City of Omaha

Law Department

Mission Statement

The Law Department serves the Mayor, the City Council and all City departments. It advises the Mayor and Council on legal matters and represents the City in litigation. The Law Department is responsible for drafting ordinances, resolutions, contracts, franchises and other documents. In addition, it conducts outside investigations and handles all matters of claims or complaints against / for the City and prosecutes all violations designated as misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and criminal appeals.

Goals and Objectives

1. To continue to provide outstanding service to the City of Omaha.

2. To improve productivity through the modernization and computerization of procedures and practices.

3. To continue reducing the number of pending cases.

203

LAW DEPARTMENT

CRIMINAL SECTION TRAFFIC SECTION

CIVIL DIVISION

MAYOR

COMMUNITY SECTION

PROSECUTION DIVISION

CLAIMS DIVISION

CITY ATTORNEY

CITY COUNCIL

ADMINISTRATIVE & APPEALS SECTION

204

City of Omaha

2018 Law Department Budget

Appropriated Summary

Positions Funding

By Organization 2018

Appropriated

2018

Recommended

2017

Appropriated2017 2018

Civil Law 2,180,656 2,364,703 2,364,703Claims & Investigation 166,785 5,257 5,257Prosecution 2,288,950 2,152,921 2,152,921

4,636,391 4,522,881 4,522,881Total 37 36

By Expenditures Category

Employee Compensation 4,399,916 4,285,877 4,285,877Non-Personnel 236,475 237,004 237,004

4,636,391 4,522,881 4,522,881Total

By Source of Funds

General 4,565,841 4,452,331 4,452,331Sewer Revenue 70,550 70,550 70,550

4,636,391 4,522,881 4,522,881Total

205

Department Law

Division Law 104000

Expenditure Summary by Organization

Department No

2016Actual

2017Appropriated

2018Recommended

2018Appropriated

Organization Description and Major Object Summary

Comparative Budget Appropriations

Civil Law 104011

Members of the Law Department advise the Mayor and the City Council on legal matters, represent the City in litigations, provide written legal opinions on official matters when requested to do so by the Mayor, City Council or other City Officials; draft and review ordinances, contracts, resolutions and other documents for legal correctness; and perform such other duties as assigned by the Mayor or the City Council.

Employee Compensation 1,730,760 1,983,430 2,165,629 2,165,629Non-Personnel 176,266 197,226 199,074 199,074

1,907,026 2,180,656 2,364,703 2,364,703Organization Total

Claims & Investigation 104012

The Law Department routinely handles all claims filed against the City, its employees or agents where there is potential liability. This activity includes locating and interviewing witnesses, taking photographs, seeking out evidence, taking statements, and generally providing support assistance in litigation. Other activities include conducting internal investigations and other special investigations as administratively assigned by the Mayor or City Council.

Employee Compensation 191,176 164,748 2,676 2,676Non-Personnel 4,779 2,037 2,581 2,581

195,955 166,785 5,257 5,257Organization Total

Prosecution 104013

Members of the Law Department prosecute all violations designated as misdemeanors or traffic infractions. Additionally, they interview, investigate and issue private warrants, handle all appeals of municipal convictions to the District Court, enforce provisions of the City Code, advise the Police Department on search and seizure, and handle appeals on issues of law to the District and State Supreme Court.

Employee Compensation 1,896,958 2,251,738 2,117,572 2,117,572Non-Personnel 45,062 37,212 35,349 35,349

1,942,020 2,288,950 2,152,921 2,152,921Organization Total

4,045,001 4,636,391 4,522,881 4,522,881Department Total

206

Department Law

Division Law

Performance Summary By Division

104000Department No

Performance Measures 2016 Actual 2017 Planned 2018 Goal

% of Class I, Routine Claims, Answered Within 30 Days 63% 90% 75%% of Class II, Non-Routine Claims, Answered Within 60 Days 56% 90% 75%% of Log book Assignments Answered within 15 days 66% 85% 85%% of Log Book Assignments Answered within 30 days 87% 100% 100%Case-to-Prosecutor Ratios 11,000 to 1 3,000 to 1 3,000 to 1

Program Outputs 2016 Actual 2017 Planned 2018 Goal

Civil Active Cases 310 200 200Civil Cases Closed 58 75 75Civil New Lawsuits 96 100 100Claims Against City - Non Litigated 475 500 500Claims by City - Non Litigated 242 250 250Litigated Judgments Against City $0.00 $750,000 $750,000Litigation Settlements paid by City $432,123 $750,000 $750,000Paid in Claims Against City $505,008 $500,000 $500,000Prosecution Complaints Handled 110,000 110,000 110,000Recovered in Claims by City $523,592 $200,000 $200,000Requests Made by Other City Departments 180 200 200

207

Department Law

Division Law

Division Summary of Personnel

104000Department No

Class Title

Comparative Budget Appropriations

Class Code

2018Appropriated

2018Recommended

2017Auth.

2016Actual

Administrative Assistant III 3 3 3 146,8113060 3 146,811Administrative Clerk 5 5 5 198,9183020 5 198,918Attorney 9 12 8 575,1714081 8 575,171City Attorney 1 1 1 189,6724086 1 189,672Dep City Attorney 4 5 4 559,9034083 4 559,903Dep City Atty - City Lobbyist - - 1 116,7734084 1 116,773Executive Secretary - Law 1 1 1 62,2244010 1 62,224Executive Services Administrator 1 1 1 60,1544009 1 60,154Paralegal Assistant 1 1 1 62,2094080 1 62,209Senior Administrative Clerk 1 1 2 85,3853030 2 85,385Senior Attorney 8 7 9 892,6174082 9 892,617Longevity 13,409 13,409Other Pay 1,205 1,205Part-Time and Seasonal 65,806 65,806Reimbursements (45,000) (45,000)Vehicle Maintenance 2,676 2,676

Explanatory Comments:

34 37 36 2,987,933 36 2,987,933Department Total

208

Department Law

Division Law 104000

Major Object Expenditures

Comparative Budget Appropriations

Division Summary of Major Object Expenditures

Department No

2016Actual

2017Appropriated

2018Recommended

2018Appropriated

Employee Earnings

Classified Regular 2,634,215 3,013,503 2,951,042 2,951,042Part-Time and Seasonal 106,729 65,000 65,806 65,806Overtime 9,707 - - - Longevity 13,326 14,389 13,409 13,409Reimbursements (41,273) (50,000) (45,000) (45,000)Vehicle Maintenance - 1,415 2,676 2,676

2,722,704 3,044,307 2,987,933 2,987,933Total Employee Earnings

Employee Benefits

FICA 197,172 227,139 223,753 223,753Pension 489,108 568,638 556,724 556,724Insurance 477,999 608,872 567,252 567,252Reimbursements (68,089) (49,040) (49,785) (49,785)

1,096,190 1,355,609 1,297,944 1,297,944Total Employee Benefits

Total Employee Compensation 3,818,894 4,399,916 4,285,877 4,285,877

Non-Personnel

Purchased Services 91,305 123,669 125,046 125,046Supplies 100,475 103,885 102,838 102,838Equipment 34,327 7,249 6,885 6,885Vehicle Maintenance - 1,672 2,235 2,235

226,107 236,475 237,004 237,004Total Non-Personnel

Capital

- - - -

- - - - Total Capital

4,045,001 4,636,391 4,522,881 4,522,881Department Total

Source of Funds

General (Ref. B-1) 3,974,451 4,565,841 4,452,331 4,452,331Sewer Revenue (Ref. B-50) 70,550 70,550 70,550 70,550

4,045,001 4,636,391 4,522,881 4,522,881

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