Newsletters - California JPIA

Issue 163 – September 2025

30^th Annual Risk Management Educational Forum—Class of ’95: Not So Clueless About Risk

Get ready to throwback to 1995, because the California JPIA’s 30^th Annual Risk Management Educational Forum is about to be all that and a bag of chips! Taking place October 1–3, 2025, at the Omni La Costa Resort in Carlsbad, this year’s Forum theme, Class of ’95: Not So Clueless About Risk, promises a nostalgic yet totally fly experience for risk management professionals.

Featured Speakers

This year’s keynote speaker is burnout expert Erin Stafford. Stafford’s keynotes energize, inspire, and equip leaders to rise above challenges and maintain peak performance. Drawing from her personal experiences with burnout, decades of leadership in hyper-growth organizations, and insights from interviews with Olympians, Fortune 100 CEOs, and top experts, Erin offers strategies to ignite purpose, foster resilience, and cultivate lasting success.

The closing speaker is Traci Park, Los Angeles City Councilmember for District 11. Councilmember Park will provide an interactive session about keeping the public well-informed while maintaining priorities as a crisis unfolds. Using the 2024 Los Angeles area wildfires as a case study, she will share insights on prioritizing information dissemination, ensuring that essential messages are delivered effectively without overwhelming stakeholders.

Educational Sessions

Attendees will be buggin’ (in the best way) as they dive into sessions covering legal liability, workers’ compensation, employment law, public safety, governance, and more. With industry experts dropping knowledge like it’s hot, you’ll level up your risk game faster than you can say “as if!”

Capstone Award

The Capstone Award is presented each year to an individual who best exemplifies the practice of risk management in the public sector. This year presents five deserving finalists, and one of these individuals will be honored as the Capstone Award recipient during a ceremony at the Forum on Thursday, October 2, 2025.

The Authority is pleased to announce this year’s finalists:

Dorna Farhadi, Human Resources Manager, City of Laguna Niguel,
Kristi Hobrecker, Director of Human Resources and Library Services, City of Santa Clarita,
Pam Kobylarz, Assistant to the Town Manager, Town of Mammoth Lakes,
Kevin McCarthy, Finance Director, City of Indian Wells,
Josephine Wilson, Assistant City Manager, City of Westlake Village.

Prom Night

Thirty years ago, the California JPIA held its first Educational Forum, so we’re taking it back to 1995 for a night to remember! Join us for prom night on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy live jams from Knyght Ryder, tons of photo booth fun, and plenty of yummy food to keep you fueled for the dance floor. Dress to impress, or wear whatever makes you feel awesome. Whether it is prom glam or laid back, you’re welcome just as you are. Grab your BFF, your dancing shoes (or sneakers), and join us for prom!

The Authority Introduces “The Briefing Room” Partnership

“The Briefing Room,” a comprehensive online law enforcement training platform, is now available to member police departments. With access fully funded by the California JPIA, “The Briefing Room” provides law enforcement officers with additional training and helps to minimize liability arising from the evolving law enforcement landscape.

“The Briefing Room” provides training that covers best practices and the latest case law. The platform includes an extensive library of topics covering patrol, custody, and investigations. Training is developed and presented by active-duty law enforcement officers and California Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) certified instructors with extensive experience. Key features of the platform include:

R.I.S.E. Training Blocks: These include short training videos that discuss specific topics, a Key Points Worksheet to help supervisors manage discussions, and additional written resources. R.I.S.E. stands for Researched, Informative, Short, and Engaging.
Legal Review: Training related to legal authority is reviewed by “The Briefing Room’s” legal counsel, an experienced attorney specializing in defending law enforcement agencies.
Recordkeeping Function: An easy-to-use record-keeping function allows supervisors to record which personnel were present and the duration of the training.

“The Briefing Room” is designed to supplement existing training programs, such as Lexipol daily training bulletins (DTBs), and to provide additional support for law enforcement officers. It is intended to enhance, but not replace, existing training, ensuring law enforcement personnel are well-prepared for the challenges they face.

