CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: 09/15/2026
AGENDA REPORT AGENDA HEADING: Consent Calendar
AGENDA TITLE:
Consider a claim against the City by Robert and Patricia Penny.
RECOMMENDED COUNCIL ACTION:
1) Reject the claim and direct Staff to notify the claimants, Robert and Patricia Penny.
FISCAL IMPACT: None
Amount Budgeted: N/A
Additional Appropriation: N/A
Account Number(s): N/A
ORIGINATED BY: Vanessa Godinez, Human Resources & Risk Manager VG REVIEWED BY: Catherine Jun, Deputy City Manager CJ
APPROVED BY: Ara Mihranian, AICP, City Manager
ATTACHED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS:
A. Robert and Patricia Penny claim (page A-1)
BACKGROUND:
The City is a member of the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority (“Authority”), which provides risk management services and handles any liability claims received by the City. Under the current practice, claims presented to the City are forwarded by the Authority to a third-party claims administrator, Athens Administrators (“Athens”) for review.
Athens reviews each claim on its merits and contacts the City with any requested action pertaining to the disposition of the claim. City Staff and the City Attorney review each claim when received and work closely with Athens throughout the claims process. 1 DISCUSSION:
Claimant:
On August 3, 2026, the City received a $2,520 claim for property damages from Robert and Patricia Penny. The claim was referred to Athens for review and investigation.
The claimants allege that the City is responsible for damage to their water line during sidewalk repairs on July 23, 2026 on property located at 6725 Via Canada.
Deposition:
Athens has completed its review of the claim and recommends that the City reject it.
Based on its investigation, Athens determined that the sidewalk repairs were performed by Cal Water, and the claim was therefore tendered to Cal Water.
Accordingly, Athens concluded that the City is not liable for the alleged damages and recommends that the City reject the claim.
CONCLUSION:
Athens recommends that the City reject the claim for damages. 2 A-1
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