The provisions of this chapter recognize that the general claim procedures applicable to the City and all local public agencies are governed by the provisions of the California Government Code, Chapters 1 and 2, Part 3, Division 3.6 of Title 1, commencing with Section 900 et seq. The provisions of this chapter are enacted pursuant to Government Code Section 935 and shall apply to all claims against the City for money or damages, including all claims which are excepted by Government Code Section 905 which specifically includes, but is not limited to, claims for tax refunds, provided that such claims are not governed by any other statutes or regulations.
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No suit subject to this chapter may be brought against the City until a written claim, verified by the claimant, has been presented to the City Council and has been acted upon by the City Council or designee or has been deemed to be rejected. Any action brought against the City on a claim after the claim as been presented to and acted upon by the City shall be subject to the provisions of Government Code Sections 945.6 and 946.
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Pursuant to Government Code Section 911.2, any claim subject to this chapter shall be presented within the following time limitations:
A. 
A claim relating to a cause of action for death, or for injury to person or to personal property, or for injury to growing crops, shall be presented not later than six months after the accrual of the cause of action.
B. 
A claim relating to any other cause of action shall be presented not later than one year after the accrual of the cause of action.
C. 
A tax or assessment refund claim shall be deemed to accrue as of the date of payment of the tax or assessment.
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A claim shall be presented to the City Clerk by the claimant or a person acting on the claimant's behalf and shall show all information as required by Government Code Section 910. All claims shall be verified by claimant or by his or her guardian, conservator, executor or administrator. No claim shall be filed on behalf of a class of persons unless verified by every member of that class. The City Manager, or designee, shall review all claims for sufficiency of information. The City Manager, or designee, may, within 20 days of receipt of a claim, either deliver personally to claimant, or by regular mail or electronic mail, a notice stating deficiencies in the claim presented. If such notice is delivered or sent to claimant, the City shall not act upon the claim until at least 15 days after such notice is delivered or sent.
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Pursuant to California Government Code Section 935.4, the City Council delegates authority to the City Manager and designee to review all claims for sufficiency and to reject any and all claims. The City Council delegates to the City Manager authority to allow, compromise, or settle claims, including claims for workers' compensation, up to $2,500. The City Council shall have sole authority to allow, compromise, or settle claims for an amount in excess of $2,500.
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A. 
Pursuant to Government Code Section 912.4, the City Council or City Manager, or designee, shall act on a claim within 45 days after the claim has been presented. Written notice of action taken on a claim by the City Council or City Manager, or designee, shall be provided to the claimant, in accordance with Government Code Sections 913 and 915.4. If the claim is not acted upon within 45 days, it shall be deemed to have been rejected on the forty-fifth (45th) day. By mutual agreement of the claimant and the City Council or City Manager, or designee, such 45 day period may be extended by written agreement. If the 45 day period is extended by written agreement and the claim is not acted upon within the extended time, the claim shall be deemed to be rejected on the last day of the extended period specified in the extension agreement.
B. 
Pursuant to Government Code Section 945.6, any lawsuit brought against the City for which a claim is required to be presented must be commenced within the following time limits:
1. 
Six months after the date the City's written notice of its action on the claim is personally delivered or deposited in the mail.
2. 
Two years from the accrual of the cause of action, if no written notice is given in accordance with this section.
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Any claimant who fails to file a claim within the time period required in this chapter may submit a written application to the City for leave to present a late claim, pursuant to Government Code Section 911.4. The City Manager, or designee, shall grant or deny the application to present a late claim within 45 days after it is presented to the City, pursuant to Government Code Section 911.6 through 912.2.
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Nothing in this chapter revives or reinstates any cause of action that, on the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter, is barred by failure to comply with any previously applicable statute, ordinance or regulation requiring the presentation of a claim prior to a suit subject to this chapter, or by failure to commence any action thereon within the period prescribed by an applicable statute of limitations.
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The provisions of this chapter shall apply retroactively to any causes of action occurring prior to the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter; provided, however, that a claimant who has a cause of action occurring more than 10 months before the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter shall file a claim within 60 days after the ordinance codified in this chapter's effective date in accordance with its provisions or such claim shall be barred.
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The provisions of this chapter are severable and the invalidity of any section, paragraph, phrase, clause or part of this chapter shall not affect the validity or effectiveness of the remainder of this chapter.
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