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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 1988 - 0061 (REPEALED)‘0 RESOLUTION NO.88-61 REVISING DISTRICT PROCEDURES FOR SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS MADE AGAINST THE DISTRICTS;SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS MADE BY THE DISTRICTS;AND.COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS OWING TO THE DISTRICTS A JOINT RESOLUTION OF THE BOARDS OF DIRECTORS OF COUNTY SANITATION DISTRICTS NOS.1,2, 3,5,6,7, 11,13 AND 14 OF ORANGE COUNTY,CALIFORNIA,ADOPTING DISTRICT PROCEDURES FOR SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS MADE AGAINST THE DISTRICTS;SETTLEMENT OF CLAIMS MADE BY THE DISTRICTS;AND COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT ACCOUNTS OWING TO THE DISTRICTS AND REPEALING RESOLUTIONS NOS.78—107 AND 83-190 WHEREAS,claims for damages alleging personal injuries,including death, and to real and personal property,are periodically made against the Districts; and, WHEREAS,the Districts presently have no liability insurance in force, having previously determined to be self—insured;and WHEREAS,the Districts have the need for the retention of claims administration services and legal counsel who shall be vested with certain limited authority to accomplish a favorable disposition of claims made against the Districts;and, WHEREAS,the Districts have occasion to seek recovery against persons or entities who have caused loss or damage to the Districts or who have been assessed fines,charges or special fees relating to their use ofDistrict facilities;and WHEREAS,in the course of conducting the business affairs of the Districts, certain accounts receivable or other obligations owing to the Districts become delinquent,and in fact,uncollectible;andT WHEREAS,cost efficiency relating to collection of delinquent accounts can be greatly improved by the adoption of certain policies relating to the REPEALED BY 97-31 collection of said accounts. NOW,THEREFORE,the Boards of Directors of County sanitation Districts Nos.1,2,3,5,6,7,11,13 and 14 of Orange County,California, DO HEREBY DETERMINE,RESOLVE AND ORDER: ARTICLE I SETTLEMENT OF LIABILITY CLAIMS MADE AGAINST DISTRICTS - Section 1.1:A liability reserve has been established in the amount of $500,000.00 for the payment of claims made against the Districts.Said amount shall continue to be provided for in each annual budget to ensure that sufficient funds are on deposit •to provide for payment of those amounts incurred as a liability loss or expense. Section 1.2:Each annual budget shall provide,in addition to the reserve established by Section 1.1,for the sufficient funds to provide a sufficient balance to meet projected expenses for loss and payment of claims during the ensuing fiscal year. Section 1.3:A claims administration firm is authorized to be retained, and said fim is hereby granted authorization to make payments and settlements of claims made against the Districts in an amount not to exceed $1,000.00 per claimant.Said firm shall be retained in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in an agreement approved by the General Counsel. Section 1.4:A coniTlittee comprised of the General Manager,Director of Finance andGeneral Counsel are authorized to review and make full settlement of any claims made against the Districts for contract or liability damages not otherwise covered by Insurance by payment of a sum not to exceed $10,000.00 per claimant.In the event a claim results in litigation,which is being legally defended by other than the Districts’General Counsel,this comittee shall review and provide the approval to the Districts’legal counsel within the same limits. Section 1.5:All claims for damages resulting in a judgment or a recomended settlement by negotiation in an amount exceeding $10,000.00 per claimant,shall be submitted to and approved by the Board of Directors of the defendant District or the Joint Boards in the event of claims made against the Joint Districts. - Section 1.6:The General Counsel is authorized to retain the services of additional legal counsel for purposes of representing the Districts in the defense of any claim or matter of litigation,wherein he determines that specialized expertise or experience is desirable or that the workload requires the utilization of outside counsel. ARTICLE II COLLECTION OF DELINQUENT OBLIGATIONS OWING TO THE DISTRICTS Section 2.1:The Director of Finance is authorized to write off as an uncollectible debt any delinquent obligation owing to the Districts in excess of 90 days and not exceeding the sum of $250.00. Section 2.2:The Director of Finance,in his discretion,is authorized to assign for collection to a person or fim of his choosing,any delinquent obligation owing to the Districts in excess of 30 days and not exceeding the sum of $1,500,00.Ninety (90)days after assigning the obligation for collection, the Director of Finance is authorized to write off as an uncollectible debt,any portion of the obligation which is still outstanding. Section 2.3:The Director of Finance,~-in his discretion,is authorized to file the necessary proceedings in the Small Claims Court of the appropriate judicial district of the County of Orange in order to.collect any delinquent obligation owing to the Districts in excess of 30 days and not exceeding the sum of $1,500.00.Upon obtaining a judgment in favor of the Districts,the Director of Finance and General Counsel shall take all legal measures necessary to enforce the terms of the judgment.Ninety (90)days after receiving a final judgment in favor of the Districts,the Director of Finance is authorized