September 15, 2026
City Attorney's Office
Human Resources
DATE: September 15, 2026
TO: Mayor Martinez and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Shannon Moore, Interim City Attorney
Sharrone Taylor, Director of Human Resources
Subject:
Legal Services Agreement Amendment No. 1 with
Oppenheimer Investigations Group, LLP for Confidential
Personnel Investigations
FINANCIAL IMPACT: The proposed $300,000 increase to the legal services agreement is included within the approved Fiscal Year
2026–2027 Human Resources and Risk Management
budgets (Account Strings: 01181016-400206;
50182316-400206). As the services are billed at an
hourly rate, the total cost may be lower than the
not-to-exceed amount.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
October 22, 2024
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
The City Council’s approval is needed to approve an
amendment adding funds to the legal services agreement
for employment attorneys to conduct confidential
personnel investigations, for pending and future
personnel matters.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
APPROVE a first amendment to the legal services
agreement with Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP
for confidential personnel investigations, increasing the payment limit by $300,000, for a total amount not to
exceed $600,000, and extend the term through
September 30, 2029 – City Attorney’s Office/Human
Resources Department (Sharrone Taylor 510-620-6803/
Shannon Moore 510-620-6509)
AGENDA
REPORT
September 15, 2026
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 Oppenheimer Investigations Group LLP (OIG).
The City Attorney’s Office and Human Resources Department executed a legal services agreement with OIG in October 2024 for $300,000 with a term end date of September 30, 2027. Since then, OIG has handled confidential investigations for the City, which are ongoing. The City now seeks a first amendment to increase the payment limit and extend the term.
The City Attorney's Office and the Human Resources Department are requesting approval of a first amendment to the legal services agreement with OIG to increase the payment limit by $300,000 for a total not to exceed amount of $600,000, and a term extension to September 30, 2029.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Original Legal Services Agreement (LSA) with OIG Attachment 2 – First Amendment to the LSA with OIG