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Fire Insurance Cancellation Moratorium: SB 824
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COMMUNITY NEWS Fire Insurance Cancellation Moratorium: SB 824
In the wake of the 2020 CZU lightning fire, some homeowners in Aptos have received cancellation notices for their insurance policy.
Jon Fernandez, associate insurance compliance officer with the California Department of Insurance, provided this information for homeowners and SB 824 moratoriums:
We believe that Santa Cruz is affected by the CZU Lightning Fire and a State of Emergency was declared by Governor Newsom on Aug. 18, 2020.
These are some of the related laws that may address your recent concerns after SB 824’s effective date Jan. 1, 2019: • California Insurance Code §675.1(b) — Cancellations and Non-Renewals
Within Fire Perimeter
Note: This code applies to undamaged properties and partial losses.
Effective for losses occurring on or after Jan. 1, 2019, an insurer shall not cancel or refuse to renew a policy on a property located in any ZIP code within, or adjacent to, the fire perimeter for one year after the declaration of a state of emergency, based solely on the fact that the property is located in an area where the fire occurred. This subsection would not apply to situations where the insured’s acts or omissions have materially increased the risk or where other factors unrelated to the disaster have caused the property to become uninsurable. For the purposes of this section, it is important to note that the fire perimeter is determined by the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in consultation with California Office of Emergency Services. The information is then provided to the California Department of Insurance with data describing the fire perimeter sufficient for the commissioner to determine the zip codes that are within or adjacent to the fire perimeter. • California Insurance Code §675.1(a) (3) — Non-Renewal After A Declared
Disaster
Note: This code applies to total loss of the primary insured structure.
Except for the reasons specified in subdivisions (a) to (e), inclusive, of Section 676, the insurer shall offer, for at least the next two annual renewal periods (but no less than 24 months of coverage from the date of the loss), to renew the policy in
accordance with the provisions of subdivision (a)(1) if the total loss to the primary insured structure was caused by a disaster, the loss was not also due to the negligence of the insured, and losses have not occurred subsequent to the disaster-related total loss that relate to physical or risk changes to the insured property that result in the property becoming uninsurable.
If you or someone that you know will need our assistance during this emergency, please complete our Request for Assistance form from our website: http://www. insurance.ca.gov/01-consumers/101help/index.cfm. There is a printable as well as an online complaint form on that page. The online complaint form link is titled “Consumer Complaint Online” inside the Consumer Complaint Center box. The Request for Assistance form is what we forward to the insurance carrier so we can access their file for a regulatory review.
In the meantime, we recommend that you also visit our Wildfire webpage by clicking: http://www.insurance. ca.gov/01-consumers/140-catastrophes/ WildfireResources.cfm That information may be useful during this emergency since it provides updates and resources when dealing with the insurance companies.
If we can assist you in the future with an insurance problem, or provide information, you may contact us through the email system or you may reach the Consumer Communication Bureau at 1-800-927-4357. n
IN MEMORIAM Charlotte Mulcaster
June 1, 1945 ~ March 5, 2021
Charlotte (Kelley) Mulcaster cherished wife, mother & friend of many passed away in the early morning of March 5, 2021 at home in Murphys, CA. She was born June 1, 1945 in Madera, CA.
Charlotte was a fierce warrior who lost her battle with Multiple Myeloma (Cancer) after a 3-1/2 year battle. Cared for in her final days by her loving husband Larry Mulcaster, daughters Kimberly Lane Mueller, Krista Nicole Hefner and the kind and gentle people of Adventist Hospice Sonora.
An amazing artist working in oil on canvas, watercolors on paper, sculpting clay who was also an accomplished print maker. She was a respected member of the art communities of Santa Cruz and Calaveras county’s with many friends. Her work was selected for a number of juried shows and is in private collections throughout the United States.
She is survived by siblings Gloria Kelley of Madera, CA and Ronald Kelley of Fresno, CA, her grandsons Paul Kammer, Calvin Kammer, Cameron Derr, son-in-law John Mueller, step children Sean, Jennifer and Christopher Mulcaster all of whom loved her dearly. Charlotte loved her Havanese dogs, El Greco and Leonardo who followed her everywhere. Gone now to be with the Lord, she’s no longer in pain. She was a sweet and loving person who saw the good in everyone. Our thank you to all for your love and kindness during this trying time. •••
There will be a Celebration of Life Memorial held for Charlotte at 1:00 PM on May 8, 2021 at the Beautiful Ironstone Vineyards & Winery in Murphys, CA, 95247. It is open to all!
“Rail Plan” from page 14
Schiffrin said, “The plan makes it clear rail service is not feasible — 44% of the funding is not available. My concern is not losing the option, should it turn out to be feasible in the future.”
He disputed Bertrand’s call for peer-reviewed data, saying there was no demand for peer review when the scope of services was reviewed.
Gonzalez, who chairs the board, wanted to look for money for the $17 million environmental study of electric passenger rail service.
“This county’s population is going to grow, especially the ‘dreamers’ …people from around the world will be parking in your neighborhood, Capitola, La Selva, Aptos,” he said.
The business plan was largely the work of Steve Decker, a national recognized transportation consultant with HDR.
After the failed vote, Schriffin proposed to accept the business plan to meet the requirement of $100,000 from Caltrans toward the study and Preston suggested deleting the time table for construction and completion.
Johnson, who’s been on the RTC 21 years, objected, calling the move “seat of the pants.” He insisted on a staff report to explain the implications of that action.
