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Port Orchard adopts mandatory RMSA member standards; council flags bargaining and implementation steps
Summary
The council adopted the Association of Washington Cities Risk Management Service Agency (RMSA) member standards, which were formerly advisory and are now mandatory for pool members; staff said most items are already in place but some require bargaining and scheduling.
The Port Orchard City Council voted to adopt updated member standards from the Association of Washington Cities Risk Management Service Agency (RMSA). City staff and the mayor said the standards were advisory in the past but are now required by the pool.
City staff described the changes as wide‑ranging, covering leadership review, cyber and vendor audits, periodic driver‑record checks, and disaster training. "These standards went from advisory to required because many cities weren't complying," the mayor told the council, noting the change is intended to reduce claims and keep pool premiums stable.
Staff said the city is largely already compliant but highlighted a few items that will require action, including periodic driver abstracts (a bargaining topic for represented public works employees) and scheduling of disaster training. Staff noted a potential small deductible exposure (the mayor referenced a $2,500 figure) if a required driver record check is not current.
Why it matters: RMSA standards are designed to reduce exposures across the insurance pool; for Port Orchard, the standards formalize practices the city already follows in many areas but will require administrative work and coordination with unions on changes to driver‑record checks.
The resolution passed by voice vote. Staff said they will coordinate bargaining and scheduling as needed to meet the new requirements and will prepare annual or periodic assessments as RMSA inspects compliance.
