HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 12192006 - C.97 TQ: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra
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FROM: JOHN CULLEN
County Administrator v+ry:" -4 Costa
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DATE: December 19, 2006 °SrA �sUx Count Y
SUBJECT: REPORT ON COUNTY'S DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM C ,�
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the County Administrator, or designee, to execute contracts with the
following agencies for the Dispute Resolution Program for calendar year 2007:
Agency Service Category Amount
Center for Human Development General Dispute Resolution $ 55,000
Guardianship Mediation 30,000
Total $ 85,000
The Congress of Neutrals Small Claims/Unlawful Detainer/
Civil Harassment Mediation $ 95,000
General Dispute Resolution 20,000
Total $115,000
TOTAL $200,000
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
The Dispute Resolution Program is fully revenue offset by funds generated from an eight dollar filing fee
on civil actions in the Superior Court. No County general funds are involved.
BACKGROUND:
The Dispute Resolution Program Act of 1986 (Business and Professional Code Sections 465, et seq.)
provided for the establishment and funding, at County option, of local dispute resolution services as an
alternative to formal court proceedings. The Act authorized participating counties to increase Superior,
Municipal and Justice Courts filing fees from one to three dollars for the purpose of funding the local
dispute resolution programs.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ® YES SIGNATURE:
® RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ❑ MMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
® APPROVE ❑ OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
a'.
ACTION OF B A ON / aMI -00
APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED ® OTHER ❑
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS: I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND
CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN AND
UNANIMOUS (ABSENT ) ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
AYES: NOES:
ABSENT: ABST IN: ATTESTED3t619�
T) j P,,, ,
Contact: Jennifer Deadman 335-1057 JOHN CULLEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
cc: CAO-Jennifer Deadman
County Dispute Resolution
Advisory Committee
By: DC7 Deputy
r
Page Two (2)
December 19, 2006
On January 1, 1987, the Board approved the County's participation in the program and authorized a
three dollar increase in court filing fees. The Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee was created by the
Board to consider implementation strategies and funding guidelines appropriate for Contra Costa County.
From 1989 through 1998, the Advisory Committee solicited proposals for funding under the Dispute
Resolution Programs Act of 1986. The purpose of the funding is to encourage the establishment and use
of local dispute resolution services as an alternative to formal court proceedings. The program operates
under the provisions of the Dispute Resolution Programs Act.
In 1998, the State reissued the California Dispute Resolution Program Act and authorized counties to
allocate up to $8.00 from filing fees to generate new revenues for these local programs. Effective January
1, 1999, the dispute resolution portion of the civil filing fee in Contra Costa County increased from $3.00
to $8.00. The increase was approved by the Board of Supervisors pursuant to a request by the Superior
Court.
The Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee received four (4) applications in response to a Request for
Proposals issued on October 24, 2006. The Committee met on December 4, 2006, to consider funding
of the County's dispute resolution programs. The Advisory Committee voted to fund two agencies at the
specified levels.
The following is a brief description of each program:
Center for Human Development - $85,000
General Dispute Resolution — Community Mediation Project will provide mediation and conciliation to
landlords and tenants, consumers and merchants, neighbors, public agencies, citizen groups, families,
animal disputes, family transition, and organizations. Specialty services include group facilitation,
mediator training, real estate mediation, conflict resolution skills training for agencies, and business
mediation and consultation. ($55,000)
Guardianship Mediation will continue to offer mediation services with a panel of two mediators to
clients referred by the Courts for resolution of child custody and visitation issues in Guardianship
Matters. Mediations will be held in the Martinez Family Law Building. Services include referral,
telephone conciliation, and mediation. ($30,000)
The Congress of Neutrals - $115,000
Small Claims/Civil Harassment/Unlawful Detainer Mediation for all branches of the Superior Court; to
improve court efficiency; assist court staff and reduce court caseload. Introduce disputants to the
principles of conciliation and negotiated settlement; mediations will be done at the court, prior to the
court hearing and/or on the day of the court hearing. The Congress will recruit and train community
volunteers, certified law students and attorneys as mediators. This project will continue the Superior
Court's high quality of Alternative Dispute Resolution and conflict management programs. ($95,000)
General Dispute Resolution — Pilot Project will provide certified law student and volunteer mediators to
assist the Small Claims advisor in the community, to provide information, assistance and case
development for mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution in the community, and where requested,
to provide mediations for said litigants. ($20,000)
(DISPUTE2007.BO)