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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 8.4 Secure Legal Services JPA (2) CITY OF DUBLIN AGENDA STATEMENT CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: February 25, 1991 SUBJECT: Joint Powers Agreement to Secure Legal Services: SB 2557 Fees (Prepared by: Paul S. Rankin, Assistant City Manager) EXHIBITS ATTACHED: Letter dated February 8, 1991 from Chief of Police City of San Leandro , Draft Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the Mayor to execute the JPA on behalf of the City of Dublin. The Final Agreement shall be substantially in the form of the Draft Agreement presented. FINANCIAL STATEMENT: The City may potentially save one-half of the estimated $79, 400 booking fees. The actual share of the City's cost will be affected by the number of parties entering into the JPA. The estimated cost is $276 - $600. The expense will be recorded in the City Attorney's Budget for Litigation. DESCRIPTION: In January, the Alameda County Board of Supervisors enacted fees in accordance with SB 2557. This legislation was enacted by the State of California in an effort to compensate counties for the fact that full funding was not provided in Fiscal Year 1990-91 for State mandated programs. SB 2557 authorized the collection of Property Tax administration fees, as well as Jail Booking Fees. The City Council has consistently objected to the collection of these fees and has supported legislation to repeal the law and provide a replacement revenue source. The Alameda County Managers Association has discussed the issue and recognizes that all of the cities have issues related to the legality of the action taken by the Board of Supervisors. The primary issues are identified on page one of the cover letter from the San Leandro Police Chief. The City of Dublin would only be involved in the first issue since the City does not book prisoners at a City jail and does not have a Redevelopment Agency. This issue involves whether it is legal to retroactively charge booking fees, since SB 2557 was not effective until January 1 , 1991 . Staff had previously estimated the annual cost at $79, 400. If the City prevails, there would be a one time savings of $39, 700 for Fiscal Year 1990-91 . The proposed Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) provides a mechanism for a single legal action to be filed and the development of a cost sharing formula. The proposed agreement provides that 20% of the legal costs would be associated with the "retroactivity" issue, which is of interest to the City of Dublin. It has been proposed that this cost be shared based on the agency's assessed valuation (A.V. ) as a percentage of the total A.V. for all participating agencies. In order to provide for the Administration of the legal action, the agreement identifies the establishment of an Administrative Committee. The Committee consists of the City Managers from: Oakland, Piedmont, and Pleasanton; the Police Chief from San Leandro; and the Finance Director from Fremont. The Committee was formed to have representation from agencies which had different interests. The Committee ---------------------------------------------------------------------- COPIES TO: Robert J. P. Maginnis San Leandro Chief of Police ITEM N0. //7 , & / will also be responsible for the selection of legal counsel to bring forth the suit. The Agreement also anticipates that all agencies will deposit monies, billed by the County for the subject fees, into an escrow account or similar fund. The monies would be distributed to either the County or the cities depending on a final judgment or settlement. Due to the fact that the City of Dublin would only have an interest in a minor issue, it is anticipated that the City's cost would be $276 as shown in Exhibit A to the Draft Agreement. The actual cost will be affected by the number of participants and the extent of the litigation. Based on preliminary indications of interest from Staff members at other agencies it does not appear that the costs to the City of Dublin would exceed $600. The City may terminate its involvement in the case upon 15 days written notice. Several legal challenges to SB 2557 actions have been initiated throughout the State. Senator Boatwright has introduced a bill which would repeal the legislation and provide replacement funding. The initiation of lawsuits may also serve to send a message to the State Legislature that there are significant problems with the law they adopted. Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the Mayor to execute the JPA, substantially in the form presented in the Draft Agreement. As a "Draft" there may be minor changes and a need to clearly identify the participants. Due to time limits in filing a legal claim, City Council action is required prior to the development of the final Joint Powers Agreement. However, it is not anticipated that the changes will be of a significant nature. a:ssb2557.doc.agenda#4 City of San Leandro Civic Center, 835 E.14th Street San Leandro, California 94577 February 8, 1991 C C C 1 V C a FEB 19 iy°1 Richard Ambrose, City Manager ."ITY () : DUSUN City of Dublin P. 0. Box 2340 Dublin, CA 94566 Dear Mr. Ambrose: The Alameda County Managers Association met on February 4, regarding the jail booking fees issues as created by the County of Alameda's adoption of SB 2557. After some discussion the consensus was to seek remedy in the State Court over three issues: 1. Is the retroactive clause for booking fees back to July 1, 1990, allowable, or is retroactivity in conflict with existing law. 2. Is the "remand" fee or partial booking fee, as it applies to those cities with jails and booking facilities, the true intent of the law. 3. Redevelopment agency to pay for tax collections--is this the intention of this Bill . As one or more of these issues impacts all of us in Alameda County, the Managers Association has directed me to ask all cities to join together and carry this matter into the Court for a third-party resolution. In addition, the Association has appointed a subcommittee of City Managers from Oakland, Piedmont, Pleasanton and the Finance Director from Fremont, of which I chair, to select an attorney to handle this matter. Should you have any specific attorney or firm in mind for this, please forward your recommendations to me. The next important step is to ask each city for commitment. I would seek your quick action as the matter must be submitted before the Court by March 15, 1991 . I have taken the liberty of enclosing a sample draft of a Joint Powers Agreement, (JPA) , which was prepared by Elizabeth Silver of Meyers, Nave, Riback and West, City Attorneys for the City of San Leandro, that outlines the issues in question. As soon as your City commits, please forward a copy of your Council 's authorizing action to me. Should not all cities authorize in joining this suit, the final JPA will be modified and participating cities will be billed accordingly. _.. .�. Dave Karp, Mayor _...._�. _..� _.._.. ro� ....._.. City Council: Ellen M. Corbett; John E. Faria; Bob Glaze; Linda Perry; Julian P. Polvorosa; Anthony B. Santos; Dick Randall, City Manager February 8, 1991 Page #2 Again, an attorney will be chosen to handle our case and his or her work must begin prior to the target date of March 15, 1991. Thus your timely response is appreciated. Should you have any questions, please feel free to call me at 577-3251. Sincerely, IA-v ) C - " , Robert J. P. Ma in 's Chief of Police cc: Chiefs of Police Alameda County BARTD East Bay Regional Parks D R A F T t A F T JOINT POWERS AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG SEVERAL PUBLIC AGENCIES OF THE COUNTY OF ALAMEDA 1. Parties. This Joint Powers Agreement, dated , 1991, for the purpose of reference only, is entered into pursuant to Government Code section 6502 by and among the following public agencies: City of Alameda City of Livermore Redevelopment Agency of Redevelopment Agency of the City of Alameda the City of Livermore City of Albany City of Newark City of Berkeley City of Oakland Redevelopment Agency of Redevelopment Agency of the City of Berkeley the City of Oakland City of Dublin City of Piedmont City of Emeryville City of Pleasanton Redevelopment Agency of City of San Leandro the City of Emeryville Redevelopment Agency of City of Fremont the City of San Leandro Redevelopment Agency of City of Union City the City of Fremont Redevelopment Agency of City of Hayward the City of Union City Redevelopment Agency of Bay Area Rapid Transit District the City of Hayward East Bay Regional Park District 2 . Recitals. Each party to this Agreement is a municipal corporation or public district duly authorized and existing under the laws of the State of California, and situated wholly or partially within the boundaries of the County of Alameda. Each party has the power to sue and be sued in its own name. A dispute has arisen between the Parties and the County of Alameda regarding booking fees imposed by the County of Alameda and/or the fee charged by Alameda County for property tax administration. The Parties believe that Alameda County has improperly imposed booking fees. Certain of the Parties believe that Alameda County has improperly imposed property tax administration fees. The Parties, therefore, desire to pursue their common goal by filing suit against the County of Alameda. Page 1 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\jpa.ehs All of the Parties desire to resolve the legality of the retroactivity of the property tax administrative fee and the retroactivity and method of enactment of the booking fees and to that end all of the Parties will agree to share 20% of the cost of litigation, the estimated percentage of the litigation costs attributable to the retroactivity issue and the issue of the method of enactment of the booking fee. Some of the Parties, those cities which book prisoners in their own jails or by contract with the City of Oakland, desire to resolve the legality of the "partial booking fee" imposed by Alameda County and to that end those Parties, identified in paragraph 8b below, will agree to share 60% of the cost of litigation, the estimated percentage of the litigation costs attributable to the issue of the legality of the partial booking fee. The Parties hereto which are redevelopment agencies desire to resolve the legality of the property tax administration fee and to that end agree to share 20% of the cost of the litigation, the estimated percentage of the litigation costs attributable to the issue of the legality of the property tax administration fee for redevelopment agencies. 