Issue 133 – March 2023
NEWS: WORTHY
Jon Shull Announces Retirement – Alex Smith to Step into CEO Role
Following a 38-year career in public service—28 years with the Authority and 21 years as CEO—California JPIA Chief Executive Officer Jon Shull will retire on June 30, 2023.
“Being part of this amazing organization has been an incredibly rewarding experience. I’m proud of what we have accomplished at the Authority and of the extremely talented and committed people I work with,” said Shull. “With the Executive Committee’s guidance, we transformed the Authority from a claims management organization into a risk management organization, aiming to prevent losses rather than dealing with their consequences. Our training and risk management teams are unsurpassed in offering loss control services to our pool of 123 cities and other public agencies throughout California.”
During Shull’s tenure, the Authority transformed training from a simple member benefit to a robust curriculum, including an annual risk management educational forum, discipline-specific academies, and web-based and classroom-style training courses. The Authority also established the regional service delivery model to bring Authority risk managers closer to members, and it implemented a prospective funding approach that positioned the pool to maintain its strong financial standing and provide stability to members. In addition, Shull and Smith developed and introduced the excess liability and workers’ compensation programs and stewarded the creation of the Authority’s captive insurance company, Sequoia Pacific Reinsurance Company.
“It has been a privilege to lead this organization for the past 21 years and a pleasure to have hired every employee that comprises the Authority’s workforce. A common value among them is a passion for serving our members. While I am looking forward to a variety of activities in retirement, I will miss working with our team and my colleagues in the local government space,” said Shull.
The Authority’s Executive Committee has selected Deputy Executive Officer Alex Smith to succeed Shull as chief executive officer. Shull and Smith will work together to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
According to Shull, “Among the most important responsibilities of a chief executive officer are building a strong team that can deliver programs and services and cultivating future leaders within the organization. One principle that has guided me in my career has been creating opportunities for others to succeed. I’m proud of Alex’s passion for excellence and his success within our organization, and I am glad that the Executive Committee believes in his strength in leadership as much as I do. I have worked with Alex for 14 years, and I am confident he will continue to propel the Authority – and its members – forward.”
Introduced to the public sector while a student at California Polytechnic State University, Shull served as an administrative intern in the city administrator’s office with the City of San Luis Obispo. Immediately following graduation, he entered the Maxwell School at Syracuse University, earning his Master’s degree in public administration and concurrently serving as an intern in the mayor’s office. Shull took his first full-time position as an administrative assistant in the city manager’s office with the City of Cerritos and continued his public service as assistant to the city manager with the City of Signal Hill. Selected as assistant to the executive director of the California JPIA in February 1995, Shull was appointed as the Authority’s fifth chief executive officer on July 1, 2002.
Representing the Authority on a state and national level, Shull previously served as president of the California Association of Joint Powers Authorities (CAJPA) and the national Association of Governmental Risk Pools (AGRiP).
A well-respected presence both within the Authority and externally, Smith is broadly responsible for many aspects of the Authority’s operational activities, including finance, risk management, and training programs. Smith began his career with the Authority in March 2009 as finance director and was promoted to chief financial officer in December 2016. He was appointed to the position of deputy executive officer in 2021.
Smith serves on AGRiP’s membership practices committee and participates in AGRiP’s financial benchmarking initiative, a project aggregating data from 193 risk pools to help establish relevant, practical, and easily accessible benchmarking tools for risk pool administrators. He also serves on CAJPA’s board of directors.
“I thank Jon for his distinguished leadership and mentorship. I also thank the Executive Committee for its confidence in me as I step into this role,” said Smith. “Working with such talented colleagues is an honor and a privilege. I’m excited to have the opportunity to build upon our past success, support local government and continue developing innovative programs to serve our members.”
Please join us as we thank Jon for 28 years at the Authority, and congratulate Alex Smith as the next chief executive officer!
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Olympic Gold Medalist Scott Hamilton to Deliver Keynote at Educational Forum
The California JPIA is pleased to announce that Olympic gold medalist Scott Hamilton is the keynote speaker at the 28th Annual Risk Management Educational Forum. Scott is one of the world’s most recognized figure skating stars, winning an Olympic gold medal in 1984 and 70 additional titles, awards, and honors.
Scott will share his knowledge of figure skating as a commentator, competitor, performer, and producer. After losing his mother to cancer and surviving cancer himself, Scott launched the Scott Hamilton CARES (Cancer Alliance for Research, Education, and Survivorship) Foundation. He became an activist, fighting for cancer research funding and supporting education and survivorship programs. Scott will share his story’s extreme highs and lows and how to keep going even when the obstacles’ shadows loom large.