For additional information on subscribing to “The Briefing Room,” please contact your regional risk manager.

New Public Safety Training Series Now Available

The California JPIA has launched two comprehensive training programs designed to enhance the skills and knowledge that are crucial to managing the public safety workplace: the Law Enforcement Supervisory Essentials Series and the Fire Service Supervisory Essentials Series. These training series are designed specifically for police and fire chiefs, police and fire management, and human resources professionals.

Both training programs consist of a comprehensive three-part series that is designed to guide human resources professionals and police or fire management through the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (POBR) or the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act (FBOR), respectively. The series guides participants through the complexities, legal aspects, and practical skills necessary to conduct or oversee effective workplace investigations of allegations of public safety employee misconduct and how to arrive at a legally defensible finding. The training programs will also cover best practices for effective workplace documentation, including police or fire department employee performance evaluations and discipline, using hypothetical scenarios. Attendees should be prepared for discussion during these highly interactive training programs.

Both series are now available for in-person scheduling, and members are encouraged to take advantage of this valuable training. The training series will be provided in person for the department’s command staff and the agency’s human resources professionals.

If you are interested in scheduling this training for your agency, please contact your agency’s training registrar. For any questions or further details, please contact the Authority’s training department.

Cybersecurity Awareness Month: Plan, Prepare, Protect

Since 2004, the President of the United States and Congress have declared October to be Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time dedicated for the public and private sectors to work together to raise awareness about the importance of cybersecurity.

As cybersecurity threats become more sophisticated, and public agencies remain targets, the Authority is spotlighting the tools and strategies that help members stay resilient—from proactive assessments to incident-response planning.

Fully Funded Services for Members

The Authority offers fully funded cybersecurity services through a business partner, Triden Group, including a Cybersecurity Maturity Assessment using the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework and internal and external vulnerability scans. Preferred pricing and a master services agreement make it easy to add additional services such as penetration testing and full incident-response exercises.

Members also have access to the following resources:

KnowBe4 for security-awareness training
Eagle Eye for cyber-risk management
eRiskHub, a portal for cybersecurity resources and incident-response planning

Incident Response: NIST’s Four Phases

Great American Insurance Group, the Authority’s cyber liability insurer, stresses the need for a documented Incident Response Plan (IRP) covering:

Preparation – Define protections and detection methods
Detection & Analysis – Identify and assess an attack’s scope
Containment, Eradication & Recovery – Stop the threat and restore operations
Post-Incident Review – Evaluate effectiveness and improve

Key Cybersecurity Do’s and Don’ts

Implement the plan
Maintain a chain of custody
Involve legal counsel
Preserve backups
Craft public statements

Don’t

Engage attackers
Pay ransoms without legal review
Power down encrypted systems
Wipe hardware before forensic guidance

Cyber Stats to Know *

34 percent – State & local governments reporting ransomware attacks
$2.8 M – Average cost to recover from ransomware in state/local government
1 in 6 – Phishing campaigns now use generative AI
241 days – Mean time to identify and contain a breach (181 to identify / 60 to contain)
49 percent – Breaches caused by IT or human error

The Authority encourages members to make October a month of action—proactive planning today ensures faster recovery when every second counts. For more information or to access these services, contact your regional risk manager.

*Source: Ankura, “Cybersecurity Statistics (2025),” citing The State of Ransomware in State and Local Government 2024 and IBM Cost of a Data Breach 2025.

Liability Attorney Summit Held in August

The California JPIA held its annual Liability Attorney Summit on August 19, 2025, at the Authority campus in La Palma. Sixty-five participants attended the Summit, including representatives from Carl Warren & Company, Authority staff, and the Authority’s liability defense panel firms and business partners.

