Laserfiche WebLink
a 0 • .' <br />E416111111 0 • <br />CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: <br />MAY 19, 2015 <br />TITLE: <br />AGREEMENT FOR SPECIAL LEGAL <br />COUNSEL SERVICES RELATED TO <br />LEGAL CHALLENGES OF MEASURE BB — <br />MEDICAL MARIJUANA INITIATIVE <br />WITH RICHARDS, WATSON & <br />GERSHON,APC <br />(STRAGIC PLAN NOS. 1, 3, 4, 5) <br />CITY MANAGER <br />RECOMMENDED ACTION <br />CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: <br />APPROVED <br />❑ As Recommended <br />❑ As Amended <br />❑ Ordinance on 1" Reading <br />❑ Ordinance on 2nd Reading <br />❑ Implementing Resolution <br />❑ Set Public Hearing For <br />CONTINUED TO <br />FILE NUMBER <br />Authorize the City Manager and the Clerk of the Council to execute an agreement with Richards, <br />Watson & Gershon, APC, subject to non - substantive changes approved by the City Manager and <br />City Attorney, for legal services related to legal challenges of Measure BB — Medical Marijuana <br />Initiative at the specified rates, for a three -year term ending May 19, 2018, with provisions for one <br />one -year extension, exercisable by the City Manager and the City Attorney for an amount not to <br />exceed $500,000. <br />DISCUSSION <br />Richards, Watson & Gershon, APC, is well known for providing municipal law services to public <br />entities and has done so since 1954. It represents more than 50 public agencies and serves as <br />City Attorney for more than 25 cities. The firm is headquartered in Los Angeles, but has offices in <br />Brea, Temecula, and San Francisco. The City Attorney's Office prepared a request for proposal <br />for the defense of a series of seven (7) lawsuits filed against the City challenging the <br />constitutionality of the City initiative known as Measure BB, and solicited responses from six law <br />firms with specialty experience in defending these types of matters in state court. Richards, <br />Watson & Gershon, APC was selected based upon its municipal law and trial expertise, <br />reasonable billing rates, and significant experience in handling medical marijuana dispensary and <br />zoning litigation matters at the trial and appellate court levels. <br />The City Attorney recommends an agreement with the firm for a three (3) year term with an <br />optional one (1) year extension for a contract amount not to exceed $500,000. The firm will <br />provide legal services at the following rates: $295/an hour for all attorneys and $145 -$166 for <br />paralegals. <br />25E -1 <br />