city attorney's office 2016 budget presentation

Nancy Isserlis

City AttorneyCity of SpokaneAugust 27, 2015

City Attorney’s Office

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Organization Chart

Chief Civil2016CIVIL16 FTE*Includes

Police Advisor and CEU Attorney.

City Prosecutor

2016 CRIMINAL

19 FTE

CITY ATTORNEYNancy Isserlis

2016 Budget: $4,292,810

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Operating Budget Summary

Civil2014

Budget2015

Budget2016

Prelim% Change (2015/201

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Wages & Benefits

$ 2,145,284

$ 2,320,449

$ 2,406,402

3.70%

Supplies & Services

$ 141,507 $ 134,155 $ 138,057 2.91%

Other $ 239 $ 0 $ 0 0%

Total $ 2,287,030

$ 2,454,604

$ 2,544,459

3.66%

# FTE’S 16 16 16 0%

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Operating Budget Summary

Criminal2014

Budget2015

Budget2016

Prelim%

Change (2015/20

16)

Wages & Benefits

$ 1,811,285

$ 1,700,697 $ 1,777,103 4.49%

Supplies & Services

$ 159,617 $ 159,617 $ 160,329 0.45%

Other $ 11,863 $ 11,100 $ 11,100 0%

Total $ 1,982,765

$ 1,871,414 $ 1,948,532 4.12%

# FTE’S 19 19 19 0%

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2016 Personnel Impact

Total # of FTE’s Impacted

0

Current Vacant Budgeted FTE’s

0

Additional FTE Cuts Anticipated to Balance 2016

0

* 1 project employee (Civil Service approved through September, 2017).

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Priorities for 2016

• Implementation of Family Justice Center Model. Three full time Prosecutors assigned to new DV unit housed at the YWCA. Increase evidence-based prosecution model.

• Cost Recovery Unit: Effective use of the litigation team to recover monies owed to the City (Attorney Fees, Subrogation, Claims such as Monsanto).

• Continue to Streamline Contracts Function: improved turn-around time; templates; cross-training.

• Emphasis on Domestic Violence, Public Records, Utilities and new Civil Enforcement Unit.

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Priorities for 2016

• Emphasis and prioritization of targeted prosecution in East Sprague, working closely with the Police Department.

• Align priorities, such as burgeoning Public Records Requests, by cross training and restructuring staff.

• City Prosecutor actively involved in the Spokane Regional Law & Justice Council, and implementation of Blueprint for Reform.

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Performance Measures

• Public Records turn around time: − Volume of Requests − Number of Installments − Lack of PRA Lawsuits and Judgments

• Contracts:− Efficient workflow− Improved minor contract templates− Utilities and Riverfront Park – increased volume of contracts due to bond/levy passage.

• Litigation:

− Reserves − Number of Cases − CRU

• Prosecutor Office Workflow

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Anything else?

• Relicensing Program at the Prosecutor’s Office continues to attract State and National Attention; Presentation to Supreme Court in September.

• Created Chief Ethics Compliance Officer to implement new City Ethics Code and, address compliance.

• Continued Full Time Police Department Advisor – total revamp of SPD policies, procedures (DOJ).

• Continue to responsibly manage risk and litigation.

• Utility Project Lawyer Concluded. Successful transition of Waste to Energy Facility November, 2014.

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Anything else?

• New Civil Enforcement Unit (transfer Senior Prosecuting Attorney to Civil to work with SPD) – good results obtained.

• Domestic Violence. Co-location with County prosecutors, DV advocates and law enforcement at the YWCA.

• Criminal Division replaced exiting senior staff (retirement, private, other) with newer attorneys at a cost savings.

• Possible Election Mandates.

• Reclaimed Water Rulemaking, Water Quality Issues, Water Resource/Deliver.