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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09- City Manager CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO - REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION From: Catherine Pritchett, Management Subject: Resolution of the Mayor and Analyst Common Council of the City of San Bernardino authorizing an amendment to the Through: Charles McNeely, City Manager 2009 Professional Services Agreement with William Holt for Hearing Officer and/or Dept: City Manager's Office Administrative Law Officer services. Date: 10/19/2010 ORIGINAL Council Meeting Date: 11/1/10 Synopsis of Previous Council Action: December 7, 2009 - Resolution of the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino ratifying the execution of an agreement with William Holt for Hearing Officer and/or Administrative Law Officer services retroactive to December 1, 2009. December 7`h, 2007 - Adopted Resolution 2007-365 authorizing an amendment to a Professional Services Agreement with William Holt to provide hearing officer services November 7`h,2005-Council Adoptsed Resolution 2005-365 authorizing the execution of a Professional Services Agreement with William Holt to provide hearing officer services Recommended motion: Adopt resolution. �A LZ — Signature Contact person: Catherine Pritchett Phone: 384-5122 Supporting data attached: Staff report, resolution Ward: All FUNDING REQUIREMENTS: Amount: Estimated Cost $60,000 FY 10/11 Source: (Acct. No.) 001-092-5502 (Acct. Description)Non-departmental– professional/contractual services Finance: Council Notes: Agenda Item No. � I - pt-2ot0 i STAFF REPORT Subject: Resolution of the Mayor and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino authorizing an amendment to the 2009 Professional Services Agreement with William Holt for Hearing Officer and/or Administrative Law Officer services. Background: In 1993, the Mayor and Common Council adopted MC-1148 adding Chapter 9.92 to the San Bernardino Municipal Code (SBMC) to establish an Administrative Citation Process for Code Enforcement Violations. Section 9.92 also established the Administrative Law Officer position. On May 22, 2008, MC-1268 went into effect, adding Chapter 9.93, instituting Administrative Civil Penalties (ACPs) for Municipal Code violations. This penalty, up to $1,000 per day per violation of the SBMC, was designed to be used as an additional enforcement tool to address more egregious violations to the municipal code. SBMC 9.93 also created an Administrative Hearing Officer position. This position is identical to that of the Administrative Law Officer position identified in Section 9.92. In May of 2008, the Mayor and Common Council amended Section 9.92 to state that the appointment, qualifications, disqualifications and powers of the Administrative Law Officer shall be the same as those provided for the Administrative Hearing Officer as stated in SBMC 9.93. In 2002, a California Supreme Court decision (Haas v. County of San Bernardino, 27 Cal. 4`h 1017) recommended municipalities to consider a series of changes with regard to the use of hearing officers in order to insulate the City from potential legal challenges. Of those suggestions was the length of an officer's term, as well as a rotation of hearings. Currently, hearings for Administrative Citations are rotated between two Hearing Officers; Mr. William Holt and Mr. Palmer. At the City Attorney's request, ACP hearings are only heard by Mr. Holt. Mr. Holt began hearing ACP appeal cases in August of2008 Section 9.93.090 of the SBMC states the term of an Administrative Hearing Officer shall be three years. At the conclusion of Mr. Holt's current Professional Services Agreement (dated December of 2009) Mr. Holt will have served two years and four months of the three year term, resulting in an eight month residual in his tenure. The City Attorney's Office was consulted, and it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the City to continue William Holt's services for an additional eight months to complete the required three year term The hourly rate for services will continue to be $200.00 per hour, not including commute time. Additionally, Mr. Holt has agreed to continue his 5% compensation reduction. All other terms of the agreement are to remain the same. Staff recommends adding the topic of Hearing Officers to the agenda to be discussed during the upcoming ACP workshop to examine the possibility of contracting with an outside agency to assist with this and other aspects of the City's Code Enforcement process, including data entry, noticing, information sharing and accessibility and revenue collection. The cost to contract out these services may possibly be less than the amount currently spent on Hearing Officers and City staff time needed to perform these duties. Holt—2009 Hearing Officer Page 1 of 2 Financial Impact: In FY 09/10 staff budgeted $100,000 in the General Government account to fund Mr. Holt for hearing officer/administrative officer services. It is anticipated that an additional $60,000 will be needed to fund these services over the next eight months. There is no set Purchase Order amount. The total cost to the City each year depends upon the actual number hearings preformed. Recommendation: Adopt Resolution. Holt—2009 Hearing Officer Page 2 of 2 1 RESOLUTION NO. a ® 2 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2009 PROFESSIONAL 3 SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WILLIAM HOLT FOR HEARING OFFICER 4 AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE LAW OFFICER SERVICES. 5 WHEREAS, William Holt began providing Administrative Hearing Officer services to 6 the City of San Bernardino in August, 2008; and 7 WHEREAS, in 2009 the City of San Bernardino entered into a Professional Services 8 Agreement, attached as Exhibit A, with William Holt to provide Hearing Officer and 9 Administrative Law Officer services; and 10 WHEREAS,the term of the 2009 Agreement expires on November 30, 2010; and WHEREAS, Section 9.93.090 states that the term of the Administrative Hearing Il 12 Officer shall be for a period of three years; and WHEREAS, it has been determined that it is in the best interest of the City to continue 13 William Holt's services for an additional eight months to complete the required three year term. 14 WHEREAS, William Holt will be ineligible to be retained in this capacity by the City 15 of San Bernardino for a period of 12 consecutive months following the conclusion of this 16 Agreement. 