The Risk Management Division consists of four programs:
Administrative Operations
- Create and maintain risk management information system.
- Review and execute contracts, agreements, leases, and grants.
- Identify, evaluate, and rate all risks of accidental loss.
- Respond to citizen and public requests for assistance.
- Respond to employee, supervisor and management requests for assistance.
- Market and negotiate placement of commercial insurance policies.
- Initiate investigation and recovery of costs for loss or damage to City property caused by insurable perils or a negligent third party.
For more information, contact:
Mark Howard
Risk Manager
(805) 897-2654
(805) 897-2642 Fax
mhoward@santabarbaraca.gov
Liability
- Administer incident claims and procedures.
- Investigate departmental activities relative to claimed damages.
- Pay or deny claims and communicate findings to claimants.
- Represent the City in Small Claims court.
- Request and track hazard mitigation throughout City activities.
- Provide tailored loss prevention classes to City personnel.
- Consult with departments to assess workplace security needs.
- Prepare preventability reports of vehicle and equipment damage.
- Organize defensive driving classes and materials.
- Notarize City and employee documents.
- Report loss amounts monthly and annually.
- Assess and provide loss prevention training.
- Claim for Damages Against the City of Santa Barbara (PDF Form).
For more information, contact:
Marisa Kahn
Risk Analyst
(805) 897-2585
(805) 897-2642 Fax
mkahn@santabarbaraca.gov
Workers' Compensation (related to City Employees only)
- Ensure compliance with federal and California laws, monitor legislation, legal opinions, and case law for changes in the law.
- Collect, maintain, and analyze loss data.
- Investigate, evaluate, and authorize all new lost time claims.
- Approve the use of salary continuation.
- Approve the expenditures, evaluate and recommend settlement proposals, and obtain approval for settlement payments.
- Ensure that the third party administrator completes all required elements of contracts.
- Assist outside legal counsel to defend claims and coordinate subrogation recovery.
- Notify management of any permanent work restriction for injured employees and evaluate industrial disability retirement applications.
- Assist managers and supervisors to return an injured employee to regular or modified duty and develop a modified duty contract.
- Respond to employee, supervisor and management inquiries, and provide training on workers' compensation.
For more information, contact:
Michael Ranson
Risk Analyst
(805) 897-2619
(805) 897-2642 Fax
mranson@santabarbaraca.gov
Occupational Health & Safety (related to City Employees only)
- Review and update the Injury Illness Prevention Program (IIPP) to conform with Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) regulatory changes.
- Maintain and schedule master IIPP compliance activities and other safety training regulations according to state law.
- Provide training guidance and resources to supervisors.
- Conduct job safety analysis for job classifications with most frequent work injuries.
- Identify job task hazards that cause the most frequent work injuries and recommend corrective actions.
- Maintain City network of internal occupational safety trainers.
For more information, contact:
Julie Ruggieri
Safety Coordinator
(805) 564-5347
(805) 897-2642 Fax
jruggieri@santabarbaraca.gov