Paul Zeglovitch, chief operating officer, welcomed attendees and honored John P. McCormick, who passed away on August 16, 2025. John had a distinguished career as a trial attorney, having tried over 100 cases to verdict. He handled cases for the California JPIA for three decades and will be missed.

Subsequent to the above recognition, an “Open Forum” was held, during which counsel chronicled their successes and experiences during the past year. This provided for a 60-minute discussion that shared valuable information.

Guest speakers included Dr. Ronald Heredia of Good Mood Legal, Benjamin Softness, Esq. of King & Spalding, and Daniel Barer of Pollak, Vida & Barer.

Dr. Heredia gave an overview of documenting alleged Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI). The discussion alerted defense counsel as to what to look for in a properly documented TBI.

Benjamin Softness, Esq., is a former Google in-house attorney and now partner at the international law firm of King & Spalding. Softness provided a comprehensive outline of the AI tools that are available to legal counsel today, how they operate, what security concerns exist, and how AI is most successfully applied by lawyers.

The Appellate Update touched on several cases that have affected public entities over the past year, including those related to police qualified immunity, dangerous condition of public property, release agreements, mandatory duty, employment law, and anti-SLAPP.

This year’s Summit proved once again to be a great opportunity for defense counsel and the Authority’s claims administrators to network, collaborate, and learn. Should you have any questions about the event or this article, please contact Chief Operating Officer Paul Zeglovitch.

2025 Workers’ Compensation Symposium Review

The California JPIA hosted its 17^th Annual Workers’ Compensation Symposium on Thursday, August 14. The event was attended by representatives from Authority member agencies, the workers’ compensation claims team at Athens Administrators, and many of the Authority’s panel attorneys. As in prior years, attendees learned about topics relevant to their agencies’ workers’ compensation programs.

The symposium began with a presentation from St. George’s Medical Clinic Medical Director, Dr. Glen Apramian. Dr. Apramian drew on nearly four decades of practicing occupational medicine to educate attendees about what goes into his evaluation of an injured employee. Plethy Chief Executive Officer, Raja Sundaram, discussed the company’s Recupe program, which assists injured workers recovering from an orthopedic injury. The Recupe program allows injured workers to utilize a wearable device while performing home exercises and provides access to a physical therapist who can assist the employee with their recovery. Mary Linn Moore, an experienced nurse case manager with ISYS, introduced attendees to the Authority’s “Utilization Preview” program, which seeks to increase the percentage of medical treatment requests that are approved as part of the state’s Utilization Review process. California Workers’ Compensation Institute President Gideon Baum shared some of the Institute’s extensive research into the workers’ compensation system, and he also provided an update on some of the workers’ compensation legislation being considered by the legislature.

Then, Jeff Rush, the Authority’s workers’ compensation program manager, moderated a panel including Senior Claims Examiner Chrisi Salazar and defense attorneys Catherine McWhorter and Chris Griffin. The panel discussed some of the creative approaches they utilize to resolve claims, including several specific examples involving Authority claims. The closing speaker was the Authority’s Employment Practices Manager, Kelly Trainer Policky, who educated members about five things to keep in mind when they try to bring employees back to work.

For those who were unable to attend the Symposium, a recording of the event is available in myJPIA. If you have any topics you would like to be considered for next year’s Symposium, please contact Jeff Rush, workers’ compensation program manager.

Key Updates to Authority’s Liability, Cyber, and Property Programs

Each year, Authority staff, along with our general counsel review our Memoranda of Coverage to determine if any changes or edits are necessary to properly reflect coverage for the following year. The proposed changes and edits are reviewed by the Coverage Committee and then approved by the Executive Committee. For 2025/2026, several important changes have been made to the liability, cyber, and property programs. Below is a summary of the changes affecting coverage and deductibles. Members are encouraged to review these adjustments to understand their impact.

