AGREEMENT RENEWAL FOR DISPUTE RESOLUTION SERVICES

FROM OCTOBER 1997 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 1998

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended by the Hermosa Beach Police Department that Council approve the renewal of the attached agreement between the City and Dispute Resolution Services and authorize the City Manager to sign the attached agreement.

BACKGROUND

Dispute Resolution Services has been servicing our community since October of 1995. The service provides alternative solutions to costly civil and criminal litigation through mediation between the parties. The primary goal of mediation is to assist people in the process of putting their dispute into manageable terms and help them arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution of their dispute. The South Bay office is housed inside our Community Center and administered by Program Coordinator, Lance Widman.

ANALYSIS

The City Prosecutor's office and the Police Department refer a majority of the cases and neighbor disputes. The service is very beneficial to our City Prosecutor, Ken Meersand. Non-criminal matters are routinely referred, thereby eliminating expensive legal costs and court time. Neighbors can resolve their differences through mediation not violence or the courts.

The Program Coordinator reports quarterly to the City a tally of cases handled. Year-end totals for 1996-97 are 24 cases completed, 120 information and referrals, 176 total persons served. The service has been well received by the community and there has been a steady rise in referrals.

Dispute Resolution Services program is a community response to community disputes between neighbors, businesses and very minor municipal code violations that can be better and more wisely resolved through friendly mediation instead of adversarial court proceedings

FISCAL IMPACT

Maximum of $5,000 during term of this agreement. To be billed quarterly, pending Council approval.

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