HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03182008 - C.61 f sr
TO: �• BOARD OF SUPERVISORS '`�,== ` =�'•`: Contra
FROM: JOHN CULLEN, County Administrator Costa
DATE: JAN UARY 7`I', 2008 •:; =-_ �r County
SUBJECT: APPROVE COUNTY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROGRAM CONTRACTS FOR 2008
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 the calendar year 2008:
A2enev Service Catepory Amount
.Center for Human Development General Dispute Resolution $ 55,000
Guardianship Mediation 30,000
S 85,000
Congress of Neutrals Small Claims/Unlawful Detainer/
Civil Harassment Mediation S 95,000
General Dispute Resolution 20,000
$115,000
TOTAL $200,000
FISCAL IMPACT
No County Costs. Program costs offset by$8.00 tiling fee on civil actions filed in the Superior Court.
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 local dispute resolution programs.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: ® YES SIGNATURE:
[RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR ❑ RECOMMENDATI N OF BOARD COMMITTEE
[j�-APPROVE ❑ OTHER
r
SIGNATURE(S): "" "" � pp
ACTION OF BO R .ON AAV"-
APPROVED A .ECOMMENDED 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
AYES: NOES: SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED: 'AAA-c . d
JOHN CULLEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Contact: TIMOTHY EWELL-CAO (5-1036) SUPERVI RS AND COUNTY ADMINIS TOR
cc: CAO(ENEA& EWELL)
Dispute Resolution Advisory Committee(Ewell) By' y
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January 7�h, 2008
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 (4) applications in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP)
issued on October 24, 2006 for two calendar years (2007 & 2008). 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 Matter. Mediations will be held.in'the Martinez
Family Law Building. Services include referral, telephone conciliation, and mediation. ($30,000)
Congress of Neutrals.-$115,000
Small Claims/Civil Harassment/Unlawful Detainer Mediation for all braches 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. In 2008, this program
aims to work with court officers in Civil and Limited Civil hearings to offer dispute resolution services prior to the hearing
beginning. ($20,000)