This year’s Forum, titled It’s Like, Totally Risk Management, will be held at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad from August 30 to September 1, 2023. Registration for the Forum opens in April.
For questions regarding the Forum, visit the Risk Management Educational Forum page on the Authority’s website or email us.
Print ArticleRISK SOLUTIONS
California JPIA Offers Embark Motor Vehicle Record Monitoring to Members
In October 2022, the California JPIA launched Embark Safety as a new member resource for motor vehicle report monitoring. Features of the Embark monitoring platform include:
The Authority fully funds this program as a pooled cost, so members have no direct, out-of-pocket expenses. Members are strongly encouraged to consult with their labor attorney to determine if this program triggers an obligation to meet and confer with any affected bargaining units.
“Embark has been great in monitoring the employees’ driving records and sending alerts for upcoming expiration issues. It is also very user-friendly and efficient,” said Aileen Vasquez, senior administrative assistant in the Human Resources Department at the City of Palm Desert. “Overall, using this service has been a great experience, and I would recommend Embark to other agencies.”
To help Authority members learn more about Embark Safety and how they can effectively implement the program within their agencies, the California JPIA and Embark Safety will host two educational webinars to review Embark Connect, the motor vehicle records monitoring software. The webinars will be held Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. and Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 1:00 p.m. Those interested in the April 18 webinar can register here. Those interested in the April 26 webinar can register here.
If you have questions or want to learn more about the webinars and the program, please email Senior Risk Manager Lucy Gonzalez.
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Mandated Reporter Training and Resources
The Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act, or CANRA (California Penal Code, Sections 11164-11174.3) requires employees who may have direct contact with or supervise children under 18 in the course of their professional duties to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect.
AB 1963 adds human resource employees and any adults whose duties require direct contact with and supervision of minors in performing the minors’ responsibilities in the workplace for businesses with five or more employees that employ minors.
Failure to comply with CANRA reporting requirements subjects a mandated reporter to criminal and civil penalties.
California Penal Code, Section 11165.7(a) provides a complete list of positions defined as mandated reporters. Thoroughly reviewing the list of positions and identifying your agency’s mandated reporters is advised. Employers must provide mandated reporters with a statement informing them of their obligations under the law (Penal Code §§ 11165.7, subdivision (c)(1); 11166.5, subdivision (a)).
Based on the face of the statute, the language may be perceived as ambiguous, and thus, interpretations may vary. Therefore, as a best risk management practice and to ensure that employees understand their responsibilities under the law, the California JPIA recommends that all designated mandated reporters receive child abuse and neglect identification and reporting training.
According to AB 1963, employers with five or more employees that employ minors must include training in child abuse and neglect identification and child abuse and neglect reporting.
Free mandated reporter training for general, childcare, law enforcement, and volunteers is available through the Child Abuse Mandated Reporter Training Project, funded by the California Department of Social Services and Office of Child Abuse Prevention. The California JPIA also offers instructor-led mandated reporter training. See below for details.
Classroom and Virtual Classroom Training
This course provides participants with information and training related to the legal obligation of specific individuals to report the suspected abuse and neglect of children, seniors, and dependent adults. Training participants will learn about the types of abuse, signs of abuse, reporting obligations and procedures, protections afforded to mandated reporters, and ramifications of failing to report. A virtual option is also available for this session.
Mandated Reporter Training for Children’s Programs
This course provides participants with information and training related to the legal obligation of specific individuals to report the suspected abuse and neglect of children. Participants will learn about the types of abuse, signs of abuse, reporting obligations and procedures, protections afforded to mandated reporters, and ramifications of failing to report.
Resources
Mandated reporting policy templates are available in the resource library and are currently under review for updates. A separate notice will be released when the updated documents are available.
The California JPIA is committed to assisting member agencies and employees in following the requirements and understanding responsibilities under the law. The policy templates are intended to identify employees who are required to report child, elder, or dependent adult abuse under the law, set forth the timeline and procedures for making reports, identify safeguards for reporting parties, determine penalties for failing to comply with reporting obligations and establish additional obligations of the member and its employees and volunteers.
If you have questions, please contact your regional senior risk manager.
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Workplace Violence and Active Shooter Training and Resources
Sadly, active shooter incidents are not uncommon. According to a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) 2021 report, active shooter events in the United States are rising. In 2021 alone, the FBI designated 61 active shooter events. FBI active shooter incident data reveals an upward trend. The number of active shooter incidents identified in 2021 represents a 52.5 percent increase from 2020 and a 98.6 percent increase from 2017. Being prepared for an active shooter is crucial, as these incidents can happen at any time and location. Of the 61 shootings that occurred in 2021, three occurred on government properties, and two of the three shooters were employees.
