Report Prepared by: Phaedra A. Norton, City Attorney
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of First Amendment to the Agreement for Legal Services With Sloan, Sakai, Yeung & Wong, LLP for the Not to Exceed Amount of $85,000
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a first amendment to agreement for legal services with Sloan, Sakai, Yeung & Wong, LLP for the not to exceed amount of $85,000.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving the first amendment to the agreement for legal services with Sloan, Sakai, Yeung, & Wong, LLP; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or Assistant City Manager to execute the agreement and any necessary documents; and,
C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make any necessary budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to modifications as conditioned by the City Council; or,
3. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
4. Deny.
AUTHORITY
City of Merced Charter, section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Not applicable.
DISCUSSION
In October 2017, the City entered into a legal services agreement with the law firm Renne, Sloan, Holzman and Sakai, Public Law Group for employment related legal services in an amount not to exceed $30,000. The majority of the services performed were from approximately October 2017 through approximately July 2018. The costs incurred are approaching $85,000 and exceed the delegated authority of $30,000 from the City Council. In addition, in May 2017, the firm changed its name to Sloan, Sakai, Yeung & Wong, LLP.
This amendment is necessary to update the firm name and to obtain authorization from the City Council to pay the invoices for services performed that exceeded $30,000.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
This amendment will be funded by the City Attorney and Police Departments. Funding is available within the fiscal year 2018-19 budget.
ATTACHMENTS
1. First Amendment to Agreement for Legal Services