City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
37
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends the City Council discuss the contribution of $10,000 to the Legal
Aid Foundation of Los Angeles: Santa Monica from City Council Discretionary
Funds.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION:
At the joint City Council/Redevelopment Agency meeting of July 21, 2008, Vice
Mayor Silbiger requested support to agendize this item for discussion and received
consensus. The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles requests that Culver City
contribute $10,000 for operating expenses for the Domestic Violence Clinic
(Attachment 1). City Council is asked to discuss this item and provide direction to
staff.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is currently $120,000 available in City Council “discretionary” funds, which is
appropriated within the fiscal 2008-09 Non-Departmental Division budget.
ATTACHMENT:
1. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles letter to Jerry Fulwood, August 22,
2008, with enclosure.
Meeting Date: 08/25/08 Item Number: ___A-5___
AGENDA ITEM: Discussion of a $10,000 Contribution to the Legal Aid Foundation
of Los Angeles: Santa Monica from City Council Discretionary Funds.
Contact Person/Dept.: Jeff Muir, CFO Phone Number: 310.253.6016
Fiscal Impact: Yes [X] No [] General Fund: Yes [X] No []
Public Hearing: [] Action Item: [X] Attachments: []
Public Notification:
Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (08/22/08) and Master E-Mail Notification List
(08/20/08)
Department Approval:
Jeff Muir (08/08/08)
City Attorney Approval:
Carol Schwab (by H. Baker) (08/19/08)
Chief Financial Officer Review:
Jeff Muir (08/08/08)
City Manager Approval:
Jerry B. Fulwood (08/22/08) City of Culver City, California
City Council Agenda Item Report
38
MOTION:
That the City Council:
Discuss the contribution of $10,000 to the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles:
Santa Monica and direct staff as deemed appropriate.
MEETING DATE: August 25, 2008
AGENDA ITEM: Discussion of a $10,000 Contribution to the Legal Aid
Foundation of Los Angeles: Santa Monica from City
Council Discretionary Funds.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles letter to Jerry
Fulwood, August 22, 2008, with enclosure.
Pages
1-3Writer's Direct Dial Number
A H---a rn 3-
LEGAL AID FOUNDATION OF LOS ANGELES
ATTORNEYS AT LAW
1640 Fifth Street, Suite 124
Santa Monica, California 90401-3343
Telephone: (310) 899-6200
Fax: (310) 899-6208
West Office
1102 Crenshaw Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90019-3111
(323) 801-7989
Our File Number
Central Office
1550 W. Eighth Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017-4316
(213) 640-3881
East Office
5228 E. Whittier Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90022-4013
(213) 640-3883
Long Beach Office
110 Pine Avenue, Suite 420
Long Beach, CA 90802-4421
(562) 435-3501
South Central Office
8601 S. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA 90003-3319
(213) 640-3884
August 22, 2008
Jerry Fulwood
City Manager
City of Culver — City Hall
9770 Culver Boulevard
Culver City, California 90232 By Email: Jerry.Fulwood@CulverCity.org
Dear Mr. Fulwood:
I am providing you information about the Domestic Violence Clinic of the Legal Aid
Foundation of Los Angeles (The Clinic), which is located in the Santa Monica
Courthouse. The Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (LAFLA) is a non-profit
corporation established in 1929 to ensure that low income people have access to the
justice system in civil legal matters, and is the frontline law firm for low-income people
in Los Angeles. LAFLA is committed to promoting access to justice, strengthening
communities, and effecting systematic change through representation, advocacy, and
community education.
Domestic violence can be as close as our own families, friends, neighbors, co-workers,
classmates, customers, or patients. Domestic violence is not always hidden in homes, and
the violence may spill over into school sites, the work place, recreation areas and any
place where people may gather. We need only read the paper to be reminded that the
leading cause of death for pregnant women is domestic violence. Statistics regarding
domestic violence that were so startling a decade ago are now too familiar. Women are
four times more likely to be injured in their homes by their current or former partner than
in motor vehicle accidents. Between 25 and 35% of all women seeking emergency care in
hospitals are there because of domestic violence. Domestic violence is the leading cause
of homelessness for women and children.
LAFLA'S DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/FAMILY LAW CLINIC
LAFLA's walk-in Domestic Violence Clinic is located in the West District Courthouse in
Santa Monica. Culver City is part of the West district and its residents come to the— 2 —
l'iligust22,2008
courthouse seeking legal help. LAFLA staff and volunteers operate the clinic five days a
week. LAFLA provides training and supervision for volunteers.
The Clinic assists victims of domestic violence, who are often moms in crisis, obtain
temporary and permanent restraining orders, including custody of their children and child
support. We conduct interviews, assist them in completing paper work, accompany them
to court, explain the process and provide referrals to social services and counseling. A
recent study indicates that legal assistance is the only social service that reduces domestic
violence over the long run. Our objective is to help victims of domestic violence obtain
safety for themselves and their children, and over the long run break the gripping cycle of
violence so that they can rebuild their lives.
