November 19, 2024
Human Resources
DATE: November 19, 2024
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Dave Aleshire, City Attorney
Shannon Moore, Chief Assistant City Attorney
Nickie Mastay, Deputy City Manager- Internal Services
Sharrone Taylor, Director of Human Resources
Subject:
Legal Services Agreement with Lagasse Branch Bell +
Kinkead LLC
FINANCIAL IMPACT: These services are considered part of the program administration costs and accounted for in the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Human Resources and Risk Management
budgets. The services are provided at an hourly rate so the actual amount could be less. (Human Resources
Legal Services 01181016-400206 and Risk Management
Legal Service – Non-General Fund 50182316-400206).
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Council’s approval is needed to enter into legal services agreements for employment attorneys to
conduct confidential personnel investigations.
AGENDA
REPORT
November 19, 2024
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a legal services agreement with Lagasse
Branch Bell + Kinkead LLC for a term of December 1,
2024, through November 30, 2027, for a total amount not to exceed $225,000, to conduct confidential personnel
investigations – City Attorney’s Office/Human Resources Department (Dave Aleshire/Shannon Moore/Nickie
Mastay/Sharrone Taylor 510-620-6803)
DISCUSSION:
The City is responsible for addressing complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation by promptly conducting thorough and unbiased personnel investigations.
Additionally, the City investigates other workplace issues, including employee complaints, when necessary. When an external personnel investigation is required, the City enlists the services of specialized firms which have highly skilled employment law attorneys to conduct personnel investigations, such as Lagasse Branch Bell + Kinkead LLC.
The City Attorney’s Office and Human Resources Department are requesting a legal services agreement with Lagasse Branch Bell + Kinkead (LBBK) LLC. LBBK is a law firm that specializes in employment law. LBBK conducts independent workplace investigations into internal and external complaints and misconduct for both public and private entities. Additionally, a number of their attorneys have achieved the Association of Workplace Investigators Certificate Holder (AWI-CH) designation.
The City Attorney's Office and the Human Resources Department are requesting approval of a new legal services agreement with Lagasse Branch Bell + Kinkead LLC for a term of December 1, 2024, through November 30, 2027, for a total amount not to exceed $225,000. Hourly rates are as follows: Partner - $330/hour, Senior Associate- $300/hour and Associate - $275/hour.
agreement.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Proposed Legal Services Agreement with Lagasse Branch Bell + Kinkead LLC