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Finance and Management Services <br />www.santa-ana.org/finance <br />Item # 9 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Staff Report <br />October 15, 2024 <br />TOPIC: Administrative Hearing Officers <br />AGENDA TITLE <br />Agreements with Serviam By Wright, LLP; Nastich Law, a Professional Corporation; and <br />Palacios Law Office to Provide Administrative Hearing Officer Services (Specification <br />24-052) (General and Non-General Fund) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />Authorize the City Manager to execute agreements with each of the three firms listed <br />below for Administrative Hearing Officer services on an as-needed basis, in a total <br />aggregate amount not to exceed $1,970,000, for an initial three-year term beginning <br />October 15, 2024, with a provision for one, two-year extension exercisable by the City <br />Manager and the City Attorney (Core Agreement No. A-2024-XXX). <br />Firms Location <br />Serviam By Wright, LLP Irvine, CA <br />Nastich Law, a Professional Corporation Berkeley, CA <br />Palacios Law Office Riverside, CA <br />GOVERNMENT CODE §84308 APPLIES: Yes <br />DISCUSSION <br />Since the 1950s, the City of Santa Ana has permitted the use of administrative hearings <br />as a means of resolving appeals or conducting additional review on decisions made by <br />City representatives. Hearing officers act on administrative appeals of code <br />enforcement citations and compliance orders by serving as an impartial person who is <br />experienced with legal processes as well as building, zoning, and other code <br />regulations. These officers will make determinations based on the Municipal Code and <br />have the ability to issue or modify compliance orders to improve the rate of violation <br />abatement. Additionally, the utilization of contracted hearing officers helps reduce <br />conflicts of interest, warrant decisions based on knowledge and understanding of the <br />latest codes, and ensure timely appeal hearings. <br />Administrative hearings have become more common within government agencies as <br />they expand their programs and services but do not wish to inundate legislative bodies <br />  <br />  <br />City Council 9 – 1 10/15/2024