The City Charter, Municipal Code and State statutes authorize the City Manager to administer financial matters, countersign warrants, approve claim vouchers, and perform other duties required of the City Manager by the City Council.  This resolution will authorize the City Manager to resolve claims against or by the City in the amount of $100,000 or less, and to execute all documents necessary to the resolution or settlement of such claims against or by the City.  The increase in settlement authority from $50,000 to $100,000 represents a return to the pre-2016 status quo and also addresses the erosion of dollar value due to several years cumulative inflation.

The City of Yakima is self-insured for most property and general liability damage claims.  The Transit Division is in the Washington State Transit Insurance Pool (“WSTIP”) as of September 1, 2005, with a $0 deductible.  The City of Yakima is insured by Safety National for other claims, with deductibles of $500,000 or $750,000, depending upon the source and nature of the claim.