Liability Program Changes

Exclusion “P” has been amended to clarify that the approval or disapproval of land use regulations is both discretionary and non-discretionary. This exclusion also clarifies that the approval or disapproval of ordinances includes any licensing issues and also includes massage parlors.
A new sublimit for Earth Movement-related claims has been added to the MOC-L. This new endorsement to the Primary Liability section of the MOC establishes a per-member limit of $10M per coverage period and a shared pool-wide limit of $30M per coverage period. These limits apply regardless of the number of claims or occurrences.

Cyber Program Updates

Per member limit increased from $1M to $2M.
Total aggregate limit increased from $5M to $10M.
Member deductible lowered from $250K to $100K.

Property Program Changes

All Risk coverage increased from $500M to $750M.
Earthquake/Flood coverage increased from $200M to $225M.
Terrorism coverage increased from $100M to $150M.
Member deductible increased from $10K to $15K.

Should you have any questions concerning the changes in coverage for 2025/2026, please contact Chief Operating Officer Paul Zeglovitch or Liability and Insurance Programs Manager Chris Gray for cyber and property.

The California JPIA Welcomes Four New Team Members

The Authority continues to strengthen its commitment to member service with the addition of four talented professionals. These new hires bring diverse expertise and a shared dedication to supporting the Authority’s mission of providing exceptional risk management and insurance resources to member agencies across California.

The staff additions span multiple departments, from training and administration to accounting and risk management, reflecting a comprehensive approach to member support.

Jessica Salazar, Administration

Jessica Salazar joins the California JPIA as an administrative assistant, bringing experience across multiple sectors, including municipal experience with the City of Anaheim. Her professional journey began in her father’s plastering construction company, where she assisted with administrative tasks that sparked her interest in the field. “I came to see administration as the foundational backbone that supports success in any direction one chooses to pursue, particularly when paired with effective communication,” she said.

Her career has included positions in recruiting, manufacturing, local government, and healthcare. During her eight-year tenure at MemorialCare, she flexed her attention to detail through various roles like human resources assistant and payroll application specialist.

“Helping others, listening, contributing to seamless workflows, and connecting with my colleagues is what I find most rewarding about my job,” said Salazar. “I have a strong affinity for work that is both technical and efficient. My proficiency in this area stems from my ability to analyze workflows, master new systems, adapt to changing environments, and express my viewpoints when necessary.”

The Authority’s risk management ethos and person-first culture has resonated with Salazar. “Before working here, I didn’t know much about the California JPIA, until some friends and colleagues elaborated on the quality of the organization,” she said. “Administrative Analyst Jennifer Torres always tells me the Authority is a unicorn organization, and I’ve come to understand why. Everyone here has been the best!”

“I am delighted to welcome Jessica to our team. Her collaborative spirit shines through in her daily interactions,” said Chief Administrative Officer Nikki Salas. “Jessica’s ability to jump in wherever needed sets a great example; she supported her coworkers on a time-sensitive project, greatly benefiting the organization. Her positive attitude and proactive approach have made her an essential team member.”

Tracey Yonemura, Finance

Tracey Yonemura joins the finance department as an accountant. Originally planning to become a dentist, Yonemura’s career path changed after taking an accounting class in college.

“I was surprised how much I enjoyed it,” she said of her first accounting experience. “I discovered my knack for the blend of structure, problem-solving, and attention to detail through accounting.”

Yonemura’s experience working in finance at the cities of Bellflower and Seal Beach has given her valuable insight into local agency operations and challenges. This experience enables her to understand member relations. “Now being ‘on the other side’ supporting members, I can approach my work with an understanding of their perspective,” Yonemura said.

“I am excited to welcome Tracey to the Authority. She brings a wealth of experience, having worked with multiple of the Authority’s members before joining us,” said Finance Director Jason McBride. “Her can-do attitude and genuine desire to serve our members make her a perfect fit for our team. She brings a smile and positive energy to the office every day, and we are excited to have her on board.”

