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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.A- City Attorney RESOLUTION(ID# 1669) DOC ID: 1669 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO—REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Personnel From: James F. Penman M/CC Meeting Date: 03/19/2012 Prepared by: Jolena E. Grider, (909)384- 5355 Dept: City Attorney Ward(s):N/A Subject: Resolution of Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino to Reestablish the Position of Paralegal in the City Attorney's Office (Recommended for Approval at the Personnel Committee Meeting of March 8, 2012 - Committee Members Present: Johnson, Marquez, Jenkins) Financial Impact: N/A Motion: Reestablish the position of paralegal, Range 3480,$4864-5912/Month, in the City Attorney's Office. Synopsis of Previous Council Action: Personnel Committee moved this item forward with a recommendation for approval on March 8, C 2012. Background: See Attached Memorandum. City Attorney Review: Supporting Documents: Paralegal Memo (PDF) reso 1669 (PDF) City of San Bernardino Paralegal Job Description (PDF) I Packet Pg. 352 Updated:3/15/2012 by Sabdi Sanchez Page 1 6.Aa INTER OFFICE MEMORANDUM OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO n m v TO: Personnel Committee R M FROM: James F. Penman C City Attorney 2 0 O DATE: March 7, 2012 N RE: Reinstatement of Paralegal Position in the City Attorney's Office CC: Mayor, City Manager, Human Resources Director o C 0 For a number of years the San Bernardino City Attorney's Office included two paralegals 0� on the staff. These individuals performed legal research on litigation and municipal issues; m drafted pleadings, pre and post trial motions, and briefs; assisted with Public Records Act requests;collected and organized discovery documents from various departments;drafted _ discovery requests and responses to discovery; assisted with trial preparation; assisted d with relocations, and maintained the law library. Both of these positions were eliminated by the City Attorney's Office as cost savings measures. R IL We now have a 67.5% increase in law suits filed against the city from January 1, 2009 to w February 29, 2012 and an 89.36% increase in cases handled by in-house attorneys. In addition, one Deputy City Attorney currently assigned to respond to Public Records Act requests received by the City is spending up to 50%of her time each week on this task due a to a significant increase in such requests. Having a paralegal in this Office who can handle the many routine legal matters will allow the attorneys to focus on the more substantive and complex legal issues presented to the office requiring the attorneys'expertise,all of which results in a better use of their time and skills. Furthermore, the assistance of a qualified paralegal will free up the time of the ZAPENMANUiRWersonel cmm re-paralegal posirion.wpd 1 Packet Pg. 353 litigation attorneys so they may handle a larger case load. Due to the increase in litigation, we have had to prioritize our other responsibilities, such as having the municipal code updated. Re-establishment of this position will enable us to reduce some of the backlog of our other duties. Therefore, in this Office's ongoing effort to handle in the most economical manner possible, the unprecedented increase in litigation filed against the City, I respectfully request approval to reinstate one paralegal position in the City Attorney's Office. After conferring with the Human Resources Director I am requesting that the paralegal o position be re-established at San Bernardino City Salary Range #3480. This range a provides for a salary beginning at$68,368 per year(step one)and ending at$70,944 (the `o top step). C 0 Thank you for your consideration of this request. o a L N a m Penman, City Attorney Of 0 c 0 0 N d Attachments: three 0 E d f m a, m m a c v E L u m a © ZAPENMANViRTersonel cmk ro paralegal positlon.wpd Z PacketPg. 354 © 1 RESOLUTION NO. 2 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE 3 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO REESTABLISHING THE POSITION OF PARALEGAL 4 IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 5 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE 6 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AS FOLLOWS: 7 SECTION 1. That the position of paralegal, Range 3480, 54864-5912/Month is m m v 8 reestablished in the City Attorney's Office. a 9 SECTION 2. That the Human Resources Department is directed to update Resolution 0C to 0 Number 97-244 to reflect this action. o 11 0. 12 m 13 0 19 O c 15 0 16 17 m is m 19 0 20 /!/ y 21 E //! s 22 � 23 24 25 !