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Human Resources <br />www.santa-ana.org/hr <br />Item # 18 <br />City of Santa Ana <br />20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Staff Report <br />July 20, 2021 <br />TOPIC: Agreement for Special and Limited Legal Counsel Services <br />AGENDA TITLE: <br />Approve Agreement with Liebert Cassidy and Whitmore ("LCW") and Approve <br />Amendment to Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud, & Romo ("AALRR") to <br />Provide Special and Limited Legal Counsel Services (General Fund) <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />1. Authorize the City Manager to execute an agreement with LCW to provide special <br />legal counsel services not to exceed $100,000 for the duration of the term of the <br />agreement expiring June 30, 2024, subject to non -substantive changes approved <br />by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />2. Authorize the City Manager to execute an amendment to the agreement with <br />AALRR to provide limited legal services by increasing the compensation amount <br />by $50,000 (for a total not -to -exceed compensation amount of $100,000) for the <br />duration of the agreement expiring April 14, 2024, subject to non -substantive <br />changes approved by the City Manager and City Attorney. <br />DISCUSSION <br />The City has a contractual relationship with LCW for labor negotiations with various <br />unions. LCW has extensive experience working with public sector clientele throughout <br />the State. The Human Resources Department (" HRD") would like to retain LCW to assist <br />with personnel investigations and general Human Resources (HR) advice, including labor <br />relations and other core HR services. Said agreement would be for a three-year term for <br />a not -to -exceed amount of $100,000. <br />On April 15, 2021, the City entered into an agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, <br />Ruud, & Romo to provide limited legal services to conduct personnel investigations and <br />provide legal advice related to such investigations. Staff reached out to multiple law firms <br />to provide similar services. AALRR was amongs the first of said firms to be engaged and <br />began providing services as needed by City staff. City staff is recommending this <br />increase in compensation to conclude pending personnel investigations and allow staff to <br />call upon AALRR for services, as necessary, to conduct additional investigations or <br />respond to requests for legal advice stemming from said investigations. <br />City Council 18 — 1 7/20/2021 <br />