Title
Chief Administrative Office recommending the Board consider the following:
1) Approve and authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute Agreement 6563, pending revisions and approval by County Counsel and Risk Management, with the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado, for the provision of alternate dispute resolution services in an amount not to exceed $510,000 for a five-year period effective on July 1, 2022;
2) Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to execute future Amendments which do not affect the term or total not-to-exceed amount of the Agreement; and
3) Authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to designate a qualified person to function as the Dispute Resolution Program Coordinator.
FUNDING: Alternate Dispute Resolution Special Revenue Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
The Dispute Resolution Program Act of 1986 provides for the establishment and funding, at the County's option, of local dispute resolution programs. The goal of dispute resolution programs is to create a more effective and efficient dispute resolution process by offering less threatening and more flexible forums for persons of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
In July 2017, the Board approved and authorized the CAO to execute an agreement with the Superior Court of California, County of El Dorado, for the provision of alternate dispute resolution (ADR) services in an amount not to exceed $410,000 for a five-year period (reference Agenda File 12-1405). The agreement (#387) for the provision of said services will expire on June 30, 2022.
The proposed amendment will renew the ADR services until June 30, 2027.
Agreement #6563 will be reviewed and approved by County Counsel and Risk Management prior to execution by the CAO. Recommended changes by County Counsel and Risk Management will be incorporated into the agreement prior to execution.
ALTERNATIVES
The County could choose to sunset the contract, and not to continue to have an established ADR program afterward, resulting in fewer options for settling civil disputes. Alternatively, the Board could direct the competitive solicitation of ADR providers.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
See Discussion/Background above.
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
FINANCIAL IMPACT
All costs associated with this program are paid from Alternate Dispute Resolution Special Revenue Fund received by the County from the court filing fees and the El Dorado County Superior Court, so this request would not result in an impact to Net County Cost.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
N/A
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Good Governance
CONTACT
Sue Hennike