City Attorneys Office

Nancy Isserlis
City Attorney
City of Spokane
August 27, 2015

Organization Chart
CITY ATTORNEY
Nancy Isserlis
2016 Budget: $4,292,810

Chief Civil

2016
CIVIL
16 FTE
*Includes
Police Advisor
and CEU
Attorney.

City
Prosecutor
2016
CRIMINAL
19 FTE

Operating Budget Summary

Civi
l
2014
2015
Budget

Budget

2016
Prelim

% Change
(2015/201
6)

Wages &
Benefits

$
2,145,284

$
2,320,449

$
2,406,402

3.70%

Supplies &
Services

$ 141,507

$ 134,155

$ 138,057

2.91%

$ 239

$0

$0

0%

$
2,287,030

$
2,454,604

$
2,544,459

3.66%

Other
Total
# FTES

16

16

16

0%

Operating Budget Summary

Crimin
al
2014
2015
Budget

Budget

2016
Prelim

%
Change
(2015/20
16)

Wages &
Benefits

$ $ 1,700,697 $ 1,777,103
1,811,285

4.49%

Supplies &
Services

$ 159,617

$ 159,617

$ 160,329

0.45%

$ 11,863

$ 11,100

$ 11,100

0%

$ $ 1,871,414 $ 1,948,532
1,982,765

4.12%

Other
Total
# FTES

19

19

19
4

0%

2016 Personnel Impact

Total # of FTEs
Impacted

Current Vacant
Budgeted FTEs

1 project employee (Civil Service

approved through September,
2017).

Additional FTE Cuts

0
Anticipated to Balance
2016

Priorities for 2016

Implementation of Family Justice Center
Model. Three full time Prosecutors assigned
to new DV unit housed at the YWCA. Increase
evidence-based prosecution model.
Cost Recovery Unit: Effective use of the
litigation team to recover monies owed to the
City (Attorney Fees, Subrogation, Claims such
as Monsanto).
Continue to Streamline Contracts Function:
improved turn-around time; templates; crosstraining.
Emphasis on Domestic Violence, Public
6
Records, Utilities and new Civil Enforcement
Unit.

Priorities for 2016

Emphasis and prioritization of targeted
prosecution in East Sprague, working closely with
the Police Department.
Align priorities, such as burgeoning Public
Records Requests, by cross training and
restructuring staff.
City Prosecutor actively involved in the Spokane
Regional Law & Justice Council, and
implementation of Blueprint for Reform.

Performance Measures
Public Records turn around time:
Volume of Requests
Number of Installments
Lack of PRA Lawsuits and Judgments
Contracts:
Efficient workflow
Improved minor contract templates
Utilities and Riverfront Park increased volume
of
contracts due to bond/levy passage.
Litigation:
Reserves
Number of Cases
CRU

Anything else?
Relicensing Program at the Prosecutors Office
continues to attract State and National
Attention; Presentation to Supreme Court in
September.
Created Chief Ethics Compliance Officer to
implement new City Ethics Code and, address
compliance.
Continued Full Time Police Department
Advisor total revamp of SPD policies,
procedures (DOJ).
Continue to responsibly manage risk and
9
litigation.

Anything else?
New Civil Enforcement Unit (transfer Senior
Prosecuting Attorney to Civil to work with SPD)
good results obtained.
Domestic Violence. Co-location with County
prosecutors, DV advocates and law enforcement
at the YWCA.
Criminal Division replaced exiting senior staff
(retirement, private, other) with newer
attorneys at a cost savings.
Possible Election Mandates.
Reclaimed Water Rulemaking, Water 10
Quality