Her commitment to service drives her work: “I really enjoyed my time at Bellflower and Seal Beach because I felt like I was directly contributing to those communities,” she said. “Now, working at the California JPIA, I get to take that same sense of purpose and apply it on a broader scale, supporting multiple agencies and helping them serve their own communities. Whether it’s putting together reports, reconciling accounts, or ensuring accurate transactions, it is rewarding to see the bigger impact my work can have.”

The Authority has expanded its training capabilities with two new staff members who bring complementary expertise and innovative approaches to member education.

Monique Moctezuma, Training

Monique Moctezuma joins as a senior training specialist, bringing a distinctive blend of experience across social work, education, and corporate training. Her career began with the County of Orange in social work, where she connected individuals and families with vital resources. She later transitioned to teaching sixth-grade English and history before moving into corporate training with Kaiser Permanente.

Her professional background provides key strengths for the California JPIA. “I bring a unique blend of empathy from social work, creativity and adaptability from teaching, and strategic instructional design from corporate training,” said Moctezuma. “I excel at understanding learners’ needs, connecting them to the right tools, and designing experiences that are engaging and practical.”

“Monique rounds out our training team with an entirely new and much-needed skillset,” said Training Manager Ryan Thomas. “As an experienced and trained curriculum developer, she will better tie learning objectives with training constructed to help adult learners engage with training and retain what they learn. Also, she comes from a strong service background, which will mesh well with the way we deliver service to our members.”

Moctezuma holds a master’s in instructional design and technology from California State University, Fullerton, which equipped her with advanced skills in instructional strategy and e-learning development. This academic foundation, combined with her practical experience, equips her with both theoretical and applied training knowledge.

“In every role I’ve held—whether in social work, the classroom, or corporate settings—I’ve been most energized by helping others gain the knowledge and confidence they need to succeed,” she said. “For me, the most rewarding part is witnessing that ‘aha moment’ when something clicks for a learner, and they suddenly see how to apply what they’ve learned. Whether it’s a new skill, a clearer process, or a shift in confidence, watching that spark of understanding turn into action is what keeps me passionate about training.”

Kevin Hanson, Training

Kevin Hanson joins as a training specialist, bringing analytical expertise from the defense, automotive, and aerospace industries. His career began in the nuclear defense industry, where he started in inventory management and evolved into an office manager role encompassing sales, forecasting, contract negotiation, and data analysis.

At Kia America, Hanson worked in customer service and eventually joined their safety office, collaborating directly with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on safety campaigns and recalls. He later served as a proposal specialist and contract negotiator at Northrop Grumman within the F-35 and F-18 Programs.

“The possibility of joining the public sector, which I’d been seeking for a long time, finally presented itself with the Authority,” Hanson said. “I saw the opening in training as a great opportunity to put my experience to the test in a new environment where system and process modernization was an ongoing effort.”

Hanson finds satisfaction in the creative aspects of overseeing the Authority’s Learning Management System. “I love the creativity that goes into managing and improving customized training resources,” he said. “It’s fun to come together as a team and implement features and functionality that make the learning experience more enjoyable for our members.”

“Kevin is a service-oriented professional who brings another helpful hand to our team,” said Thomas. “He brings a strong data analysis and systems background, but marries that with the helpfulness, resourcefulness, and ingenuity of an eagle scout. We couldn’t be more excited to have him join the team!”

The addition of Jessica, Tracey, Monique, and Kevin reflects the Authority’s ongoing commitment to recruiting professionals who not only bring technical proficiency but also share the organization’s values of collaboration, member service, and community impact. As these four professionals settle into their roles, they bring fresh perspectives and proven expertise that will further enhance the Authority’s ability to serve its membership across California.

Welcome to the team, Jessica, Tracey, Monique, and Kevin!

Whitehead v. City of Oakland: Important Risk Transfer Lessons for Public Agencies

In May 2025, the California Supreme Court ruled in Whitehead v. City of Oakland that liability waivers cannot protect public agencies from claims involving violations of statutory safety duties. The case involved a cyclist who was seriously injured after striking a pothole during a permitted bicycle training ride. Although the participant signed a waiver releasing the City of Oakland from liability, the court allowed the claim to proceed, holding that the city retained a non-delegable duty to maintain its roads in a non-dangerous condition.

