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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 CONTRACT FOR PROSECUTION SERVICES/OC DISTRICT ATTORNEYAgenda Item 3 Reviewed: AGENDA REPORT City Manager Finance Director NIA MEETING DATE: MAY 21, 2013 TO: JEFFREY C. PARKER, CITY MANAGER FROM: DAVID KENDIG, CITY ATTORNEY SUBJECT: CONTRACT FOR PROSECUTION SERVICES / ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY SUMMARY: The Orange County District Attorney's Office prosecutes Penal, Health and Safety, and Vehicle Code violations referred to it by the City of Tustin Police Department. The City may also refer violations of the Tustin City Code to the District Attorney under the parties' current contract for prosecution services. The current agreement, which has been in place since 2008, will expire on June 30, 2013. The District Attorney has prepared a new five -year agreement for prosecution services for approval by the City. If approved, the term of the new agreement would run from July 1, 2013 until June 30, 2018. RECOMMENDATION: Approve and authorize the Mayor to execute the attached Agreement for Prosecution Services with the Orange County District Attorney. FISCAL IMPACT: Under the proposed agreement, the base cost for prosecution by the District Attorney is $234. In addition, the City must pay for all time, including preparation for the prosecution in excess of one day, at an hourly rate of $150 (attorney) and $84 (clerical support). The rates in the 2008 agreement were $202, $127, and $76 respectively. The City may also request the District Attorney to file, answer, and litigate appeals from convictions for violations of the Tustin City Code. The City would pay at an hourly rate of $150 (attorney) and $84 (clerical support) for these services. The rates in the 2008 agreement were $127, and $76 respectively. City Council Agenda Report May 21, 2013 Contract for Prosecution Services Page 2 Whereas the 2008 agreement provided for the prosecution of animal control violations at no cost to the City, the District Attorney will now charge for these services at the rates specified above. Notwithstanding the increased rates for prosecution services, given the infrequent referral of enforcement of the Tustin City Code to the District Attorney, it is anticipated that the costs of the contract services are well within the current draft budget for law enforcement services in fiscal year 2013 -14 DISCUSSION: In July 1993, June 1998, July 2003, and June 2008, the City has entered into agreements for prosecution services with the Orange County District Attorney. The current agreement expires at the end of June. A new five -year agreement is attached for City Council consideration. The proposed agreement would allow the City to refer Tustin City Code violations to the District Attorney for prosecution. The District Attorney's Office prosecutes state criminal violations at no cost to the City. The City Attorney's Office would be available to criminally prosecute violations of the Tustin City Code upon request. The proposed agreement provides flexibility by allowing the City to refer Tustin City Code violations to the District Attorney's Office if necessary. The prosecution services will be provided on an "as needed" basis. The City has no obligation to pay any sum to the District Attorney in the event that it never asks it to provide prosecution services. The agreement may be terminated by either party upon 30 -days' written notice. David Kendig City Attorney Attachments: Agreement for Prosecution Services AGREEMENT FOR PROSECUTION SERVICES THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into by and between the COUNTY OF ORANGE, CALIFORNIA, a political subdivision of the State of California and a body politic and corporate (hereinafter designated as "COUNTY "), and the City of a municipal corporation, located in the County of Orange (hereinafter designated as "CITY "). WITNESSETH In consideration of the terms, covenants, conditions, and promises to be kept, performed and observed by the parties, hereto, it is agreed as follows: 1. COUNTY, through its District Attorney and deputies, officers and employees of his department, shall render to CITY such services as may be required to prosecute violations of CITY's ordinances by persons 18 years of age or older in the courts. 2. For the purpose of performing said functions, COUNTY shall provide all staffing and supervision necessary to maintain the services to be rendered hereunder. 3. The final authority for rendition of services, standards of performance, and other matters incident to the performance of such services and the control of COUNTY personnel shall remain in COUNTY. The District Attorney shall have the sole exclusive authority to determine whether a criminal complaint shall be filed and the conduct of legal proceedings with respect to any suspected violations of the CITY criminal ordinances and with respect to any additional prosecutions handled by the District Attorney for CITY. 4. CITY shall not be called upon to assume any liability for the direct payment of any salaries, wages or other compensation to any COUNTY personnel performing services hereunder or any liability other than that provided for by this Agreement. Except as herein otherwise specified, CITY shall not be liable for compensation or indemnity to any COUNTY employee for any injury or sickness arising out of his employment. 5. COUNTY, its officers, agents and employees shall not be deemed to have assumed any liability for the negligence of CITY or any of its officers or employees; and CITY shall hold COUNTY, its officers and employees harmless from any and all claims for damages resulting therefrom. 