Report Prepared by: Kelly C. Fincher, Chief Deputy City Attorney
Title
SUBJECT: Agreement with Berliner Cohen, LLP. for Interim City Attorney Legal Services
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers Approving an Agreement with Berliner Cohen, LLP for continued Interim City Attorney Legal Services
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the Agreement for Interim City Attorney Legal Services with Berliner Cohen, LLP, and;
B. Authorizing the City Manager or Assistant City Manager to execute the Second Amendment to the Agreement for Interim Legal Services with Berliner Cohen, LLP, and;
C. Approving a Supplemental Appropriation in the amount of $57,000 from the General Fund to account 001-0301-512.17-00 City Attorney Professional Services.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Provide direction on specific revisions to the Agreement; or,
3. Request additional information; or,
4. Continue the matter to a certain date; or,
5. Decline to take action.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Sections 200 and 603
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
N/A
DISCUSSION
On August 15, 2016, the City Council approved an Agreement with the law firm, Berliner Cohen, LLP (hereafter Berliner Cohen) to provide Interim City Attorney and other legal services for the City. Under the terms of that Agreement, Berliner Cohen Partner Jolie Houston was appointed Interim City Attorney and two Berliner Cohen attorneys, Jeff Kaufman and Kim Flores were retained to provide 100 hours of interim City Attorney legal services.
Ms. Houston has been serving as the City's Interim City Attorney continuously following her appointment in August 2016. Since that time, the City Council has approved two amendments to the original agreement. In February 2017, the City Council approved a First Amendment to the Agreement which extended the term Agreement through January 31, 2018, and increased the hours worked from 100 to up to 120 hours per month. On January 16, 2018, t...
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