City Joins Insurance Pool

Citing concerns that the city is “going into the insurance business,” the City Council approved three resolutions to join a self-insurance pool being formed by some California municipalities.

The city will join other members of the Independent Cities Risk Management Authority to acquire liability insurance and risk management services. The city is now without liability insurance, city officials said.

Councilman George G. Mirabal said the city is in the “insurance business in terms of what’s happening out there,” referring to high premiums and an unavailability of liability insurance.

City Administrator Byron Woosley said the insurance pool is “not a solution,” but that “at the present time there is no other feasible option to be considered.”