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TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: The Law Department
DATE: July 1, 2019
SUBJECT:
Approval of a contract for the services of Attorney Victor Puscas as an administrative hearing officer.
PURPOSE:
To retain the services of Attorney Victor Puscas as an administrative hearing officer.
BACKGROUND:
Attorney Victor Puscas serves as the City's primary administrative hearing officer. In this capacity, he is responsible for presiding over most of the City's administrative hearings, including red light camera and code violations.
In previous years, the Law Department and the Police Department have separately contracted for the administrative hearing officer's services. As was the case in the last budget cycle with the City's DUI Prosecutor, the Law Department will be assuming responsibility for contracting with and compensating the hearing officer going forward.
DISCUSSION:
Mr. Puscas is well regarded by staff and has an excellent temperament when interacting with the public. Because Mr. Puscas does not represent the City as special counsel, City Council approval is necessary for the procurement of his professional services at the rate of two thousand nine hundred and 00/100 dollars ($2,900.00) per month. The contract will remain in effect until terminated at the option of the City or Mr. Puscas upon thirty (30) days notice.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
Approval of this resolution will consolidate the City's contracts with Attorney Puscas and allow the administrative hearing programs to continue without interruption. It will also allow the City to consolidate its two existing (and soon-to-expire) agreements with Mr. Puscas into one agreement.
The City has budgeted for these services in accounts 101-3536-421.32-19 (Police), $6,000 and 101-1102-419.32-19 (Law), $184,000.
It is the Law Department's intention to request that the Council consolidate these budget items in the next annual budget.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the Council approve the attached resolution.
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