Thankfully, this ruling does not create new legal obligations or expand public agency liability. Agencies’ existing statutory duties remain unchanged. However, the key takeaway is clear: participant waivers alone cannot be relied on to protect public agencies in the event of injuries arising from alleged dangerous conditions of public property. While waivers are still useful tools, they won’t shield public agencies from claims when the agency fails to maintain facilities as required by law.

What This Means for Public Agency Risk Management Strategy

The Whitehead decision reinforces the need for a layered risk transfer approach when permitting special events. While participant waivers remain an important component, enhanced protection comes from executing well-written contracts with strong indemnification provisions, adequate insurance requirements, clear inspection procedures, and good documentation.

When permitting a special event, Members should require event organizers to conduct thorough inspections of venues and routes at least 30 days before the event and again within 72 hours of the event date. Organizers should be required to report any hazards to the public agency in writing, with enough time to address problems. Why this matters: Establishing a clear inspection and reporting timeline transfers the hazard identification obligation to the event organizer and provides an opportunity for the public agency to remediate hazards in advance of the event.

Event agreements and special event permits should make organizers responsible for participant safety and require them to defend and indemnify the public agency for event-related claims. The same insurance requirements that apply to the primary organizer should also apply to all vendors and subcontractors. Why this matters: Indemnification and insurance requirements transfer risk to the party organizing the event rather than leaving the agency exposed.

Insurance requirements should match the event’s risk level. All events need general liability coverage. Depending on the event characteristics, additional types of insurance may be necessary, such as liquor liability coverage for events where alcohol is sold, auto liability coverage for events involving vehicles, sexual abuse and molestation coverage for events with minors, and workers’ compensation coverage when employees are present. Why this matters: Requiring adequate insurance coverage ensures there is money available to pay claims if something goes wrong, protecting both the public agency and the event organizer.

Participant waivers should continue to be used but must be event-specific, include clear and legally enforceable language, be reviewed by staff before the event, and be retained for at least three years. Why this matters: While waivers cannot prevent liability from the alleged violation of statutory safety duties, they remain an important defense against many other causes of action.

Documentation is a critical component of the special event permitting process. Maintain detailed records in every event file, including staff review of inspection reports, insurance certificates and endorsements, copies of participant waivers, and all communications with organizers. Why this matters: A complete and well-documented file demonstrates diligence and proactive risk management, which can be essential in defending against claims.

Public agencies are encouraged to consult legal counsel to ensure special event requirements are codified by ordinance or adopted by governing body resolution. Why this matters: Formally adopting special event requirements provides legal authority for enforcement and strengthens the agency’s position if permit terms are later challenged.

Moving Forward

While the Whitehead decision does not fundamentally alter public agency liability exposure, it does highlight the risks of relying too heavily on participant waivers without implementing comprehensive risk transfer mechanisms. Members are encouraged to review existing special event permit requirements, update contract language to include indemnification clauses, establish minimum insurance requirements for different event types, create clear inspection and reporting procedures for organizers, and train staff on proper documentation practices.

By taking these steps, members can continue hosting public events safely and responsibly while reducing exposure to claims. The goal is not to eliminate all risk—it is to ensure that risk is properly allocated to the parties best positioned to manage it.

A Special Event Permit template and Special Event Guidelines will be shared during the U Can’t Touch This: How to Avoid Special Event Liability session at this year’s Risk Management Educational Forum. Following the Forum, the resource will be posted to the California JPIA’s online resource library. The California JPIA’s Contractual Risk Transfer Manual with sample indemnification language and insurance requirements can also be accessed through the online resource library.

For questions or additional information, please contact your regional risk manager.

Newsletter

Issue 163 – September 2025

NEWS: WORTHY