June 25, 2025
City Attorney's Office
DATE: June 25, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Shannon Moore, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Sharrone Taylor, Director of Human Resources Director
Subject:
First Amendment to the Legal Service s Agreement with
the Law Office of Todd Simonson
FINANCIAL IMPACT: This legal services agreement will increase the compensation by $140,500, for a total amount not to
exceed amount of $150,000, with a term ending June 30,
2025. A portion of the contract ($75,000) will be funded from the Risk Management General Liability Fund GL
(50182316-400206). The remaining $75,000 of the
contract will be funded by the Human Resources
Department (01181016-400206).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
N/A
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City has a current contract with the Law Office of
Todd Simonson to conduct personnel investigations. City Staff now requests a First Amendment to the legal
services agreement to increase the total contract amount for ongoing and new personnel investigations.
AGENDA
REPORT
June 25, 2025
RECOMMENDED ACTION: APPROVE a first amendment to the legal services agreement with the Law Office of Todd Simonson for
$140,500, for a total amount not to exceed amount of
$150,000 and with a term ending June 30, 2025 – City
Attorney’s Office (Dave Aleshire 510-620-6509/Shannon
Moore 510-620-6505/Sharrone Taylor 510-620-6803).
DISCUSSION:
The City Attorney’s Office requests a first amendment to the legal services agreement with the Law Office of Todd Simonson to conduct impartial personnel investigations. Todd Simonson is a labor and employment attorney. Mr. Simonson has over seventeen years of experience, having conducted hundreds of workplace investigations, including matters alleging serious misconduct by company executives, elected officials , and high -ranking public employees, and allegations across the employment law spectrum, including fraud, criminal threats, whistleblower claims, harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. He has also conducted numerous public safety internal investigations, including examination of significant uses of force, and has extensive experience with the California Public Safety Officers' and Firefighters' Procedural Bill of Rights Acts. As Mr. Simonson has the experience and expertise necessary to conduct workplace investigations, the City intends to retain Mr. Simonson for personnel investigations as an attorney at law for the purpose of facilitating the rendering of legal advice to the City.
The Law Office of Todd Simonson rates are as follows:
Firm Staff Hourly Rate
Todd Simonson $390
Stephen Chiari $350
Non-attorney writer editors $150-200
.
The City Attorney’s Office requests that the City enter a first amendment to the contract with the Law Office of Todd Simonson for $140,500 for a total contract amount not exceeding $150,000 for a contract term ending June 30, 2025.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – (Proposed) First Amendment to the Legal Services Agreement with the Law Office of Todd Simonson
Attachment 2 – Original Legal Services Agreement with the Law Office of Todd Simonson