HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07082008 - C.94 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ���� ` ��;,, Contra
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FROM: JOHN CULLEN, County Administrator Costa
DATE: July 8, 2008
COUK C o u n t Y
SUBJECT: CONTRACT AMENDMENT WITH CONTRA COSTA COUNTY RAR ASSOCIATION
FOR LEGAL REPRESENTATION OF INDIGENTS
AL
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to execute a contract amendment
with the Contra Costa County Bar Association to increase the payment limit by $1,000,000 to a new
payment limit of$4,725,000 to provide mandated legal services for the period July 1, 2007 through June 30,
2008.
FISCAL IMPACT
$1,000,000; 100% General Fund
BACKGROUND
The County Administrator's Office has worked with the Contra Costa County Bar Association to revise
fiscal and statistical reporting requirements for the fiscal year 2008/09 and 2009/10 contract period
approved by your Board on 6/24/08, Item C.83. It is essential to transition the contractor from cash to
accrual basis accounting to provide the most accurate picture of expenses during the monthly
billing/reporting process. This contract amendment makes a financial provision for all outstanding claims to
be made by the contractor and paid by the County during the fiscal year 2007/08 contract period.
Since 1983, the County has contracted with the Contra Costa County Bar Association for legal
representation of indigents. The original contract was in response to the escalating cost of conflict defense
services under the old system of court-appointed counsel. Subsequently, in FY 1991-92, the Public
Defender created an Alternate Defender's office to handle conflict cases in which the Alternate Defender's
Office can only handle one co-defendant. The contract with the Bar Association for conflict defense
services includes only the costs associated with representing criminal and delinquency cases referred to the
Bar Association through a written affidavit conflict by the Public Defender and the Alternate Defender
Office.
CONSEQUENCES OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The contractor will remain on a cash basis accounting system, which will make tracking actual legal service
expenditures by case type for a given month close to impossible. This will prevent the County from
tracking critical, statistical information that could have a significant fiscal impact on the County General
Fund.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ® YES SIGNATURE: O -
® RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ❑ RECOMMENDATIO OF BOARD COMMITTEE
® APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOA N a\44 % I �
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED ® OTHER ❑
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
X ( �� ) N TAKEN AND
ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OFCORRECT COPY OF AN T HE BOARD OF
UNANIMOUS ABSENT
SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
AYES:_ NOES:
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED: July 8,2008
Contact: TIM EWELL(5-1036) JOHN CULLEN,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: CAO (DRISCOLL, ENEA, EWELL)
AUDITOR-CONTROLLER ByJACO— , Deputy