The vote on Schiffrin’s motion was 6-6, so it failed.
As a result, the RTC will discuss in May the $100,000 from Caltrans that helped pay for the business plan, and whether it must be repaid. The next meeting is Thursday, May 6, at 9 a.m. online. For details, see https://sccrtc.org/
Before Koenig joined the RTC, the RTC voted to support a visit by the Coast Futura streetcar, wireless and battery-powered, built by TIG/m, from the Santa Cruz Boardwalk to Capitola, as well as in Watsonville, on Labor Day Weekend, Aug. 28-Sept. 6.
The demonstration, scheduled in cooperation with Roaring Camp Railroads and pro-passenger train Coastal Rail Santa Cruz, was originally planned for spring 2020 but delayed due to the pandemic. n •••
For a report on Supervisor Manu Koenig’s request to replace his district’s representatives on the RTC bicycle advisory committee, see page 16.
COMMUNITY NEWS Graduation Will Look Different This Year
On March 26, the state Department of Public Health released guidance for graduation ceremonies during the pandemic: No handshakes, no hugging! Wear masks and stay six feet apart.
This guidance is intended to provide recommendations to help students, teachers, families, and school administrators celebrate the momentous milestone of graduation while also preventing the spread of COVID-19.
School administrators and commencement organizers must identify and monitor the County Risk Level the school is operating in and make required adjustments to their commencement ceremony just as families must adjust their private celebrations.
Across all Tiers: All commencement ceremonies must follow these requirements: • All attendees, including school staff, performers, students and families are counted toward any occupancy capacity limit. • If multiple ceremonies are planned for a single day, schools must allow for at least two hours between ceremonies to prevent mixing. • Limit attendee groups to a household unit. People from the same household do not need to be six feet apart. • Audience seating must be fixed or marked, with readily identifiable signs to indicate by section, row, and seat.
Marked seats should clearly define space for individuals with appropriate space per person (no blanket reservations or group areas).
All commencement ceremonies shall adhere to attendance limitations as defined within the CDPH Outdoor Seated Live Events and Performances Guidance. Outdoor, in-person ceremonies are permissible, consistent with this guidance.
If the current county tier the school is operating in does not permit an outdoor, in-person ceremony, see the Alternatives section below.
Individual Measures
All attendees must wear masks as per CDPH Face Coverings Guidance and maintain distance of at least 6 feet from other attendees at all times, other than with household members such as when they are in their own vehicles. • Speakers may remove masks during their remarks as long as they are at least 6 feet away from other attendees. Speakers should keep the time for comments brief to limit the time they are unmasked. • Attendance must be limited to school staff, graduates, household members, and family members and attendees must abide by travel limitations in the current CDPH Travel Advisory. º Attendees must sign up in advance of the graduation, and only those who have preregistered may attend. º Staff or attendants must monitor the number of attendees entering the graduation event and confirm they pre-registered. • Persons particularly vulnerable to
COVID-19 (due to age or underlying conditions) should be discouraged from attending. • Individuals who are sick or in isolation or quarantine must remain at home. • All attendees should be screened or self-screen for fever and COVID-19 symptoms before leaving home for the event.
Entering/Exiting
Graduates must enter and exit 6 feet apart from one another in a single line.
Social distancing measures include: • Signage or pavement/ground markings • If a line forms outside of the graduation, staff should direct those waiting to maintain social distancing. • Tape, chalk, or other markings should be laid on the ground outside of the venue • Staff should direct people to maintain social distancing. • Staff should direct successive row-byrow exiting.
Before, During, and After
• Staff should enforce face covering compliance throughout. • The venue must be cleaned and disinfected prior to and after the event, particularly high touch surfaces (bathrooms). Consider cleaning hightouch surfaces (podium) between each speaker. Clean and disinfect shared equipment (microphones) between different users; consult equipment manufacturers regarding the appropriate method. • Receptions before or after the graduation must comply with the restrictions within the CDPH Guidance for
Gatherings appropriate to the county
Blueprint tier. • Food or drink concessions are only allowed per the tier limits outlined in the CDPH Outdoor Live Events and
Performances Guidance. Students and families should be advised in advance regarding the availability of refreshments. • There must be permanent or added barriers to create at least 12 feet between where event attendees sit and the stage or podium. All attendees, including graduates, school administrators, guests or family members, must remain at least 6 feet apart at all times. º Attendees who are not part of the same household must be seated at least 6 feet apart. Members of the same household are permitted to sit together and less than 6 feet apart.
“Graduation” page 23
When Will The Fence on Highway 1 Overpass Be Repaired?
Thousands of drivers see it daily: The damaged fence on the overpass hanging over Highway 1 south of the State Park Drive exit in Aptos. The fence — a casualty of the winter 2016 mega-storm that left $130 million in damage — has still not been repaired.
However, it has not been overlooked.
Shannon Munz, spokeswoman for the Santa Cruz County Regional Transportation Commission, provided this explanation:
“We previously put this project out to bid in 2020 and received one bid, which was high. At that time, we decided to reject the bid and repackage the contract to include an interim fix since we have a Highway 1 project under development that will replace the bridge in its entirety in 5-10 years.”
She added, “The repackaging of the contract required Caltrans approval of an encroachment permit rider, which we are still waiting for them to approve. We expect to be able to advertise for this project in the next few weeks and award in June with construction taking place this summer.” n
Editor’s note: Thanks to Aptos resident Becky Steinbruner for asking the question.
