HomeMy WebLinkAbout25D - HEARING OFFICERS SVCS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE:
CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY:
REQUEST FOR
COUNCIL ACTION
JANUARY 16, 2007
TITLE:
AGREEMENT WITH COASTAL MEDIATION
SERVICES FOR HEARING OFFICER
SERVICES FOR NUISANCE ABATEMENT
PROCEEDINGS
APPROVED
o As Recommended
D As Amended
D Ordinance on 1 sl Reading
D Ordinance on 2nd Reading
D implementing Resolution
D Set Public Hearing For
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CITY MANAGER
CONTINUED TO
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FiLE NUMBER
RECOMMENDED ACTION
Direct the City Attorney to prepare and authorize the City Manager and
Clerk of the Council to execute an agreement with Coastal Mediation
Services to provide hearing officer services in an amount not to exceed
$30,000.
DISCUSSION
Since 1997, property owners who have been cited by Community Preservation
for code violations have been offered mediation through hearing officer
proceedings. As an alternative to court proceedings, hearings are
conducted by the City pursuant to the Alternative Abatement Proceedings in
accordance with Article VIII of Chapter 17 of the Santa Ana Municipal
Code. Recently, the Public Works Agency has begun to offer this alternate
for administrative citations issued by the agency. This contract would
make available similar hearing officer services by the consultant for both
Community Preservation citations and those issued by the Public Works
Agency.
For the past two years, the City has contracted for hearing officer
services with Ms. Barbara A. Echan of Coastal Mediation Services. Her
work for the City in this capacity has been exemplary. Her
professionalism and knowledge give her the necessary insight to properly
mediate these cases, with fairness to all parties, The City Attorney's
Office recommends a two-year contract to alleviate the concern for bias
rulings by the hearing officer in the City's favor in order to ensure
annual renewal of contracted services, Therefore, the proposed agreement
is for a two-year period.
250-1
Coastal Mediation Services Agreement
January 16, 2007
Page 2
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds in the amount of $20,000 have been allocated for this purpose in the
Planning and Building Agency's annual budget for FY 2006-07 in the
Community Preservation account for other personnel services (account no.
11-509-6191). Funds in the amount of $10,000 have been allocated for this
purpose in the Public Works Agency's account for hearing officer charges
(account no. 68-632-6291).
APPROVAL AS TO FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS:
UA'1.'U~(';I ~~-~ .
~~Francisco Gutierrez u~
Executive Director C.o
Finance and Management Services Agency
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~~ti;e Director
Planning and Building Agency
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sb\rfcas\2006-07\Coastal Mediation hearing Officer l-Q7.doc
250-2