REPORT/RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
AND RECORD OF ACTION
September 22, 2026
FROM
REBECCA SUAREZ, Director, Department of Risk Management
SUBJECT
Title
Approve the Renewal of Estates Liability Insurance and Trails Liability Insurance
End
RECOMMENDATION(S)
Recommendation
1. Approve the renewal of the following insurance programs and premiums for a total of approximately $51,438:
a. Estates Liability Insurance, as recommended by the County’s broker, Alliant Insurance Services, for an estimated premium cost of $37,081, not-to-exceed 15% over the estimated premium cost, for the period of September 29, 2026 through September 28, 2027.
b. Trails Liability Insurance, as recommended by the County’s broker, Alliant Insurance Services, for an estimated premium cost of $14,357, not-to-exceed 15% over the estimated premium cost, for the period of September 29, 2026 through September 28, 2027.
2. Authorize the Chief Executive Officer, County Chief Financial Officer, or Director of the Department of Risk Management to execute the initial binding orders, on behalf of the County, and any subsequent binding orders, documents, or quotes necessary to approve mid-term change orders for additional coverage, not-to-exceed 15% over the estimated cost, per insurance program and premium, for the period of September 29, 2026 through September 28, 2027, subject to review by County Counsel.
3. Authorize the Purchasing Agent to approve change orders to purchase orders issued for the insurance programs and premiums in Recommendation No. 1 for mid-term changes, subject to the limits referenced in Recommendation No. 2.
(Presenter: Rebecca Suarez, Director, 386-8723)
Body
COUNTY AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Operate in a Fiscally-Responsible and Business-Like Manner.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Approval of this item will not result in the use of Discretionary General Funding (Net County Cost). The total aggregate premium of approximately $51,438 is to be paid by the Department of Risk Management’s (DRM) various insurance funds. The insurance premium costs are recovered from user departments through Board of Supervisors (Board) approved rates. Sufficient appropriation and revenue are included in DRM’s 2026-27 budget.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
DRM administers the County’s self-insurance programs and maintains 30 different lines of insurance policies to provide additional protection for the County.
Approval of Recommendation No. 1 will provide a new one-year coverage period from September 29, 2026 through September 28, 2027, with a total renewal premium cost of approximately $51,438. This represents an increase of $3,395, or 7%, over last year’s final premium cost of $48,043.
On November 16, 2021 (Item No. 62), the Board approved contracts with various insurance brokers, including Alliant Insurance Services, Inc. (Alliant), for the period of December 11, 2021, through December 10, 2026.
For this renewal of Trails Special Liability Insurance, and Estates Special Liability Insurance, for the period of September 29, 2026, through September 28, 2027, Alliant will engage in negotiations with multiple insurance carriers on behalf of the County to secure policies with similar coverage and limits as the expiring policies.
Approval of Recommendation No. 1.a. will authorize the County’s insurance broker, Alliant, to engage with multiple insurance carriers on behalf of the County to secure Estates Liability Insurance coverage, for the period of September 29, 2026 through September 28, 2027, at an estimated premium cost of approximately $37,081. Authorization is requested for an amount not to exceed 15% above the estimated premium to provide contingency for the event that actual premium cost exceeds the estimate. This policy provides liability coverage for injuries and damages occurring within property in the care, custody or control of the County.
Approval of Recommendation No. 1.b. will authorize Alliant to engage with multiple insurance carriers on behalf of the County to secure Trails Liability Insurance coverage, for the period of September 29, 2026 through September 28, 2027, at an estimated premium cost of approximately $14,357. Authorization is requested for an amount not to exceed 15% above the estimated premium to provide contingency for the event that actual premium cost exceeds the estimate. This policy provides liability coverage for injuries and damages occurring on designated trails throughout the County.
The final premium amounts will not be available until closer to the actual renewal date due to the complexity of negotiations that the County’s brokers engage in with multiple insurance carriers on behalf of the County. Approval of Recommendation No. 2 will authorize the Chief Executive Officer, County Chief Financial Officer, or Director of the Department of Risk Management to execute the binding orders on behalf of the County to ensure a timely renewal process with no lapse in coverage. Additionally, Recommendation No. 2 will authorize the Chief Executive Officer, County Chief Financial Officer, or Director of the Department of Risk Management to execute any subsequent binding orders, documents, or quotes necessary to approve mid-term changes to the policies referenced in Recommendation No. 1 for additional coverages, for the period of September 29, 2026 through September 28, 2027. Authorizing the Chief Executive Officer, County Chief Financial Officer, or Director of the Department of Risk Management to approve mid-term changes for additional coverage will allow the DRM to provide insurance coverage for any additional assets the County may acquire mid-term. Failure to provide insurance coverage for assets acquired mid-term may leave certain assets uninsured and expose the County to significant risk.
Approval of Recommendation No. 3 will authorize the Purchasing Agent to approve change orders to purchase orders issued for the insurance program and premiums listed in Recommendation No. 1 for mid-term changes, subject to the limits referenced in Recommendation No. 2. Approval of Recommendation No. 3 will ensure continuous coverage and allow the County to update coverage as needed.
PROCUREMENT
Not applicable.
REVIEW BY OTHERS
This item has been reviewed by County Counsel (G. Ross Trindle III, Chief Assistant County Counsel, 387-5451) on September 3, 2026; Purchasing (Jessica Barajas, Supervising Buyer, 387-2065) on September 2, 2026; and County Finance and Administration (Scott Bruckner, Administrative Analyst, 387-4020) on September 4, 2026.