HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 98-116 - Amending its Policy No 203 Entitled Risk Mgmt Policy �
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RESOLUTION NO. 98- /��p
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF REDDING AMENDING ITS POLICY NO. 203
ENTITLED RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY.
WHEREAS, on December 15, 1986, the City Council adopted a Risk Management
Policy numbered 203 to protect the City against the financial consequences of all accidental
losses, and to minimize the long-term cost of the City of all activities related to the control of
accidental losses, which Policy was amended on November 7, 1995; and
WHEREAS, it is advisable to further amend Policy 203 to delegate to the Risk
Manager the power to reject or otherwise process claims, subject to the prior review and
concurrence of the City Attorney's office [page 3, paragraph 5];
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council that Policy 203 be amended to
read as set forth in attached Council Policy 203 entitled Risk Management Policy.
I HEREBY CERTIFI' that the foregoing resolution was introduced, read and adopted
at a special meeting of the City Council on the 4th day of August, 1998, by the following vote:
AYES: COUNCII,MEMBERS: Cibula, Kight, McGeorge and Kehoe
NOES: COiJNCII,MEMBERS: None
ABSENT: COiJNCII,MEMBERS: Anderson
ABSTAIN: COLTNCII,MEMBERS: None
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DAVID . KEHOE, yor
Attest: Form Approved: �
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Connie Strohmayer, City lerk W. Leonard Wingate, Ci Attorney \
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CI TY OF REDDING, CALIFORN/A
- Council Policy
SUB�ECT Resolution Policy Effective
Number Number Date Page
RISK MANAGEMENT POLIC�' 86-330 203 12-15-86 1
BACKGROUND
The City Council established its Risk Management Policy on December 15, 1986. It describes the authority
and responsibility of the Risk Manager and provides guidelines in accordance with which its loss
prevention, insurance and self-insurance programs should be administered. It sets as its goal the reduction
of all risks of accidental loss and the management of losses in a cost-effective manner.
It is the intention of the City Council to update that policy to reflect more fully the current responsibilities
and practices of the Risk Management Office and to revise claim settlement authority.
PURPOSE
The City's Risk Management Policy shall have as its purpose:
A. To protect the City of Redding against the financial consequences of all accidental losses.
B. To minimize the long-term cost of the City of all activities related to the control of accidental
losses.
These goals shall be attained by means such as loss prevention, loss financing, claims administration,
insurance administration, and risk transfer. The Risk Manager shall be primarily responsible for the
implementation of this Policy.
POLICY
A. Loss Prevention
The City, in all of its activities, shall emphasize the reduction, modification, or elimination of conditions
and practices which may cause loss. Safety to personnel and the public shall have the highest priority.
Each department director shall, therefore, make safety issues an integral part of his/her management
responsibilities and ensure compliance with Federal, State, County and City safety standards. The Risk
Manager shall assist them in that effort and work with the Personnel Office to provide safety training
programs for employees and citizens.
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� CI TY OF REDDING, CALIFORN/A
� Council Policy
SUBJECT Resolution Policy Effective
Number Number Date Page
RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY 86-330 203 12-15-86 2
B. Loss Financing
The City self-insures its workers' compensation and liability claims programs, and must, therefore, pay all
losses up to the respective self-insurance retentions. It is the policy of the City to pre-fund the outstanding
liabilities of those programs in order to reduce the risk of its current operating budget and assets, and
ensure with greater probability that it will have sufficient funds available in the event of a catastrophic loss
or an unexpected increase in the frequency or severity of claims or litigation. To that end, the City shall
strive to fund each program in such a manner so as to maintain a minimum 70% confidence level, based
on periodic actuarial reviews.
C. Claims Administration
1. The Risk Manager shall coordinate all activities of the City's self-insured workers' compensation
and general liability claims programs in close cooperation and consultation with the Personnel
Office and the City Attorney's Office. Chief among those activities is the prompt and effective
assistance to those employees legitimately injured on the job. The Risk Manager shall work
directly with the City departments and the claims administrators to minimize the costs of those
claims by:
(a) Informing department directors as to their claims experience so that efforts can be
implemented to prevent future losses.
(b) Working with department directors to set goals for the control and reduction of the
frequency and severity of claims and all costs associated with them.
(c) Assisting departments in providing general claims information to their employees so that
they are aware of the costs associated with their actions.
(d) Keeping abreast of each and every claim, working together with the Human Resources
Manager and City Attorney to vigorously fight cases of abuse and fraud.
(e) Assisting departments in establishing light duty programs so that injured employees can
return to work as soon as practicable.
(� Working with the Human Resources Manager to obtain a second medical opinion, as
appropriate, in those workers' compensation claims where abuse is suspected.
2. City staff shall have the authority to settle liability claims, as follows:
Risk Manager Up to $ 5,000
City Attorney Up to $10,000
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CITY OF REDD/NG, CALIFORN/A
� Council Policy
SUBJECT Resolution Policy Effective
Number Number Date Page
RiSK MANAGEMENT POLICY 86-330 203 12-15-86 3
City Attorney and City Manager Up to $25,000
City Council Over$25,000.
3. City staff shall have the authority;�o settle workers' compensation claims based on their total
estimated cost to the City, as follows:
Risk Manager Claims with total costs less than$35,000
Adininistrative Services Director, with
the agreement of the City Attorney and
the Human Resources Manager Claims with total costs over$35,000.
4. City staff shall have the authority to settle property claims of the City against its property insurance
carrier, as follows:
Risk Manager,with the agreement of the
City Attorney and the director of the
department involved All Losses in any amount.
5. Whenever it is necessary for the City to reject or provide another form of notice to a claimant,the
City Council hereby delegates to the Risk Manager that authority,subject to the prior review and
concurrence of the City Attorney's Office.
6. �ny claims; the resolution of which may have the effect of creating or changing a risk
management or other operating policy or philosophy of the City, shall be referred to the City
Council.
D. Insurance Administration
1. With regard to the risk of accidental loss,it shall be the City's policy to self-insure all losses which
occur with predictable frequency or which will not have a significant impact on the City's financial
position, Insurance will be purchased, however, when:
(a) It is a cost-effective alternative to self-insurance and deductibles or self-insurance does not
result in long-term economies.
(b) Whenever necessary services can be obtained only by the purchase of insurance.
(c) When the City is obligated by contract or law to purchase insurance and no other method
is available.
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CI TY OF REDD G, CALIFORN/A
- Council Policy
SUBJECT Resolution Policy Effective
Number Number Date Page
RISK MANAGEMENT POLICY 86-330 203 12-15-86 4
2. Insurance(or other forms of risk finance) shall be purchased from any source determined to be in
the long-term best interests of the City.
E. Risk Transfer
Because they are in the best position to control losses, the City shall attempt to transfer the risks of
accidental losses to those parties performing services for the City or leasing or using its facilities. The
transfer of risk shall occur by means of insurance requirements and hold harmless and indemnification
clauses in contracts, purchase orders, and lease or rental agreements. The transfer of risk shall be based
on generally accepted risk management practices for public agencies and sound legal advice.
Amended on November 7, 1995, by Resolution No. 95-243
Amended on , 1998, by Resolution No. 98-_
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