17 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE 18 CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AS FOLLOWS: 19 SECTION 1. Section 1 of the 2009 Administrative Services Agreement is hereby 20 amended to read as follows: 21 "Section 1: THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ("CITY") and 22 WILLIAM HOLT are the parties to this Agreement. The term of the Agreement 23 shall commence on December 1, 2009 and expire on July 31, 201 l." 24 SECTION 2. All other terms and conditions contained in the original Services 25 Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. 26 SECTION 3. The authorization to extend the above-referenced agreement is rescinded 27 if the parties to the agreement fail to execute it within sixty (60) days of the passage of this 28 resolution. --tAn 19 1 RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO AUTHORIZING AN AMENDMENT TO THE 2009 PROFESSIONAL 2 SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH WILLIAM HOLT FOR HEARING OFFICER AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE LAW OFFICER SERVICES. 3 4 I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was duly adopted by the Mayor 5 and Common Council of the City of San Bernardino at a meeting thereof, held on the 6 day of , 2010,by the following vote, to wit: 7 Council Members: AYES NAYS ABSTAIN ABSENT 8 MARQUEZ 9 DESJARDINS 10 BRINKER 11 12 SHORETT 13 KELLEY 14 JOHNSON 15 MCCAMMACK 16 17 City Clerk 18 19 The foregoing resolution is hereby approved this day of , 2010. 20 21 Patrick J. Morris Mayor 22 City of San Bernardino 23 Approved as to form: 24 25 City Attorney 26 27 28 "Exhibit"A" PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT 1. THE CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO ("CITY") and WILLIAM HOLT are the parties to this Agreement. The term of the Agreement is for a fixed period of one (1) year, commencing December 1, 2009 and expiring November 30, 2010. 2. CITY may terminate this Agreement only upon WILLIAM HOLT'S inability or refusal to conduct hearings and render decisions or his failure to maintain his good standing and active status with the State Bar of California. CITY shall have no other right to terminate this Agreement. WILLIAM HOLT may terminate this Agreement at any time by thirty (30) days written notice. 3. WILLIAM HOLT will be acting as an independent hearing officer and administrative law officer. WILLIAM HOLT will be hearing those matters specified by the Municipal Code which the City Manager or other City Official may delegate to a hearing officer or administrative law officer. 4. WILLIAM HOLT will be paid at the rate of$200.00 per hour for preparation, conduct of hearings, and signing of orders. The hourly rate includes overhead expenses such as telephone, photocopy, postage, mileage and related costs. No travel expenses will be paid. WILLIAM HOLT has agreed to continue the 5% compensation reduction; this reduction will be reflected on the monthly invoices. 5. Bills shall be submitted monthly. 6. Support staff for hearings shall be provided by the City of San Bernardino. All hearings shall be held in the CITY at City Hall. 7. Any written notice required to be given under this Agreement will be provided at the following addresses: 2009 Agreement—Holt Page 1 of 4 1) CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO CITY MANAGER—6th Floor 300 North"D" Street San Bernardino, California 92418 2) WILLIAM HOLT Post Office Box 6040 Fullerton, California 92834 8. WILLIAM HOLT is an independent contractor to the CITY. 9. WILLIAM HOLT shall maintain the following type of insurance with limits as shown: a) Workers Compensation as required by the laws of the State of California, if applicable, including Employment Liability with $250,000 limits covering all persons providing service on behalf of WILLIAM HOLT and all risks to such persons under this Agreement. WILLIAM HOLT shall require his Workers Compensation carrier to waive all rights of subrogation against the CITY, and its elected officers, officials boards, commissions, attorneys, employees and agents and any others for whom services are being provided under this Agreement. b) Automobile Liability Insurance coverage to include contractual coverage and automobile coverage for owned, hired and non-owned vehicles. C) Professional liability insurance with limits of at least $1,000,000 per claim. All policies with respect to the insurance coverage above required, except for the Workers Compensation insurance coverage, shall obtain additional endorsements naming the CITY, its 2 elected officers, officials, boards, commissions, attorneys, employees and agents under this Agreement as additional named insured with respect to liabilities arising out of the performance of services hereunder. WILLIAM HOLT shall furnish certificates of insurance and certified copies of all policies and endorsements to the Risk Management Division of the City's Human Resources Department evidencing the insurance coverage above required prior to the commencement of performance of services hereunder, which certificates shall provide that such insurance shall not be terminated or expire without thirty (30) days written notice to the Risk Management Division, and shall maintain such insurance from the time WILLIAM HOLT commences performance of services hereunder until the completion of such services. All policies required above are to be primary and non-contributing with any insurance or self-insurance programs carried or administered by the CITY or other parties represented under this Agreement. 10. All decisions after hearings shall be directed by WILLIAM HOLT to the City Manager or the City Manager's designee,for service on the parties to the hearing. 11. CITY agrees to indemnify and defend WILLIAM HOLT for any liability imposed by law on WILLIAM HOLT as a result of any act or omission arising out of, or performed under, his Hearing Officer duties and responsibilities under this Agreement. Any indemnification of punitive or exemplary damages shall require the findings set forth in Government Code §825 (b)by the City Council. 12. WILLIAM HOLT will indemnify and defend (if requested by CITY) the CITY for any act or omission except those in paragraph 11, including, without limitation, travel to and from the CITY. 3 13. WILLIAM HOLT agrees to be available to hold hearings at least two (2) days per month at City Hall. The hearings shall be held on days that City Hall is open to the public and at times specified by the CITY, unless changed by mutual agreement of the parties. WILLIAM HOLT will be available for a full day of hearings on days scheduled for hearing. CITY OF SAN BERNARDINO Dated: Patrick J. Morris, Mayor City of San Bernardino Dated: WILLIAM HOLT Approved as to form: By: (��iCx James F. Penman City Attorney 4