STAFF REPORT - CITY COUNCIL/SUCCESSOR AGENCY/PUBLIC FINANCE AUTHORITY

Staff has no recommendation on this item. Superior Court of California, Fresno County provided a presentation for discussion. 

In early 2013 the Superior Court of California, Fresno County selected the cities of Coalinga and Mendota for a pilot project known as Remote Video Proceedings (“RVP”).  The program was developed as a way to help service Fresno County residents living outside Fresno City limits.

RVP, which is in essence Skype via large screen televisions, provides residents with an opportunity to have their traffic cases heard by remote proceedings with a remote location held somewhere in the City of Coalinga. The Court understands that transportation can be a hardship for people residing in rural areas. Along with the travel to downtown Fresno and the long lines at the traffic courthouse, the current process is often an all-day event. This is a voluntary option. Residents still have the opportunity to appear at the traffic courthouse in downtown Fresno if they choose.

The following can be accomplished at the remote site:

1. Plead guilty or no contest, ask the judicial officer for a bail reduction and/or installment plan to pay the bail/fine;
2. Plead not guilty and set up a court trial. This allows individuals to contest the citation. Note: the police officer is present at the court trial and may appear at the remote site or at the traffic courthouse; and
3. An interpreter will be provided by using Video Remote Interpreting (VRI), if needed.

As part of the RVP project, the City is responsible for providing the location, physical materials and electronic equipment needed to conduct remote video proceedings for traffic court.  These costs were approximately $2,900 to $3,500.

The court provides a court staff person to coordinate the proceedings, operate the Remote Video Proceedings equipment, and perform basic courtroom activities.  The court also covers the monthly cost of the Court Call video teleconferencing service.

The RVP program has worked well and the City has continued to renew the contract.  

Currently Superior Court of California, Fresno County have traffic remote proceedings in Coalinga and Mendota. While the primary function is for court proceedings, we are also interested in expanding the program to allow participants at the remote site to be able to ask court staff questions through a computer with a webcam, on how to obtain an extension, pay their bail/fine, attend traffic school, and many more options available to them. There is also the possibility of providing self-help services for family law matters, such as assistance with preparing restraining orders, divorce papers, and other self-help services in small claims and eviction proceedings. Again, these are areas we are still working on and hope to provide in the future.

City Responsibility/Cost

1. The City of Coalinga will staff the remote site one (1) day per week for four (4) hours. A sample of responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

1. Test and turn on equipment before proceedings begin and turn off equipment after they have concluded;
2. Obtain information from persons wanting to proceed through RVP. The Court will provide a check-in log with necessary information;
3. Distribute consent forms and ensure all documentation is signed and faxed to court staff before proceedings begin; and
4. Communicate with court staff and follow directions as given.

As previously mentioned, the facility/site location must be able to accommodate proceedings one (1) day per week, four (4) hours per session. Changes and/or increased sessions are subject to written mutual agreement. In addition, the following items are needed to be successful:

1. Space needs to accommodate 24 chairs, 2 tables, 1 podium and 2 microphones;
2. An analog conference phone and two analog Telco (POTS) lines. It is acceptable for the two lines to be provided via VoIP ATA, VoIP VG, PBX or CENTREX as long as both lines have a direct inward dial (DID) number and supports fax transmissions;
3. Internet connectivity with enough guaranteed available bandwidth to support the videoconferencing service. Wired or wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity is acceptable;
4. Onsite technology support for immediate troubleshooting on court days; and
5. Maintaining the following necessary RVP equipment:

                   i.     A wall-mounted television monitor up to 70” in size as appropriate                              for the size of the RVP room;

                   ii.     A compact camera, a computer terminal, and monitor dedicated to                             the RVP feed; and

                   iii.    A multi-functional device (printer, scanner, and fax) to support 

                         courtroom operations, and all necessary cables and adapters for                                the equipment. 

Court Responsibility/Cost

1. Court shall provide training to the onsite representative on operating the ACCESS equipment and providing support duties on court days;
2. Court shall be responsible for providing the following necessary RVP equipment: a wall-mounted television monitor up to 65” in size as appropriate for the size of the room, two webcams, two computer terminals (one of which is dedicated to the ACCESS feed), one 21” monitor, two speaker sets, one headphone/mic, a multi-functional device (printer/scanner/fax) to support courtroom operations, and all necessary cables and adapters for the equipment;
3. Court shall provide offsite technical support to troubleshoot problems on court days; and
4. Court shall provide a small stipend of $100 per week for the onsite staff services, as well as supplies such as tables, chairs, paper, printer ink, etc.