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CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION
From: JAMES F. PENMAN
CITY ATTORNEY
Subject: CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE-FUNDING
OF DEPUTY CITY ATTORNEY POSITION
Dept: CITY ATTORNEY
Date: FEBRUARY 15,2000
ORIGINAL
Synopsis of Previous Council action:
Fiscal Year 1998-1999:
Council adopts City Attorney's Office Budget, funding 18 positions, 8 of
which are attorneys.
Fiscal year 1999-2000:
Council adopts City Attorney's Office Budget, funding 16 positions, 7 of
which are attorneys.
Recommended motion:
1. That the Mayor and Common Council fund the currently vacant and previously authorized
position of Deputy City Attorney effective March 1, 2000 in the amount of $20,688 for the
remainder of fiscal year 1999-2000.
2. That the Director of Finance be authorized and directed to amend the appropriate budget
documents to reflect the transfer of $20,688 from the Liability Fund Reserve (Judgments and
Claims Payable, Account No. 629-000-2110) to the City Attorney's office account for said
funding of said position for the remainder of fiscal year 1999-2000.
Contact person: James F. Penman
Phone:
384- 5255
Supporting data attached: Staff Report
Ward:
All
FUNDING REQUIREMENTS:
Amount: $20.688.00
Source: (Acct. No.) From Liability Fund Reserve (Jud~ments and Claims
Payable. Account No. 629-000-2110) to Account
(Acct. Description) Nos. 001-051-5011. and 5026-29. inclusive
Finance:
Council Notes:
Agenda Item No.
J.~~
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8T AFF REPORT
Council Meeting Date: FEBRUARY 22, 2000
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor and Common Council
City Attorney's Office
February 15, 2000
In fiscal year 1998-99, the City Attorney's office was funded for 18 positions, including 7
Deputy or Senior Assistant City Attorney positions. In an attempt to assist with meeting the budget
projections for fiscal year 1999-2000, while indicating on more than one occasion the possibility of
the need to revisit the issue, the City Attorney's office voluntarily proposed to eliminate the funding
of one Deputy City Attorney position and one legal secretary position.
As a result of the priorities of this Administration, resulting in the hiring of additional
personnel by the Police Department and enhanced enforcement by both the Police Department and
Code Compliance, the workload and resulting caseload of this office in the areas of code
enforcement, other municipal code prosecutions and other related injunction actions have increased
exponentially, resulting in a strain on the ability to perform at the constant high level required and
expected of this office.
The Police Department has advised the City Attorney that additional cases are in the pipeline
for drug, red light and nuisance abatements. We are already behind by one red light and one drug
house abatement and the Baseline Prostitution Injunction needs additional defendants added. These
tasks cannot be accomplished without the filling of the currently vacant position.
Also, the Superior Court has notified us that their Code Compliance Court is prepared to
expand to four days per week from two days per week as soon as possible. Judge John Kennedy's
Community Court is also approaching its opening. It will be staffed by a City prosecutor as well.