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HomeMy WebLinkAboutContracts & Agreements_10-1991_CCv0001.pdf JOINT EXERCISE OF POWERS AGREEMENT BY AND AMONG THE CITIES OF THE COUNTY OF SAN BERNARDINO I. Parties. This Joint Exercise of Powers Agreement, dated March 19, 1991 for the purpose of reference only, is entered into pursuant to Government Code §6502 by and among the following public agencies: City of Adelanto City of Loma Linda City of Apple Valley City of Montclair City of Barstow City of Needles City of Big Bear Lake City of Ontario City of Chino City of Rancho Cucamonga City of Colton City of Redlands City of Fontana City of Rialto City of Grand Terrace City of San Bernardino City of Hesperia City of Twentynine Palms City of Highland City of Upland City of Loma Linda City of Yucaipa 2 . Recitals. Each Party to this agreement is a municipal corporation, duly authorized and existing under the laws of the State of California, and situated within the boundaries of the County of San Bernardino. As such, Government Code Section 34501 grants to each Party the power to sue and be sued in its own name. A dispute has arisen between the Parties and the County of San Bernardino regarding the validity and enforcement of County Ordinance No. 3428, which authorizes the County to impose and collect from cities a criminal justice fee for booking or other processing. The Ordinance further authorizes the County to collect delinquent fees through offset. The County has indicated its intention to impose and collect these fees from all Cities, including those cities which contract with the County for law enforcement services ("Contract Cities") . A large number of cities have expressed their opposition to the fees and have unsuccessfully requested the County to reconsider its position and to look for alternative sources for revenue. The Parties therefore desire to pursue their common goal by filing suit against the County of San Bernardino. 3. Purpose. The purpose of this agreement is to provide for the efficient resolution of the Parties' common legal claim. Although each Party has the right to bring similar litigation separately in its own name, the resulting litigation by all 22 cities would be duplicative and, in come cases, prohibitively costly. Through this agreement, the Parties desire to set forth the terms and conditions under which one action may be maintained -1- on behalf of all Parties; to provide for the management and direction of such litigation; to provide for the allocation of litigation expenses; and to set forth various other matters relating to the prosecution of the cities' claims against the County of San Bernardino. The Parties do not intend to create a separate public agency through this agreement and no provision of this agreement should be so construed. 4 . Authorization to File Suit. By execution of this agreement, each Party authorizes and directs that suit be filed and diligently pursued, in the names of the Parties, against the County of San Bernardino, its Board of Supervisors and such administrative officers as may be appropriate, for the general purpose of challenging the validity of County Ordinance No. 3428 and the imposition and collection of booking fees from contract cities and other cities in the County. 5. Administration of Agreement. The administration of activities called for in this agreement is delegated to and vested in an Administrative Committee. The Administrative Committee shall be comprised of the city managers of Rialto Highland and Victorville . Each member of the Administrative Committee shall be, at all times, an officer or employee of a Party to this agreement. If any member ceases to be an officer or employee of a Party, or if the member's agency ceases to be a Party to this agreement, a new member shall be promptly selected in the same manner as the original member. The Administrative Committee shall keep all Parties informed of the composition of the committee. The Administrative Committee is authorized and directed, on behalf of all Parties, to perform all acts necessary or desirable to execute and administer this Agreement including, but not limited to: selecting and retaining legal counsel and consultants; providing day-to-day management and direction of the litigation, including the right to determine all matters of tactics and strategy on which legal counsel requests direction; authorizing, evaluating and monitoring legal expenses; and conducting settlement negotiations, if any, provided that any proposed settlement agreement shall require the unanimous consent of all agencies then Party to the Agreement. 6. Accounting Services. The Director of Finance of the City of Highland.... shall provide accounting services for all payments and receipts required by the terms of this agreement, and shall be responsible for the safekeeping of all funds paid by or to the Parties to this Agreement. -2- 7. Obligation of the Parties. Each Party to this agreement shall: a. Pay, upon demand, its "appropriate share" of all expenses incurred in the performance of activities called for by this agreement. The "appropriate share" of each Party shall be calculated as follows: all expenses shall be apportioned equally among the parties. In the event of termination by any Party to this Agreement, the Director of finance of the City of Highland shall recalculate the appropriate share of each Party to the Agreement, and shall notify each Party of the results of that recalculation. b. Upon execution of this agreement, pay to the Finance Director of the City of Highland the sum of $500.00, which represents a retainer to cover initial legal review and review by a financial consultant of the adequacy or validity of the amount of the booking fee. C. Pay, upon demand, its appropriate share of litigation expenses which exceed the estimated expenses set forth under subparagraph b, above. All bills and invoices for expenses incurred pursuant to this agreement shall be directed to the Director of Finance of the City of Highland , who shall calculate the amount owned by each Party under the formula set forth in subsection a, above, and bill each Party accordingly. Bills shall be prepared for each calendar quarter in which activity occurs and shall be payable to the City of Highland immediately upon demand. 8. Termination of Agreement. This agreement shall terminate as to any Party upon occurrence of any of the following conditions: a. 15 days prior written notice of termination by any Party given to the then chairperson of the Administrative Committee; provided, however, that the terminating Party shall be liable for it appropriate share of any expenses incurred up to the date notice of termination is received which exceed the termination Party's contribution under paragraph 7.b; and provided further, that in no event shall a terminating party be entitled to a refund of all or any part of its contribution made under paragraph 7 .b. b. Automatically, upon the failure of any Party to pay its appropriate share of litigation expenses within 60 days of date of invoice. 9. Amendment. This Agreement may be amended at any time upon the approval of all Parties to the Agreement. -3- 10. Notices. Except where this Agreement specifically provides otherwise, any notices to be sent to any party shall be directed to the of f ice of the City Manager of the Party, with copies to the City Managers of all parties. Executed on March 20 1991, at Redlands California by: CITY OF REELAN D ATTEST: A- 2� B RAY 7C tY ClAk APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney -4-