Regular Meeting
11/21/22 06:00 PM
City Manager Department
Willie A Hopkins
Contract
Doc ID: 5179
AGENDA ITEM
AGENDA MATTER:
APPROVAL OF AMENDED AND RESTATED LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH
COLANTUONO, HIGHSMITH & WHATLEY, PC
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
The City of Barstow contracts for City Attorney Services with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC, under a contract last amended in 2003. The City Manager recommends the City Council approve a proposed amended and restated legal services agreement with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC, maintaining current City Attorney Matthew Summers and adjusting the rates as stated therein.
DISCUSSION:
The law firm of Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC., and its predecessor firms and professionals have provided general legal services to the City of Barstow since 1997, with the contract most recently amended and rates last changed in 2003.
At this time, the Firm has proposed an amendment to the contract to adjust the rates to provide for a monthly fixed retainer amount of $10,125 and for special projects services at $225 per hour and labor and employment, litigation, and other pre-litigation disputes or specialized legal services at $285 per hour.
The agreement has also been updated to reflect that the Firm changed its name in 2014 and that it utilizes secure cloud storage services to maintain part of the City’s client file in electronic format in its provision of legal services. All other substantive terms remain the same.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost of the proposed contract for legal services are accommodated with the existing budget.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
The City Manager recommends the City Council approve a proposed amended and restated legal services agreement with Colantuono, Highsmith & Whatley, PC, maintaining current City Attorney Matthew Summers and adjusting the rates as stated therein.