/! 26 27 O 28 /// 6.A.b 1 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE 2 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO REESTABLISHING THE POSITION OF PARALEGAL 3 IN THE CITY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE. 4 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor and 5 6 Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a meeting thereof, held on 7 the day of 2012, by the following vote,to wit: d s Council Members: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT a 9 `o MARQUEZ o 10 11 JENKINS a° s N 12 VALDIVIA a N 13 SHORETT 14 © KELLEY 15 JOHNSON 0 16 v K 17 MCCAMMACK 18 19 Georgeann Hanna, City Clerk 0 20 The foregoing Resolution is hereby approved this day of 2012. 21 E L 22 Patrick J. Moms,Mayor 23 City of San Bernardino a Approved as to 24 form: 25 26 27 lames F. Penman © zfi City Attorney 2 Packet Pg.356 © CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO APPROVED BY: January,2001 City Attorney PARALEGAL I(U) v m m a JOB DESCRIPTION `o c 0 Under direction, to provide paralegal services for the City Attorney's Office to work under the w direction of a Deputy City Attorney to draft various documents, discovery requests and do legal a° research as required. s REPRESENTATIVE DUTIES h m v rr Prepare drafts, contracts, deeds, leases and other legal documents and instruments for City 2 departments, drafts proposed ordinances,resolutions and other legislation. Prepares research for o legal opinion drafts,pleadings and briefs and other legal documents. Assists in the preparation of cases for hearings and trial. Performs legal research on various issues. Coordinates witness °m scheduling and other duties as necessary for the preparation of litigation for hearings and trial and other duties as assigned. m m MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS 0 r o A paralegal degree from an accredited California school,or two years experience as a paralegal and possession of a valid Class C California driver's license is required. GENERAL QUALIFICATIONS o m Knowledge of: m R m Federal,State and Municipal civil laws; o Judicial procedures and rules of evidence; Legal research procedures and form; English grammar, syntax,word usage, spelling and punctuation; a Basic public relations; m c Computerized legal research. U) `o Ability to: a Read, understand,interpret codes and other written material; Analyze and prepare a variety of legal documents; E U A Q Ed/JobDevc ptions.Pandegal.Job Packet Pg. 357 1 O Analyze and brief court cases,provisions of city ordinances, federal and state statutes; Draft legal memoranda,ordinances and resolutions; Reconcile conflicting provisions of laws and court decisions; Express ideas clearly and concisely, orally and in writing; R Operate a vehicle observing legal and defensive driving practices; 0 m Understand and carry out oral and written instructions; Establish and maintain effective relationships with those contacted in the course of work; a Performs computerized legal research. o c O ORGANIZATIONAL RELATIONSHIP m 0 a The class of Paralegal I is an entry level para-professional in the legal series. The paralegal position is under the general supervision of the City Attorney or his designee. N d d O a O O N U G © O a U N d 0 0 m m m R m a 0 c 9 N C W m C N O _T U c d E L U R Q Ed/JobD=npIions/Par kgaI.Jab 2 Packet Pg. 358 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO UNCLASSIFIED PERSONNEL ACTION LIST FOR COUNCIL AGENDA OF: March 19,2012 Certification by Director of Human Resources: I hereby certify that the Unclassified personnel Action(s) listed below conform with all personnel policies adopted by the Mayor and Common Council and are in conformance with all administrative regulations of the City of San Bernardino and the personnel policies and procedures of the Community Development Commission and Economic Development Agency. Sign: l U t Date. 0311912012 UNCLASSIFIED ACTIONS. MOTION: In addition to the classified actions, below is a list of unclassified personnel actions(s), submitted by the Director of Human Resources, which comply with City, Community Development Commission and Economic Development Agency policies and procedures. I recommend that the Mayor and Common Council approve the below listed personnel action(s). NAME/DEPARTMENT REQUESTED ACTION 1. Kirby,Jennifer APPOINTMENT: City Attorney Paralegal (U); Range 3480; Step 1 - $4,864/mo. Proposed Salary(40%) $52,531 Benefits $24,156 Total Proposed SalaryBene $76,687 Entered Ito Rec at MCCI= W9•� �2 Employee is participating in 10% employee concession. by' Effective 03/20/12 AAend P�eMO::by, dy CieSecretary CBy of San Bernardlno J�v