to write off as an uncollectible debt,any portion of the obligation which is still outstanding. Section 2.4:Notwithstanding the authority provided in Sections 2.2 and 2.3 above,any obligation owing to the Districts,not exceeding the sum of $10,000.00,may be compromised by acceptance of a sum lesser than the full amount due or may be written off as uncollectible,upon that detemination being made,after investigation by a comittee comprised of the General Manager,or his designee,General Counsel,and Director of Finance. Section 2.5:The Director of Finance shall forward any delinquent obligation in excess of $10,000.00 to the General Counsel for the Districts,who shall submit his reconiiiendation to the Boards of Directors as to the method of collection or disposition of said account. Section 2.6:In addition to the above authorization,the Director of Finance is directed to exercise all available lawful methodsto ensure prompt and full recovery of all obligations owing to the Districts. Section 2.7:The Director of Finance is authorized to offset against any sums held on deposit by the Districts on behalf of any person who owes a delinquent obligation to the Districts. S Section 2.8:The Director of Finance is authorized to withhold the approval of any permits otherwise to be issued by the Districts to any person who has an outstanding debt obligation owing~to the Districts until such time as said debt obligation is paid in full. Section 2.9:Delinquent obligations,as used in this Resolution,shall include any invoice submitted by the Districts for services rendered or for reimbursement of damages caused to District property or personnel,which has not been paid within (a)the time prescribed by District ordinance or resolution;or (b)thirty (30)days,whichever is later,from the date of invoice. ARTICLE III COLLECTION OF FEES AND CHARGES RELATING TO INDUSTRIAL WASTE DISCHARGERS - Section 3.1:In the event of any fees or charges being owed by an Industrial Waste Permittee up to the amount of $10,000.00,a coninittee comprised of the Director of Finance,Director of Technical Services and General Counsel are authorized to negotiate and execute,on behalf of the Districts,a settlement agreement relating to the financial obligation owing to the Districts.Said agreement shall be based upon a showing of good cause and a reasonable dispute between the Districts and the Permittee,and can provide for acceptance of a sum lesser than the full amount claimed as due by the District. This agreement may be entered into prior to or during the pending of any litigation action filed by the Districts to collect the amount owed. Section 3.2:Upon written request and establishment of good cause by an industrial waste permitee,the convnittee of the Director of Finance,Director of Technical Services and General Counsel may negotiate and enter into a deferred payment agreement with the permittee in accordance with the guidelines established herein.Said agreement may be incoroporated as part of or separate and in addition to any enforcement compliance agreements authorized by the provisions of the Districts’Industrial Waste Regulations Ordinance. Section 3.1:The installment payment agreement shall be for a maximum term not to exceed six (6)months.The agreement shall provide for payment of interest on the principal amount owing at the prime rate plus 2—½%.The prime rate shall be established as the rate set and in efect by Bank of America, San Francisco,Callforina,on the date of the agreement.The agreement shall provide for payment of all costs of preparing and adminsitering the payment agreement,including legal and adminsitrative costs. Section 3.2.2 The agreement shall stipulate the penalties to which the permittee shall be subjected in the event of nonpayment of any of the payments specified In the agreement,including initiation of legal action or permit revocation,as recorrmended by the General Counsel. Section 3.3:If the delinquent obligation is greater than $10,000.00,any compromise settlement or any deferred payment agreement shall be submitted to and approved by the Boards of Directors,who shall prescribe the terms and - conditions. Section 3.4:That Resolutions Nos.78—107 and 83—190 are hereby repealed and made of no further effect. Section 3.5:This Resolution is effective ininediately upon adoption. PASSED AND ADOPTED at a regular meeting held May 11,1988. STATE OF CALIFORNIA) )SS. COUNTY OF ORANGE ) I,RITA J.BROWN,Secretary of the Boards of Directors of County Sanitation Districts Nos.1,2,3,5,6,7,11,13 and 14 of Orange County, California,do hereby certify that the foregoing Resolution No.88-61 ~as passed and adopted at a regular meeting of said.Boards on the 11th day of May, 1988,by the following vote,to wit: AYES:Ben Bay,Roland E.Bigonger,John C.Cox,Jr.,Norman E. Culver,William ~Davis,Richard B.Edgar,James T.Fasbender, Don R.Griffin,Dan Griset,Robert Hanson,Evelyn Hart,Ronald B.Hoesterey,Ursula E.Kennedy,Gene A.Leyton,William D. Mahoney,Philip Maurer,Tom Mays,Todd Murphy,James Neal, Carrey J.Nelson,Chris Norby,Bob Perry,Richard 1.Polls,Don R.Roth,Sal Sapien,J.R.“Bob”Siefen,Don E.Smith,Roger R.Stanton,John H.Sutton,Peer A.Swan,Charles E.Sylvia, James A.Wahner,Edna Wilson,Grace Winchell NOES:None ABSENT:Sally Anne Miller,Arthur G.Newton IN WITNESS WHEREOF,I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the official seal of County Sanitation District No.1 on behalf of itself and Districts Nos.2,3,5,6,7,11,13 and 14 of Orange County,California,this 11th day of May,1988. Rita J.Brown,~ecretary Boards of Directors,County. Sanitation Districts Nos.i;2,3,5, 6,7,11,13 and 14 of Orange County, California -