ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
MEETING DATE: June 10, 2026 AGENDA CATEGORY: Consent - Agreements TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Matthew S. Collom, Deputy City Attorney
DATE: May 26, 2026
SUBJECT: Agreement with Duane Morris ($800,000)
for legal services through fiscal year 2026/2027 for water related cases
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of the Agreement
BACKGROUND:
Since 1999, the City Attorney’s Office (“CAO”) has outsourced water related case, issues, and matters to the law firm of Duane Morris, LLP with Partner Colin Pearce (“Duane Morris”) as the primary attorney.
These issues are highly specialized; as such, th e CAO believes it is in the City’s best interest to continue this relationship for fiscal year 2026/2027.
City’s prior agreement with Duane Morris, titled Agreement No. 2025 -085, was executed in 2025 and remained in effect until the conclusion of FY 202 5/2026. That Agreement described a flat fee of Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000).
The Agreement currently before the Council, is also for a flat fee of Eight Hundred Thousand Dollars ($800,000) paid in monthly payments.
FISCAL IMPACT:
$800,000 over the course of one (1) fiscal year (2026/2027).
COUNCIL GOAL:
Innovative and Efficient City Government
ATTACHMENTS:
Agreement