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CITY OF GLENDALE, CALIFORNIA
REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AGENDA ITEM
Report: Request for Conflict of Interest Waiver in Legal Representation by Holland & Hart LLP
1.Motion Authorizing the City Attorney to Consent to the Southern California Public Power Authority’s (SCPPA) Execution of a Conflict of Interest Waiver for Holland & Hart LLP for an unrelated matter and for future SCPPA conflict waivers for unrelated matters.
COUNCIL ACTION
Item Type: Consent Item
Approved for September 30, 2025 calendar
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
This report requests City Council’s authorization for a waiver of legal conflict of interest by the Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA). The waiver would permit SCPPA’s outside counsel, Holland & Hart LLP (H&H) to represent a SCPPA counterparty, Longroad Energy Holdings, LLC (Longroad) in an unrelated matter. H&H requires the waiver from SCPPA because H&H is representing SCPPA in a matter involving contract negotiations adverse to Longroad as the other party. SCPPA is seeking Glendale’s concurrence and consent to waive the conflict of interest because Glendale, a member of SCPPA, is a potential participant in the SCPPA Transaction in which H&H is representing SCPPA adverse to Longroad.
RECOMMENDATION
That Council authorize the City Attorney to consent to SCPPA’s waiver of the conflict described herein. Additionally, staff recommends that the City Council grant authorization to the City Attorney to consent to future SCPPA conflict waivers provided they are for matters unrelated to Holland & Hart’s representation of Glendale.
ANALYSIS
Glendale is a member of SCPPA which is a Joint Powers Authority comprised of eleven cities and one irrigation district, focused on electrical generation and transmission issues. 24g
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H&H has in the past and is currently representing SCPPA in contract negotiations on a matter adverse to Longroad (the SCPPA Transaction). H&H also currently represents Longroad in separate, unrelated matters that are unrelated to the SCPPA Transaction, under previous conflict waivers granted by SCPPA and Longroad in 2019, 2023 and January 2025. SCPPA’s 2019, 2023 and 2025 conflict waivers do not apply to future or undisclosed conflicts.
H&H seeks SCPPA’s waiver of conflicts, as well as Longroad’s waiver of conflict, to permit H&H to represent SCPPA in the SCPPA Transaction. Because Glendale is participating in the negotiations for the SCPPA Transaction, SCPPA Bylaws require that SCPPA seek Glendale’s concurrence for the new conflict waiver.
The new matter in which H&H represents Longroad is unrelated to the SCPPA Transaction. None of the attorneys representing SCPPA would work on the separate matter for Longroad, and none of the attorneys representing Longroad would work on the SCPPA Transaction. H&H will maintain an ethical wall in place. The conflict waiver would not apply to any future, undisclosed conflicts.
For the reasons above, it is recommended that the City Council authorize the City Attorney, or his designee, to consent to a waiver of conflict described herein on behalf of Glendale. It is also recommended that the City Council grant authority to the City Attorney to consent to future SCPPA conflict waivers as the need arises for future projects, provided they are for matters unrelated to Holland & Hart’s representation of Glendale.
STAKEHOLDERS/OUTREACH
Not applicable.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with the concurrence with and the execution of the conflict waiver described herein.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW (CEQA/NEPA)
The action requested herein has no potential for resulting in either a direct physical change in the environment, or a reasonably foreseeable indirect physical change in the environment, and as such is not a project subject to the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) 14 Cal. Code Regs. Section 15378
CAMPAIGN DISCLOSURE
Not applicable.
ALTERNATIVES TO STAFF RECOMMENDATION
1. Not authorize the Conflict of Interest Waiver as requested herein.
2. Council’s consideration of any other alternatives not proposed by staff. 34g
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ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION
Submitted by:
Michael J. Garcia, City Attorney
Prepared by:
Dorine Martirosian, Principal Assistant City Attorney
Approved by:
Roubik R. Golanian, P.E., City Manager
EXHIBITS/ATTACHMENTS
None.