Agenda Item #13.10
For Council Meeting of: June 2, 2026
CITY OF SANTA ROSA
CITY COUNCIL
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GABE OSBURN, DIRECTOR, PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER SERVICES AGENDA ACTION: RESOLUTION
RECOMMENDATION
The Planning and Economic Development Department recommends that the Council, by resolution, approve six (6) seven-year agreements for Administrative Hearing Officer Services with: 1) Civica Law, Irvine, California; 2) Palacios Law Office, Riverside, California; 3) Jones Mayer, Fullerton, California; 4) Nastich Law, Berkeley, California; 5) Robert M. Snider, Palm Desert, California; and 6) Serviam by Wright LLP, Irvine, California, for the purpose of providing Administrative Hearing support, in the amount of $50,000 per contract awarded, for a total aggregate not to exceed $300,000. This item has no impact on the current fiscal year budget.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Santa Rosa Planning and Economic Development Department’s Code Enforcement Division seeks approval to award six (6) contract agreements to expand the Administrative Hearing Officer roster. Following the issuance of a Request for Proposals (RFP), these agreements will increase the number of Administrative Hearing Officers from two (2) to eight (8).
Pursuant to Chapter 1-30 of the Santa Rosa City Code, Hearing Officers conduct administrative hearings to determine the existence of code violations on noncompliant private property(ies), issue decisions regarding abatement, compliance timelines, administrative cost recovery, penalties and afford due process rights to the responsible party(ies).
GOAL
This item relates to Council Goal #1 - Achieve and Maintain Budgeting Excellence and Fiscal Stability by recovering staff costs.
BACKGROUND/PRIOR COUNCIL REVIEW
Pursuant to Chapter 1-30 of the Santa Rosa City Code, a Hearing Officer conducts administrative hearings to determine whether or not violations of the City Code exist on a specific property. Since May 2004, hearings have been scheduled once a month. Under these procedures, when violations are identified, responsible parties are notified and given a reasonable opportunity to correct the violations. If the violations are not corrected by the specified compliance date, responsible parties are afforded due process rights to appear before an Administrative Hearing Officer, who renders a written determination regarding violations, compliance timelines, administrative costs, and penalties through an Administrative Enforcement Order.
Administrative Hearings are a quasi-judicial process designed to obtain voluntary compliance. If the violation(s) remain unabated after an Administrative Enforcement Order is issued and all administrative processes are exhausted, staff can implement a variety of legal remedies, in conjunction with the City Attorney’s Office.
ANALYSIS
Request for Proposal (RFP R170262), Administrative Hearing Officers for Code Enforcement and other City Cases, was published to PlanetBids on October 27, 2025. The City received six (6) proposals, all of which staff recommend for approval. The Agreement, if approved, includes the following contract award amounts:
Law Firm / Individuals
Contract Award
Civica Law
$50,000.00
Palacios Law Office
$50,000.00
Jones Mayer
$50,000.00
Nastich Law
$50,000.00
Robert M. Snider
$50,000.00
Serviam by Wright LLP
$50,000.00
Total $300,000.00
FISCAL IMPACT
Costs associated with Administrative Hearing Officer services are funded through the Administrative Hearing Fund (380307) and support cost recovery for staff time. Approval of this action does not have a fiscal impact on the General Fund.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15378, the recommended action is not a “project” subject to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) because it does not have the potential to result in either a direct physical change in the environment or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment. In the alternative, the recommended action is exempt from CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15061(b)(3) because it can be seen with certainty that there is no possibility that the recommended action may have a significant effect on the environment.
BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Not applicable.
NOTIFICATION
Not applicable.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution
Exhibit A – Agreement to Provide Administrative Hearing Officer Services Template
PRESENTER
Cassidy Anderson
Supervising Code Enforcement Officer
AGREEMENT TO PROVIDE ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING OFFICER SERVICES PAGE 3 OF 3