Over the last five years, the Clinic has assisted an average of 50 Culver City residents a
year obtain court orders to keep them safe or obtain other family law legal services that
help prevent domestic violence. Culver City residents represent 10% of the people we
have assisted. On average, 12-13% of those Culver City residents are either seniors or
disabled or both.
LAFLA requests that Culver City contribute $10,000.00 (Ten Thousand Dollars) for
operating expenses for the Domestic Violence Clinic, just over 3% of our operating
budget. This sum is also approximately $200.00 per Culver City resident, which is less
than the cost of the average legal service supervised by a staff attorney or paralegal, and
taking from one to four hours.
Preventing domestic violence, and assisting victims to rebuild their lives after domestic
violence, requires a variety of services and strategies. In addition to providing legal
assistance to victims of domestic violence, LAFLA's Domestic Violence Clinic is often a
doorway to additional supportive services, including referrals for health care, counseling
and shelter. Certainly, each dollar that Culver City spends in supporting this project is
rewarded in the long run by savings in police response, medical care and related legal
proceedings. In 2007-2008, the cities of Santa Monica, Los Angeles, and Beverly Hills
funded operating expenses for the Clinic.
If you have any questions, please contact me at 323-801-7972. We can provide more
information upon request.
Thank you for your consideration.
Very truly yours,
Susan G Millmann
Senior AttorneyDate: May 4, 2002
Legal Aid Founcfation of Los Angeles
1102 S Crenshaw Blvd
Los kneeles. CA 90019-3111
Dear Sir or Madam:
Person to Contact:
Steve Brown 31-07472
Customer Service Representative
Toll Free Telephone NUM bar:
Lee x.ie, la ass sun. EST
877-829-5500
Fax Number:
513-263-3756
•
Federal Identification Number ' e, •- •_ . ;1'-
95-1684067
Accounting Period Ends: •
December31 •
pc:. •
This is in response to your fetter dated April 17, 2002, of which you requested confirmation to
the change of your accounting period. We have updated our records to reflect this change as
indic,a(ed above.
In February 1943, we issued a determination letter that recognized your organization as
exempt From federal income tax under section 101(6) of the internal Revenue Act 0( 1939 (now
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986). That determination letter is still in
erred.
We classified your organization as a publicly supported organization, and note private
foundation, because ills described In sections 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(AXvi) of the Code.
This classification was based on the assumption that your organization's operations would
continue as stated in the application, If your organization's purposes, character, method of
operations, or sources of•support have citangedeplease let us knoW&D we can consider the
. effect of the change on the organization's exempt status and foundation stales.
Your organiz:alion is required to file Form 990, Return of Organization' Exempt from Income
Tax,- only if its gross receipts each yeaeare normally more thare$25,000. If a return is
required, most betted by the 151.1i day of the fifth month after the end of the organization's
annual accounting period. The law Imposes a penalty of $20 a day, up to a maximum of •
$10,000, when a return is flied fate,. unfe .ss 'there is reasbna bre cause for the delay.
As of January 1, 1984, your organization is liable for taxes under the Federal Insurance
Contributions Act (social security taxes) on remuneration of $100 or more the organization
pays to each of its employees during a calendar year. There Is no liability for the tax Imposed
under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA).
•
Organizations that are not private foundations are not subject to the excise taxes under
Chapter42 of the Code. hitiwever, these organizations are not automatically exempt from
other Federal excise taxes. If you have any questions about excise, employment, or other
federal taxes, please let us know,
Donors may deduct contributions to your organization as provided in section 170 of the Code.
B 4Oquests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts to your organization or for its use are deductible
for federaf estate andgift lax purposes it they meet the applicable previsions of sections 2055,-
210, and 2522 of the Code.
Your organization is not required to file federal income tax returns unless it is subject to the tax
on unrelated business income under section.511 of the Code. if your organization is subject to
this - tax, it must file an income tax return on Form 990-1, Exempt Orgahization . Business
Income Tax Return,. In this teeter, we are not determining Whether any of your organization's
preseet or proposed activities are unrelated trade or business as defined in section 513 of the
Code.
The law requires you to make your organization's annual return available for public inspection
without charge for three years after the due date of the return. If your organization had a copy
of its application for recognition of• exemption on July 15, 1987, it is also required to make
available for public inspection a copy of the exemption application, any supporting documents
and the exemption letter to any individual who requests such documents in person or in
writing. You can charge only a reasonable fee for reproduction and actual postage costs for
. the copied materials. The law does not require you to provide copies of public inspection
• documents that are widely available; such as by posting them on the Internet (World Wide
Web). You may be liable for a penalty of $20 a day for each day you do not make these
documents available for public inspection (up to a maximum of $10,000 in the case of an
annual return).
• Because this tatter could help resolve any questions about your organization's exempt status
and foundation status, you should keep it with the permanent records of the organization, • '
•
If you have questions, please call us at the telephone number shcwn in the heading of this
letter.
Sincerely,
04)Zicf?
John E. Ricketts; Director, TE/GE
Customer Account Service's