City Council
259 N. Wilma Avenue
Ripon, CA 95366
MEMO
To: Honorable City Council
From: Kevin Werner, City Administrator
Date: 08/12/2025
Subject: Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority Joint Powers Agreement.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Adopt the resolution approving the CSJVRMA Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement that has been updated to (1) define terms more clearly, (2) language broadened for the creation of a captive agency in the future, and (3) the designation of a member agency whose municipal code restrictions would apply to the operations of the CSJVRMA Joint Powers Authority.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Ripon is a member of the Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority (CSJVRMA), which is a Joint Powers Authority (JPA) comprised of 53 cities throughout Central San Joaquin Valley who have joined together to self-insure or pool risk management and insurance needs. The City has been part of the CSJVRMA since 1986.
The CSJVRMA staff and CSJVRMA Legal Counsel, Mr. John Lavra, in conjunction with the CSJVRMA Administration and Financial Services Subcommittee, are conducting a full review of the CSJVRMA’s governing documents to ensure they continue to reflect the CSJVRMA’s current practices, legal requirements, and operational needs.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS:
The first document to be updated is the Joint Powers Agreement that defines the governance of the JPA. Amendments to the Joint Powers Agreement require a written resolution approved and signed by two-thirds (2/3rds) of the respective city councils of the member cities. Upon signature by two-thirds (2/3rds) of the member cities, any member city failing or refusing to abide by such amendments may be involuntarily terminated as a party to the Agreement.
This document was last amended in 1994 and while it continues to meet the legal requirements as set forth in the government code for JPAs, this document has been updated as follows:
Definitional terms have been defined more clearly.
Language has been broadened to give leeway in the event the CSJVRMA wants to consider creating or participating in a captive agency1. An addition was made pursuant to Government Code Section 6509 that was not part of the law in 1994 when CSJVRMA last amended the Agreement. The change requires JPAs to designate a member whose municipal code restrictions would apply to the operations of the JPA. Below is an excerpt from correspondence from Mr. Lavra:
“This code section was enacted to prevent a local public entity from exercising powers inconsistent with its own charter, ordinance or resolution simply by becoming a member of a JPA. JPA's are formed to permit public entities to exercise powers on a collective basis, which they could, absent the JPA, exercise individually. However, the legislature wanted to place some restriction on the power of the JPA, without that JPA having to comply with all restrictions that might be in place for all of the members of the JPA. It would be unworkable, for instance, if the JPA had to satisfy or verify any and all restrictions from the ordinances of all of the members of the JPA when transacting the business of the JPA. In order to strike a balance, section 6509 permits the JPA to agree to any restrictions in its exercise of powers based on the restrictions of one identified member city.”
The City of Ripon has been added to the Agreement as the designated city under Government Code Section 6509 with City of Madera listed as a secondary city in the event the City of Ripon were to terminate its membership. These two cities have no restrictions in place that would conflict with the day-to-day operations of the JPA.
Pursuant to action by the CSJVRMA Executive Committee on June 26, 2025, attached is the Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement.
Staff is recommending the City Council adopt the resolution approving the Amended and Restated Joint Powers Agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
Attachments:
1. CSJVRMA Joint Powers Agreement Amendments
1 A captive insurance agency is a licensed insurance company that is owned and controlled by its members and functions with the same benefits of the CSJVRMA JPA. Captive agencies are located in states that will grant a license to operate in that state (typically the State of Utah). Captives allows its members to take advantage of investment opportunities, especially in equities, which are typically unavailable to public agencies in California.
RESOLUTION NO. 25-28
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
RIPON APPROVES AMENDMENTS TO THE CENTRAL SAN
JOAQUIN VALLEY RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY
JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT
WHEREAS, the CENTRAL SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY RISK MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY (CSJVRMA) is a California Joint Powers Authority created and operated pursuant to California Government Code 6500 et. seq. for the purpose of pooling funds to provide coverage for indemnification and defense and to purchase excess insurance for certain civil claims involving general liability, workers’ compensation, and property damage; and WHEREAS, the City of Ripon is authorized pursuant to California Government Code 990.8 to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement for the purposes described above; and WHEREAS, the City of Ripon is a member of the CSJVRMA; and WHEREAS, the Joint Powers Agreement which was created establishing the CSJVRMA allows for amendment of the agreement upon approval by the City Council of two thirds of the members of the CSJVRMA; and
WHEREAS, the CSJVRMA desires to amend the Joint Powers Agreement as set forth in the Agreement dated July 1, 1994, and as amended July 1, 2025, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Ripon approves the Central San Joaquin Valley Risk Management Authority Joint Powers Agreement, dated July 1, 1994, as amended and restated on July 1, 2025, and in the form as attached hereto.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Administrator is authorized and directed to execute such agreement.
PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Ripon this 12th day of August, 2025, by the following vote:
RESULT: ADOPTED BY CONSENT VOTE [UNANIMOUS]
MOVER: Leo Zuber, Council Member
SECONDER:Michael Restuccia, Council Member
AYES: de Graaf, Barton, Uecker, Restuccia, Zuber
THE CITY OF RIPON,
A Municipal Corporation
By ________________________________
DANIEL DE GRAAF, Mayor
ATTEST:
By: ___________________________
LISA ROOS, City Clerk