Title
Office of the Alternate Public Defender recommending the Board approve and authorize the Chair to execute agreements with attorneys Lori G. London and Kimberly G. Hunt for the provision of conflict defense services for the East Slope of El Dorado County (Tahoe Basin) for the period from October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 in the amount of $126,000 each, with the option to extend for the period from October 1, 2022 through September 30, 2023.
FUNDING: General Fund.
Body
DISCUSSION / BACKGROUND
In March 2021, the Board approved the Final Passage of Ordinance 5141 establishing the Office of the Alternate Public Defender. Per the item, the County will continue to contract for conflict defense services in the Tahoe Basin through the end of Fiscal Year 2022-23. The Alternate Public Defender will manage the contracted indigent defense services for the Tahoe Basin. During that time, the Alternate Public Defender will analyze and assess the service needs in the Tahoe Basin and determine how to best meet those needs.
ALTERNATIVES
Should the Board decline to execute the two agreements, the County would need to determine an alternate way to meet the constitutionally mandated legal defense needs on the East Slope of El Dorado County.
PRIOR BOARD ACTION
20-1606 - 01/26/2021: Board conceptually approved the creation of the Office of the Alternate Public Defender
21-0340 - 03/16/2021: Board authorized the establishment of the Office of the Alternate Public Defender
OTHER DEPARTMENT / AGENCY INVOLVEMENT
N/A
CAO RECOMMENDATION / COMMENTS
Approve as recommended.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Costs for services are included in the adopted budget for FY 2021-22 for the Office of the Alternate Public Defender.
CLERK OF THE BOARD FOLLOW UP ACTIONS
Obtain the Chair’s signature on each contract.
Route the executed agreements to CAO Fiscal, Attention Gina De Martini-Kuhns for further processing.
STRATEGIC PLAN COMPONENT
Public Safety, Good Governance
CONTACT
Elvira Lua-Ortiz, Alternate Public Defender