Item 18 - Agreement for Special and Limited Legal Counsel Services

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