Risk Management
Risk Management Department
The Human Resources Director is the Risk Manager for the City of Ukiah and oversees the City’s risk management programs which include the following:
- Insurance Coverage: The City of Ukiah maintains insurance covering general liabilities, property, vehicles, boiler and machinery, earthquakes, floods, workers’ compensation and employee fidelity.
- Insurance Verification: Risk Management reviews all Certificates of Insurance and Endorsements for all contracts of the City of Ukiah. Vendors and contractors must comply with specific insurance requirements (link to Insurance Requirements 2nd Level Page) as stipulated in the written agreement with the City.
- Claims Processing: As prescribed by the Government Code of the State of California, the City of Ukiah provides a process for making claims against the City involving bodily injury, property damage, or other loss or injury. The claimant, or person acting on behalf of the claimant, must present a claim form within specific time frames to initiate the process.
- Workplace Safety: The City of Ukiah maintains an employee safety program that complies with Cal-OSHA requirements and promotes “safety first.” The City’s Injury and Illness Prevention Program and Code of Safe Work Practices provide key workplace safety policies, procedures and guidelines.
- Training and Compliance: The City complies with Federal and State training requirements in Anti-Harassment, First Aid/CPR, Defensive Driving, Pathogens and various other types of training related to workplace safety.
- Incident/Accident Investigations: City of Ukiah employees report all incidents involving bodily injury or property damage on City premises or as a result of City activities. All incidents and accidents are investigated and evaluated.
Contact Us
Filing a Claim
How do I file a claim for damages against the City?
If you believe that the city is responsible for damages to you or your property, you must file a written claim within six months of the incident, in most cases. In order to meet legal requirements you must supply specific information. To assist you in meeting those requirements, the city has prepared a claim form for your use. Hard copy claim forms are available from the City Clerk’s Office or the Risk Management Department. Completed claim forms should be mailed or hand delivered to the City Clerk’s Office along with copies of invoices, receipts or pictures documenting your damages. The City Clerk is located at City of Ukiah, 300 Seminary Ave, Ukiah, CA 95482What happens to the claim after it is filed?
After a claim is filed, it is forwarded to the City’s third party administrator for handling. A claims adjuster will contact the claimant to discuss the claim and determine damages. Risk Management also conducts an in-house investigation. The results are forwarded to the claim adjusted who subsequently reports to the City whether the claim should be accepted or denied.Is this the same thing as small claims court?
No, small claims court is part of the Mendocino County Courts. However, before filing an action with the small claims court, a claim must first have been filed with the City and rejected.Why must a claim be filed?
The State Legislature enacted Government Code Section 910, et al., which provides legal guidelines for resolving disputes involving public funds. These guidelines exist for both the public and the public agency. Some of those legal guidelines are:- Claims for death, injury to person, or to personal property must be filed not later than six months after the occurrence. See Government Code Section 911.2.
- Claims for damages to real property must be filed not later than one (1) year after the occurrence. See Government Code Section 911.2.
- A written Application for Leave to Present a Late Claim, along with a copy of the proposed claim, must be filed when a claim is not submitted within the time guideline. See Government Code Section 911.4.
Instructions for filing a claim against the City of Ukiah
- To ensure processing of your claim, complete each item on the claim form
- Mail or hand deliver the completed and signed claim form to the City Clerk, City of Ukiah, 300 Seminary Ave, Ukiah, CA 95482
- Once your claim is received, it will be forwarded to the City’s Risk Management Division for processing by the Risk Manager.
- Once the investigation of your claim has been completed, you will be notified in writing or contacted directly with regard to the merits of your claim. In order for the City to utilize public funds for payment on any claim, there first must be an evaluation of liability.
- If you have any questions about completing this form or the claims process, please contact the Risk Manager at (707) 463-6287.
Insurance Requirements
Prior to the beginning of and throughout the duration of any work, contract, permit, facility rental/lease, event or use of property with the City of Ukiah, the person, contractor, group or organization must provide and maintain insurance and endorsements in accordance with all requirements as set forth in the signed agreement with the City.
The Risk Management Division reviews all Certificates of Insurance and Endorsements for all contracts of the City of Ukiah. These may include:
- Agreements or Contracts with the City of Ukiah (see requirements below)
- Use of City Facilities
- Encroachment, Transportation & Building Permits
- Special Event Permits
Insurance Requirements – $1 Million Limit
- Professional Services (Consultants)
- Contractors
- Contractors (with Construction Risks)
- Environmental Contractors and/or Consultants
- Suppliers/Venders
- Lessees
Insurance Requirements – $2 Million Limit
- Contractors
- Contractors (with construction risks)
- Environmental Contractors and/or Consultants
- Suppliers/Venders
- Lessees
Sample Insurance Forms
(See Contract or Permit Requirements for specified forms)- ACORD Certificate of Liability Insurance (sample)
- Additional Insured Endorsement for Owner, Lessees or Contractors – ISO Form CG 20 10 11 85- (preferred endorsement)
- Additional Insured Endorsement for Owners, Lessees or Contractors – Scheduled Person or Organization (ongoing operations) – ISO Form CG 20 10 07 04
- Additional Insured Endorsement for Owners, Lessees or Contractors (completed operations) – ISO Form CG 20 37 10 01
- Additional Insured Endorsement for State or Local Subdivisions – Permits – ISO Form CG 20 12 07 98
- Automobile Liability Endorsement
- Workers’ Compensation & Employer’s Liability Endorsement – Waiver of Subrogation
- Workers’ Compensation Declaration
Workers' Compensation
A Brief Overview of City of Ukiah’s Employee Workers’ Compensation Benefits:
Workers’ Compensation is a state-mandated benefit for workers injured on the job. The state-mandated Workers’ Compensation benefits include:- Medical treatment reasonably required to help recover from the effects of the injury.
- Temporary Disability payments are paid if an injured worker loses time from work. However, safety employees such as police officers and firefighters may receive full salary in lieu of Temporary Disability benefits when disabled from a work related injury. Generally, the temporary disability benefit is two thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage. However, the benefit rate is subject to minimum and maximum levels and is adjusted annually as established by the “State Average Weekly Wage.”
- Permanent Disability payments are paid if an injured worker has a permanent disability as the result of a work injury. The benefit amounts are set by law based on the severity of the disability.
- Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits may be available if the injured worker cannot return to the job she/he held at the time of injury.
