TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute an agreement with the Los Angeles County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Services, Inc., for the use of the Neighborhood Resource Center to provide free and low-cost mediation services for one year with an option to renew for two additional one-year periods based on satisfactory performance and availability of County funding. (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Department of Community Development, Neighborhood Services Bureau, is
responsible for the management of the Neighborhood Resource Center (Center),
located at 425 Atlantic Avenue. The Center staff has significant interaction with
residents and often assists them in mediating neighborhood disputes without police
intervention or litigation.
The County of Los Angeles collects filing fees to support mediation services in lieu of
legal action. Currently, 14 agencies receive County funds for mediation services,
including the Los Angeles County Bar Association Dispute Resolution Services, Inc. ,
(DRS). On June 15, 2004, the City Council approved an agreement with DRS to
provide free services for Long Beach residents at the Center. The agreement was for
one year, with a one-year renewal option, which will expire on August 31 , 2006.
For the past seven years, DRS has provided services at low or no cost to those who
live, work or attend school in Long Beach. Mediation services help resolve neighbor-toneighbor
disputes on such issues as loud parties, barking dogs and other disruptive
behaviors. A significant amount of mediation assistance involves landlord-tenant
disputes. During the previous program year, DRS initiated 39 cases for mediation,
having resolved 38 of those. The continual need for this service is shown by the 101
mediation requests DRS received during that time;although not all cases were able to
be mediated for various reasons.
To continue to operate the program in Long Beach, it is necessary for DRS to continue
to charge its clients $50 per case acc...
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