3 . Purpose. The purpose of this Agreement is to provide for the efficient resolution of the Parties ' common legal claim. Although each Party has the right to bring similar litigation separately in its own name, the resulting litigation by all the Parties would be duplicative and, in some cases, prohibitively costly.. Through this Agreement the Parties desire to set forth the terms and conditions under which one action may be maintained on behalf of all Parties; to provide for the management and direction of such litigation; to provide for the allocation of litigation expenses; and to set forth various other matters relating to the prosecution of the Parties ' claims against the County of Alameda. 4 . No Separate Agency Created. The Parties do not intend to create a separate public agency through this Agreement, and no provision of this Agreement should be so constructed. 5 . Authorization to File Suit. By execution of this Agreement, each party authorizes and directs that a claim be filed, if appropriate, and thereafter suit be filed and diligently pursued, in the names of the Parties, against the County of Alameda, its Board of Supervisors and such administra- tive officers as may be appropriate, for the general purpose of insuring the proper imposition of booking fees and property tax administration fees by the County of Alameda as those fees affect the respective Parties. Page 2 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\1Pa.ehs 6. Administration of Agreement. The administration of the activities called for in this Agreement is delegated to and vested in an Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee shall be comprised of: The City Manager of the City of Oakland, The City Manager of the City of Piedmont, The City Manager of the City of Pleasanton, The Police Chief of the City of San Leandro, and The Finance Director of the City of Fremont. Each member of the Administrative Committee shall be, at all times, an officer or employee of a Party to this Agree- ment. If any member ceases to be an officer or employee of a Party, or if the member' s agency ceases to be a Party to this Agreement, a new member shall be promptly selected in the same manner as the original member. The Administrative Committee shall select a chairperson and shall keep all Parties informed of the composition of the committee. The Administrative Committee is authorized and directed, on behalf of all Parties, to perform all acts necessary or desirable to execute and administer this Agreement including, , but not limited to: selecting and retaining legal counsel; providing day-to-day management and direction of the litigation, including the right to determine all matters of tactics and strategy on which legal counsel requests direction; authorizing, evaluating and monitoring legal expenses; and conducting settlement negotiations, if any, provided that any proposed settlement agreement shall require the unanimous consent of all agencies then Party to the Agreement. 7 . Accounting Services. The Finance Director of the City of Fremont shall provide accounting services for all payments and receipts required by the terms of this Agreement, and shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all funds paid by or to the Parties to this Agreement. 8 . Obligations of the Parties. Each Party to this Agreement shall: a. Pay, upon demand, its "appropriate share" of all expenses incurred in the performance of activities called for by this Agreement. Page 3 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\JPa•ehs b. The "appropriate share" of each Party shall be calculated as follows: (i) Twenty percent (20%) of all expenses shall be apportioned among all of the Parties listed below with each Party bearing the same percentage of those expenses which that Party' s share of assessed valuation for FY 1990-91 bears to the assessed valuation of all Parties to the Agreement for FY 1990-91. For the purpose of apportioning 20% of all expenses incurred under this Agreement, the Parties agree that the following table attached as Exhibit A accurately reflects the parties to this Agreement subject to this subparagraph, the assessed valuation for FY 1990-91 of each Party, the assessed valuation of all Parties for FY 1990-91, and the percent of each Party' s assessed valuation with respect to the assessed valuation of all parties. The East Bay Regional Park District and the Bay Area Rapid Transit District shall each pay $800 which shall reduce the amout to be paid by the cities above if such districts ratify this Agreement. (ii) Sixty percent (60%) of all expenses shall be apportioned among all of the following Parties with each such Party bearing the same percentage of those expenses which that Party' s bookings for 1990 bears to the bookings of all parties to the Agreement for 1990. For the purpose of apportioning 60% of all expenses incurred under this Agreement, the Parties agree that the following table accurately reflects the Parties to this Agreement who are sharing the cost of 60% of all expenses, the bookings of each Party for 1990, the total bookings of all such Parties for 1990, and the percent of each such Party' s bookings with respect to the bookings of all Parties: Bookings city 1990 Percent of Total Alameda Berkeley Emeryville Fremont Hayward Piedmont Oakland San Leandro Totals 100. 