HomeMy WebLinkAboutB- 4 Procedures for Processing Claims Against the City I or
AZUSA
AGENDA ITEM
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SONIA CARVALHO, CITY ATTORNEY
VIA: RICK COLE, CITY MANAGER
DATE: September 10, 2001
SUBJECT: Procedures for Processing Claims Against the City
RECOMMENDATION:
The City Attorney recommends that the City Council adopt Ordinance No. establishing
procedures for processing claims against the City.
BACKGROUND:
The Tort Claims Act of the California Government Code (Gov. Code § 810 et seq.) authorizes
cities to adopt procedures for processing claims filed against the City. Adopting local
procedures will assist the City in processing claims in an efficient and lawful manner. In
addition, the City may tailor its procedures to include specific requirements, as long as those
requirements are not already governed by any other statute or regulation and as long as they
do not conflict with state or federal laws.
The City Attorney has prepared a draft ordinance for establishing claims procedures for the City
of Azusa. The proposed ordinance accomplishes the following main objectives:
1) It grants authority to the City Manager, or the City Manager's designee, to review
and reject claims. It also grants authority to the City Manager to allow,
compromise or settle claims up to $10,000. Currently the City Manager has
settlement authority up to $5,000. Although recent claims have remained below
$5,000, the City Attorney recommends increasing the City Manager's settlement
authority to $10,000 to increase efficiency in processing claims. This authority is
pursuant to Government Code section 935.4. Approval or settlement of all claims
for more than $10,000 will rest with the City Council.
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