Program to Streamline Property Claims OKd

Two key Los Angeles City Council panels backed away from several proposals Tuesday to improve the city’s risk management policies, but lawmakers agreed to move forward on several fronts aimed at reducing police litigation costs.

The Public Safety and Budget and Finance committees, which met jointly, agreed to establish a pilot program aimed at streamlining small property claims against the city. They also voted to require the city attorney to submit initial case reports and quarterly status reports to the council on major financial or policy cases.

But the panels backed away from creating a “claims board” that would have given the mayor and other top city officials, as well as key council members, the authority to review large settlements.

City Atty. James K. Hahn proposed that board so that the mayor’s office could have a hand in reviewing costly police litigation. “I think that all levels of government need to be involved in risk management--particularly the mayor,” Hahn said.

The council committees agreed to create a pilot program aimed at fixing broken doors and windows or other property violations before residents file claims. Officers would give claim forms to homeowners or tenants and these claims would be reviewed within two weeks.