0 Page 4 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\JPa.ehs (iii) Twenty percent (20%) of all expenses shall be apportioned among he following Parties with each such Party bearing the same percentage of those expenses which that Party' s estimate of property tax administration costs for FY 1990-91 bears to the total property tax administration costs for FY 1990- 91 for all redevelopment agencies. For the purpose of appor- tioning 20% of all expenses incurred under this Agreement, the following Parties agree that the table attached as Exhibit B accurately reflects the Parties to this Agreement subject to this subparagraph who are sharing the cost of 20% of all expenses, the estimate of property tax administration costs for FY 1990-91 of each such Party, the total property tax administration costs for FY 1990-91, and the percent of each such Party' s tax administration costs with respect to the total of all parties. In the event of termination by any Party to this Agreement, the Fremont Finance Director shall recalculate the appropriate share of each Party to the Agreement based upon the figures set forth above and shall notify each Party of the results of that recalculation. C. Upon execution of this Agreement, pay to the finance director serving on the Administrative Committee the total sum listed after the name of each Party, which sum represents each Party' s appropriate share of the first year' s estimated legal expenses: City/Agency Total City of Alameda $ Redevelopment Agency of the City of Alameda City of Albany City of Berkeley Redevelopment Agency of the City of Berkeley City of Dublin City of Emeryville Redevelopment Agency of the City of Emeryville City of Fremont Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fremont City of Hayward Redevelopment Agency of the City of Hayward City of Livermore Redevelopment Agency of the City of Livermore Page 5 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\1Pa.ehs City of Newark City of Oakland Redevelopment Agency of the City of Oakland City of Piedmont City of Pleasanton City of San Leandro Redevelopment Agency of the City of San Leandro City of Union City Redevelopment Agency of the City of Union City Bay Area Rapid Transit District 800 East Bay Regional Park District 800_ GRAND TOTAL $60, 000 d. Pay, upon demand, its appropriate share of litigation expenses which exceed the first year' s estimated expenses set forth under subparagraph c, above, or which are incurred after January 1, 1992 . All bills and invoices for expenses incurred pursuant to this Agreement shall be directed to the finance director serving on the Administrative Committee, who shall calculate the amount owed by each Party under the formula set forthin subsection b, above, and bill each Party accordingly. Bills .shall be prepared for each calendar quarter in which activity occurs and shall be payable immediately upon demand to the City employing the finance director serving on the Administrative Committee. Any funds remaining upon termination of this Agreement shall be returned to the Parties in proportion to each Party' s contribution to the total. 9 . Escrow of Fees. Each Party to this Agreement agrees to pay the amount of booking fees in dispute into a separate trust or escrow account or similar fund or account during the pendency of litigation on condition that the monies so paid will be disbursed to the County or returned to the Parties, as the case may be, upon final judgment or settlement. 10. Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall terminate as to any Party upon occurrence of any of the following conditions: Page 6 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\JPa.ehs a. Fifteen (15) days ' prior written notice of termination by any Party given to the then chairperson of the Administrative Committee; provided, however, that the terminating Party shall be liable for its appropriate share of any expenses incurred up to the date notice of termination is received which exceed the terminating Party's contribution under paragraph 7 .c. ; and provided further, that in no event shall a terminating Party be entitled to a refund of all or any part of its contribution made under paragraph 7 .c. b. Automatically, upon the failure of any Party to pay its appropriate share of litigation expenses within sixty (60) days of date of invoice. 11. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time upon the written approval of all parties to the Agreement. 12 . Notices. Except where this Agreement specifically provides otherwise, any notices to be sent to any Party shall be directed to the office of the city manager of the Party, with copies to the city managers of all Parties. Executed on , 1991, at , California by: CITY OF ALAMEDA ATTEST: By: BY: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney (Signatures continued on next page. ) Page 7 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\1pa.ehs REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF ALAMEDA ATTEST: By: By: Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney CITY OF ALBANY ATTEST: By: BY' Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney CITY OF BERKELEY ATTEST: By: BY= Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney (Signatures continued on next page) Page 8 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agreeU pa.ehs REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF BERKELEY ATTEST: By: By: Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney CITY OF DUBLIN ATTEST: By: By: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: f By: City Attorney CITY OF EMERYVILLE ATTEST: By: By: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney (Signatures continued on next page) Page 9 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\jpa.ehs REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF EMERYVILLE ATTEST: By: By: Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney CITY OF FREMONT ATTEST: By: By: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: 'i By: City Attorney REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF FREMONT ATTEST: By: By: Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney (Signatures continued on next page) Page 10 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\jpa.ehs CITY OF HAYWARD ATTEST: By: BY: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF HAYWARD ATTEST: By: BY= Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney CITY OF LIVERMORE ATTEST: By: BY= Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney (Signatures continued on next page) Page 11 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\JPa.ehs REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF LIVERMORE ATTEST: By: BY= Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney CITY OF NEWARK ATTEST: By: BY: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney CITY OF OAKLAND ATTEST: By: BY: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City -Attorney (Signatures continued on next page) Page 12 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\1Pa.ehs REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF OAKLAND ATTEST: By: BY: Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney CITY OF PIEDMONT ATTEST: By; By: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: Y' O y By: City Attorney CITY OF PLEASANTON ATTEST: By: BY: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney (Signatures continued on next page) Page 13 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\jpe.ehs CITY OF SAN LEANDRO ATTEST: By: BY: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY _ OF THE CITY OF SAN LEANDRO ATTEST: By: BY: Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: r By: Agency Attorney CITY OF UNION CITY ATTEST: By: BY: Mayor City Clerk APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: City Attorney (Signatures continued on next page) Page 14 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\1pa.ehs REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF THE CITY OF UNION CITY ATTEST: By: BY= Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney BAY AREA RAPID TRANSIT DISTRICT ATTEST: By: By: Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: r By: Agency Attorney EAST BAY REGIONAL PARK DISTRICT ATTEST: By: BY: Chairperson Secretary APPROVED AS TO FORM: By: Agency Attorney Page 15 of 15 February 8, 1991 136\agree\jpa.ehs Exhibit A I . ALLOCATION BASED ON ASSESSED VALUATION ASSESSED VALUATION COST CITY ( IN THOUSANDS) % ALLOCATION ------------ -------------- ---------- ------------- ALAMEDA x,343,917 5.62% 699 ALBANY 614,341 1.07% 128 BERKELEY 4 ,089,887 7. 127. 855 DUBLIN 1 ,5iB,227 2.30% L. EMERYVILLE 992,944 1.7:;% 206 FREMONT 11 , 142,382 19.41% 7,329 HAYWARD 5,406,796 9.42% 1,131 LIVERMORE 3,066,353 5.34% 641 NEWARK 2,010,885 3.50% 420 OAKLAND 13,621,060 23.72% 2,847 PIEDMONT 9073614 1.58% 190 PLEASANTON, 4,624 ,204 8.05% 967 SAN LEANDRO 3,900,488 6.79% : - 815 UNION CITY', 2,371 , 534 4.13% 496 57,412,632 100.00% 12,000 Exhibit B II. ALLOCATION BASED ON REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY COSTSI COUNTY ADMINISTRATION COST AGENCY FEES % ALLOCATION ALAMEDA 40,986 _ 6.03% 964 BERKELEY 6.700 - 1..70% 205 EMERYVILLE 74,715 14.64%. . 11757 FREMONT 56,653 11.10% 1,332 HAYWARD 2-71096 5.31'%. . 637 LIVERMORE 11,964 2.34'%. , 281 OAKLAND 263,285 , 51.58% 6,190 SAN LEANDRO 19,977 3.91'J. 470 UNION CITY 7,049 1.387. 166 -i- 5101425 100.00 12,000