To: Sonoma County Board of Supervisors
Department or Agency Name(s): County Administrator’s Office
Staff Name and Phone Number: Marissa Montenegro (707) 565-3771
Vote Requirement: Majority
Supervisorial District(s): Countywide
Title:
Title
Memorandum of Understanding with Superior Court of California, Sonoma County Court
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Recommended Action:
Recommended action
Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to execute the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County and Superior Court of California for the provision of Court and County support services for the period July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028.
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Executive Summary:
The Board is requested to authorize the Chair to execute the Memorandum of Understanding with the Sonoma County Courts for the period of July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028. This agreement continues existing services with the addition of court archival storage services for a five-year term. The agreement includes services provided to the Courts by County Counsel, Information Systems Department, and Public Infrastructure and the Alternative Dispute Resolution Program that is managed by the Courts on behalf of the County. This agreement also includes the Court’s continued provision of the Tyler Odyssey Case Management System data sharing services with the County’s Justice Partners.
Discussion:
In 1997 the State Legislature passed the Lockyer-Isenberg Trial Court Funding Act, which provided state funding to local courts for “court operations.” The County’s maintenance of effort was set at the same level that County spent for court operations in FY 94-95. The Act provided that the courts and counties enter into written contracts on the use or provision of county services commencing in FY 99-00. These contracts are required to identify the scope of services, method of service delivery, terms of agreement, anticipated service outcomes and the costs of those services.
The following County departments provide as needed services to the Courts under this contract: County Counsel, Information Systems and Public Infrastructure. The following Court services are provided to the County under this contract: Administer and provide oversight for the County’s Alternative Dispute Resolution program. In January 2018, the Court and the County updated this agreement to include the Tyler Odyssey Case Management System.
Since 1995, the County’s administration building located at Los Guilicos had been used to house the official archives for the County of Sonoma, including Court archives. In 2021, the Glass Fire posed a direct threat to the Los Guilicos areas prompting the relocation of the archives to a safer location. On August 1, 2021, the County secured a location for storage of Court and other county archival documents until a permanent solution is identified.
Under this MOU, the County will continue to provide a location for long term storage of Court Archives to be stored with other County archives and the Court agrees to reimburse the County for the Court’s portion of lease costs.
This item seeks Board authorization for the Chair to execute the staff recommended Memorandum of Understanding between the County and Superior Court of California for the provision of Court and County support services from July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2028.
Strategic Plan:
N/A
Prior Board Actions:
6-11-18 Execution of Memorandum of Understanding between the County and Superior Court of California for the provision of support services for the period of July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2023.
1-09-18 Approval of Amendment to MOU to include the Court’s Odyssey Case Management System
11-17-2015 Approval of Memorandum of Understanding with the Courts for July 1, 2015-June 30, 2018
Fiscal Summary
Narrative Explanation of Fiscal Impacts:
Public Infrastructure cost to the Court and reimbursement to the County is estimated at $50,708 for facilities maintenance and $21,315 for archival costs; ISD services are estimated at $6,985 for the fiscal year; and County Counsel services are as needed.
Narrative Explanation of Staffing Impacts (If Required):
N/A
Attachments:
2023 Court and County Memorandum of Understanding
Exhibit A County Counsel
Exhibit B Public Infrastructure
Exhibit C Information Systems
Exhibit D Court Services
Related Items “On File” with the Clerk of the Board:
None