Workplace violence is any act or threat of physical violence, harassment, intimidation, or other threatening behavior that occurs at the workplace. It is essential for employers to have policies and procedures in place to prevent workplace violence, including training employees on how to recognize and report potential threats. To that end, the Authority has several active shooter training offerings and a Workplace Violence Prevention Policy and Plan template for members to use.
Resources
Workplace Violence Prevention Policy and Plan Template
Classroom and Virtual Classroom Training
Workplace Violence: From Threats to Active Shooters with Dr. Steve Albrecht
This 2-hour classroom training is designed to lay a critical foundation for providing a safe work environment. Factors that lead to violence, perpetrators of workplace violence (including external and internal contacts), acts of workplace violence, organizational factors that promote violence, and response protocols will be presented. The last hour of this training is presented in a format specifically designed for managers and supervisors. All general employees will be dismissed before the last hour begins. A virtual option is also available for this session.
Workplace Violence Awareness with Delwin Lampkin
This 2-hour class offers ways to help manage disruptive and aggressive behavior in the workplace. Workplace violence training will help reduce disruptive incidents, prevent workplace violence, lower the risk of injury, improve workplace relations, and reduce liability exposure. Create a safer work environment and decrease the chance of workplace violence in your organization. A virtual option is also available for this session.
Online Training (E-Learning)
Active Shooter, How to Survive
Acts of extreme violence have become all too common in today’s workplace. This online video training course demonstrates how to survive an active shooter situation and the best options to improve survival. Viewers see examples of ways to increase their chance of survival in the case of an active shooter in the workplace. This course shows learners how to evacuate, hide, and work with law enforcement during an active shooter incident. Use this training to educate employees about the best ways to protect themselves in the event of an active shooter.
If you would like to attend a training, contact your agency’s training registrar. If you have questions about the Workplace Violence Prevention Policy and Plan template, contact your regional senior risk manager.
Print ArticleRE: MEMBERS
Arroyo Grande Receives National Recognition for Upgraded Inclusive Playground
The City of Arroyo Grande, in partnership with the Arroyo Grande Valley Kiwanis Club, recently opened the Kiwanis Inclusive Playground. The playground, formerly known as Elm Street Park Playground, the first of its kind in the nation, incorporates four of the five National Demonstration Site (NDS) designations.
The inclusive playground includes the following NDS designations:
The Arroyo Grande city council initially approved the addition of inclusive playground amenities, to be sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Arroyo Grande Valley 2015. Since that time, the club had been fundraising for the project until Recreation Services Director Sheridan Bohlken learned of a Proposition 68 per capita grant program and was able to match the grant program with the project. After an extensive design period and series of public meetings, the grant was awarded to the city. The council then approved the project design, allocated the remaining funds, and the city began work on the installation of the inclusive playground in the fall of 2022.
The project was funded by a state grant awarded through California Proposition 68 in the amount of $177,952, a donation in the amount of $21,000 from the Kiwanis Club of Arroyo Grande Valley, and the remaining funds from the city sales tax fund that supports ADA access throughout the community.
“I applaud our city council for adopting a goal for inclusion, diversity, equity, and justice. Having this direction from our council for city projects, in all areas of services we provide, was powerful for this project to move forward with unanimous support,” said Bohlken. “Of course, having the grant secured provided the platform for the project to be developed.”
The city held three community meetings to get feedback from stakeholders regarding playground priorities to provide inclusive play for all. Residents requested play equipment for small children as well as adult fitness equipment and shade.
The finished playground has been a tremendous success, with city staff receiving positive feedback from community members. Bohlken has seen residents throughout the community and the region use the one-of-a-kind park.
If your agency is thinking of upgrading a playground to make it more inclusive, Bohlken offered these tips:
- Have your city council provide project direction and share input on your project from the very beginning.
- Be creative – look for grant funding and see if local groups can also assist.
- Understand the specifics of new design elements so you can be prepared for additional costs, if any.
- Ensure your community stakeholders provide input and feedback so everyone aligns with the vision for the park.
- Work with reputable companies who will work with you to ensure their products succeed in your environment.
“The city of Arroyo Grande is a leader in offering unique and cutting-edge services to their community,” said Senior Risk Manager Tim Karcz. “Many of these offerings, including this new inclusive playground, bring the community together with enhanced opportunities for play.”
Congratulations to Arroyo Grande for providing this unique playground on the Central Coast!
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