RESOLUTION NO. 2026-XX
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING A LEGAL SERVICES AGREEMENT WITH VAN DERMYDEN MAKUS TO CONDUCT PERSONNEL INVESTIGATIONS PURSUANT TO AN APPROVED RETAINER AGREEMENT WHEREAS, the City of Commerce is committed to maintaining a professional, respectful, and legally compliant workplace for all employees; and WHEREAS, from time to time, the City receives employee complaints, allegations of misconduct, and other personnel matters that require an independent, objective, and impartial investigation; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that retaining qualified outside legal counsel to conduct personnel investigations promotes fairness, protects the integrity of the investigative process, and ensures compliance with applicable federal, state, and local employment laws and best practices; and WHEREAS, the City Council finds that it is in the best interest of the City to retain Van Dermyden Makus to perform personnel investigative services pursuant to an approved retainer agreement; and WHEREAS, all services performed under the approved retainer agreement shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the agreement, including compensation, billing, and applicable legal requirements; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to appropriate funding to cover the cost of the investigative services provided under the approved retainer agreement, including the anticipated completion of the current personnel investigation.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COMMERCE DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The foregoing recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein by this reference.
Section 2. The City Council hereby approves a legal services agreement with Van Dermyden Makus in a form approved by the City Attorney to conduct personnel investigations.
Section 3. The Mayor is authorized to execute the legal services agreement and this Resolution for and on behalf of the City of Commerce.
Section 4. The City Council hereby appropriates $__________ from the General Fund Reserves Fund Balance to Legal Services – Other Legal Services to fund the personnel investigative services provided under the approved retainer agreement, including the anticipated completion of the current investigation.
Section 5. The City Clerk shall certify to the adoption of this Resolution.
Section 6. This Resolution shall take full force and effect immediately upon adoption by the City Council.
PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Commerce at a regular meeting held on the 11th day of August, 2026.
Kevin Lainez, Mayor
ATTEST:
Eduardo Sarmiento, City Clerk