way,” said Vice Mayor Wendy Mattson.

Councilwoman Patty Borelli suggested alerting high schools and colleges to the volunteer program and including notification in water bills for residents who don’t use computers.

“We’ve had volunteers for SHIELD, National Night Out, youth basketball coaching, Gold Bug Mine tours, junior swim aides and Gold Bug gift shop for many years and they are very appreciated,” said Councilman Carl Hagen. “This is an additional use of the program and a great step forward.”

The volunteer program will accept applications for volunteer positions in three broad categories:

• City Offices/Professional Positions including clerical and data entry. City Clerk Susan Zito will be overseeing these volunteers and applications may be submitted to her at City Hall, 3101 Center St.

• Recreation/Parks positions include  gatekeeper for city parks, youth basketball coach, Gold Bug Mine tour guide, Gold Bug Gift Shop volunteer, Junior Swim Aide, gardener, litter clean-up and Spring/Fall Community Clean Up. Candace Bernardi of the Recreation and Parks Department will oversee these volunteers and completed applications can be submitted to her for these positions at the Recreation and Parks Department, 549 Main St.

• Police volunteer positions include SHIELD volunteer, National Night Out Coordinator and Reserve Police Officer. Julie Burnsides, administrative assistant to Chief Neilsen, will oversee these volunteers and completed applications should be submitted to her at 730 Main St.

Applicants will be interviewed and placed in volunteer positions according to their desire and the needs of the city. Some positions are ongoing, while others are as-needed. There is no compensation for volunteer work, although there may be reimbursement for such expenses as mileage and all volunteers will be under the city’s Workers’ Compensation.

The new VIP link is scheduled to be available on the city Website at cityofplacerville.org by Monday, Oct. 15.

Contact Wendy Schultz at 530-344-5069 or wschultz@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @WSchultzMtDemo. 

Wendy Schultz

Wendy Schultz has been a columnist for the Mountain Democrat since 2002 and a staff writer since 2005. She covers Placerville city events and City Council meetings, writes feature stories and reports on things of interest in El Dorado County.

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