6. Both CITY and COUNTY shall hold each other harmless from liability for acts or omissions of the other. 7. (a) Referrals for Complaints. CITY may refer suspected violations of its criminal ordinances by persons 18 years of age or older to the District Attorney for a determination as to whether a criminal complaint should be filed. CITY agrees to pay COUNTY the sum of two hundred thirty four dollars ($234.00) for each referral, without regard to the issuance of a complaint. As used herein, a "referral" means an occurrence constituting an alleged violation of one or more CITY ordinances by one person. CITY will provide investigation, reports, copies of its ordinances, and additional evidence as requested by the District Attorney. In cases where prosecution is authorized by the District Attorney, the District Attorney will draft and prepare the complaint. When "not guilty" pleas are entered on such complaints, the District Attorney will prosecute such cases through trial without further charge, except as provided in Paragraph 7(c) herein. (b) Additional Prosecution. Trials on CITY citations and trials on CITY complaints not issued pursuant to Paragraph 7(a) above will not be tried by the District Attorney without the consent of the Assistant District Attorney in charge of the branch serving the judicial district in which CITY is located. The District Attorney has the right to determine that special ordinances of exclusively local concern should be prosecuted by the city attorney. Except as provided in Paragraph 7 (c) below, CITY agrees to pay COUNTY two hundred thirty four dollars ($234.00) for each prosecution of a CITY citation and each prosecution of a CITY complaint not issued pursuant to Paragraph 7(a). As used herein, "prosecution "means the District Attorney's appearance in Court after witnesses are subpoenaed on the first setting for one Defendant's trial. Where CITY asks the District Attorney to request dismissal before subpoenas have been issued, no charge will be made. As prosecutor, the District Attorney has the right to control the disposition of all complaints, trials, and appeals herein described in accordance with the duties of his office. CITY will provide investigation, reports, citations, copies of its ordinances, and additional evidence necessary for trial as requested by the District Attorney. 2 (c) Special Costs. CITY may request the District Attorney to file, answer, and litigate appeals of convictions of violations of CITY's ordinances. CITY agrees to pay COUNTY for such services on appeals the sum of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) per hour of attorney time and eighty four dollars ($84.00) per hour of clerical support's time. In addition to charges described in paragraphs 7(a) and 7(b) herein, CITY agrees to pay COUNTY for all time, including preparation spent in prosecutions in excess of one day, at the rate specified in this paragraph. (d) The above rates shall be reviewed annually by COUNTY's Auditor - Controller and, if it is determined that a change in the rate is necessary to reflect change in costs to COUNTY, COUNTY shall notify CITY of such change prior to June 30th, and the change shall become effective the following July 15t 8. Within ten (10) days following the end of each calendar quarter, COUNTY shall render to CITY a statement of the cost of services performed under this Agreement, and CITY shall pay COUNTY therefore within twenty (20) days after receipt of such statement. Such statement shall consist of the number of referrals for complaints, additional prosecution, and itemized special costs. If such payment is not received by COUNTY within thirty (30) days after rendition of billing, COUNTY may satisfy such indebtedness from any funds of CITY on deposit with COUNTY without giving further notice to CITY of COUNTY's intention to do so. 9. Upon execution of this Agreement, CITY shall provide two (2) copies of its municipal ordinances to the District Attorney. CITY will further provide the District Attorney with complete details on any additions, deletions, or corrections to the municipal ordinances that may occur during the term of this Agreement. 10. This Agreement shall continue in full force and effect for a five -year period, commencing July 1, 2013 and terminating on June 30, 2018 , provided that either party may terminate upon thirty (30) days' written notice. All compensation for services rendered shall be paid regardless of termination or expiration of this Agreement. Termination of this Agreement shall not affect the duties of the parties already initiated that extend beyond the termination of this Agreement. 3 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, COUNTY has caused this Agreement to be executed by the Chairman of its Board of Supervisors and Attested by the Clerk of said Board, and CITY has caused this Agreement to be executed by its Mayor and attested by the City Clerk on the dates set opposite their respective signatures. Dated: 12013 SIGNED AND CERTIFIED THAT A COPY OF THIS DOCUMENT HAS BEEN DELIVERED TO THE CHAIRMAN OF BOARD Susan Novak Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Of Orange County, California APPROVED AS TO FORM: NICHOLAS S. CHRISOS, COUNTY COUNSEL By 4 Dated: �,O /. �7 2013 Dated: 2013 4 "COUNTY" COUNTY OF ORANGE, a political subdivision of the State of California By Chairman of the Board of Supervisors "CITY" A municipal corporation By Mayor ATTEST: By City Clerk