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Bay Cities JPA tells Piedmont it helps stabilize municipal insurance costs; catastrophic earthquake exposure remains unresolved
Summary
Jaysa Cusmano, executive director of Bay Cities JPA, briefed council on pooled insurance benefits (liability, workers’ comp, property), Piedmont’s self‑insured retentions ($25,000 liability; $150,000 work comp), mandatory cyber audits, and continuing work on catastrophic earthquake exposure and AI/cybersecurity templates.
Jaysa Cusmano, executive director of the Bay Cities Joint Powers Insurance Authority, presented an overview of the JPA’s structure, programs and risk‑control resources for member cities and answered council questions about incentives, reserves and catastrophic exposures.
Cusmano described how pooling stabilizes rates and provides tailored resources to members, noting that Bay Cities operates pooled programs up to $1 million and participates in an excess pool (Karma) that shares losses from $1 million to $10 million. "We fund at the 80% confidence level, and also to make their dividend release policy also conservative," Cusmano said, explaining the authority's conservative funding and dividend policy.
She also confirmed that Piedmont's liability self‑insured retention is $25,000 and its workers' compensation SIR is $150,000, and she outlined services the JPA provides: mandatory risk management assessments (RMAs), cyber audits performed by Sedgwick, sample policies and training, and group purchasing for things such as sidewalk management contracts.
Council members asked whether Bay Cities offers direct grants or incentives for maintenance tasks that drive many claims (potholes, trees, sidewalks); Cusmano said savings appear via lowered annual contributions and experience modification factors rather than direct grants, and noted the JPA pursues group purchasing and shared services where feasible. She also said catastrophic earthquake coverage remains a strategic focus and the board will discuss options in October.
