City Council
Staff Report
From: City Manager
Report Type: CONSENT CALENDAR
Lead Department: City Attorney
Meeting Date: April 15, 2024
Report #:2403-2817
TITLE
Authorization to Execute Amendment to Legal Services Contract S24189355 with Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth to Increase Amount by $50,000 for Total Not-to-Exceed Amount of $135,000; CEQA Status – Not a Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Authorize the City Attorney or designee to amend the agreement for litigation defense services with the law firm of Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth (Contract S24189355) to increase the contract amount by $50,000 for a total not-to-exceed amount of $135,000.
BACKGROUND
Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth is a law firm representing cities in a variety of areas, including police civil rights claims and personal injury litigation.
In July 2023, the City entered into a three-year agreement (S24189355) in the amount of $85,000 with Allen, Glaessner, Hazelwood & Werth for continuing litigation defense services in civil suit Scrivner v. City of Palo Alto, et al., Santa Clara Co. Sup. Ct. Case No. 18-CV-333834.
Staff now seeks authority to increase the contract amount by $50,000 which will bring the new not to exceed amount to $135,000. Litigation defense is continuing in this matter.
Prior to agreement S24189355, the City entered into agreements S22184420 and S19175172 with Rankin Stock Heaberlin Oneal for initial Government Claim and litigation defense services in this matter. The city expended $243,263 under the prior contracts.
FISCAL/RESOURCE IMPACT
Funding for this amendment does not require additional budgetary authority as it can be accommodated within existing budgets.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Amendment of a legal services contract is not a project requiring environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) (See CEQA Guidelines 15378(b)(5), administrative activities that will not result in direct or indirect physical changes in the environment).
APPROVED BY:
Molly Stump, City Attorney