CONSENT CALENDAR
City of San Bernardino
Request for Council Action
Date: July 16, 2025
To: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
From: Bill Gallardo, Interim City Manager;
Andrea Russell, Director of Human Resources
Department: Human Resources
Subject: Amendments to Professional Services Agreements for Legal Services (All Wards)
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, authorize the City Manager or designee to execute:
1. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the David Miranda v. City of San Bernardino, Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2319034 increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $250,000.
2. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino, et al., Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2402094 increasing the not-to- exceed amount from $100,000 to $245,000.
3. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Bracy Hawkins Law, P.C. for representation in the Kendria Watson v. City of San Bernardino, et al., Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2209220 increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $165,000.
4. Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont, LLP for representation in the Karla Jenett Moore v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:21-cv-01154-JGB-KK increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $150,000.
Executive Summary
Amending the legal services agreements by increasing the not-to-exceed limit for all ongoing cases herein allows the City to retain current legal counsel.
Background
David Miranda v. City of San Bernardino
•On October 5, 2023, the City entered into an agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo in the amount of $100,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the David Miranda v. City of San Bernardino, Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2319034. The case remains active.
Christina Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino
•On October 5, 2023, the City entered into an agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo in the amount of $100,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino, San Bernardino Superior Court Case CIVSB2402094. This case remains active.
Kendria Watson v. City of San Bernardino, et al.
•On October 16, 2023, the City entered into an agreement with Bracy Hawkins Law, P.C. in the amount of $100,000 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Kendria Watson v. City of San Bernardino, et al., Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2209220. This case remains active.
Karla Jenett Moore v. City of San Bernardino
•On September 13, 2021, the City entered into an agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont, LLP in the amount of $49,999 pursuant to 3.04.085 (A) of the Municipal Code to represent the City in the Karla Jenett Moore v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:21-cv-01154-JGB-KK. •On April 17, 2024, the City entered into the first amendment to the agreement for a total not to exceed $100,000.
Discussion
Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo have worked effectively and expeditiously on the David Miranda v. City of San Bernardino and Christina Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino matters. These cases are still active.
Bracy Hawkins Law, P.C. have worked effectively and expeditiously on the Kendria Watson v. City of San Bernardino, et al. matter. This case is still active.
Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont, LLP have worked effectively and expeditiously on the Karla Jennett Moore v. City of San Bernardino matter. This case is still active Increasing the not-to-exceed limits will ensure continuous retention of all three firms as legal representation for the City. It is advisable to maintain this relationship as it is essential to protect the City’s interest and avoid unnecessary liability.
The proposed amendments to the contract amounts are as follows:
Case Firm Current Not-to-
Exceed Amount
Proposed Not-to-
Exceed Amount
David Miranda Atkinson, Andelson,
Loya, Ruud and
Romo
$100,000 $250,000
Christina Nedrebo Atkinson, Andelson,
Loya, Ruud and
Romo
$100,000 $245,000
Kendria Watson, et
al.
Bracy Hawkins
Law, P.C.
$100,000 $165,000
Karla Jenett Moore Carpenter, Rothans
and Dumont, LLP
$100,000 $150,000
2021-2025 Strategic Targets and Goals
Authorization of these amendments aligns with Key Target No. 1e: Improved Operational & Financial Capacity – Minimize Risk and Litigation Exposure. Continued legal representation protects the City’s interest and avoids unnecessary liability.
Fiscal Impact
The fiscal impact is $410,000. The Fiscal Year 2025-26 Operating Budget has sufficient funds to accommodate this increase to the Professional Services Agreements.
Conclusion
It is recommended that the Mayor and City Council of the City of San Bernardino, California, authorize the City Manager or designee to execute:
1. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the David Miranda v. City of San Bernardino, Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2319034 increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $250,000.
2. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino, et al., Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2402094 increasing the not-to- exceed amount from $100,000 to $245,000.
3. First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Bracy Hawkins Law, P.C. for representation in the Kendria Watson v. City of San Bernardino, et al., Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2209220 increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $165,000.
4. Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont, LLP for representation in the Karla Jenett Moore v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:21-cv-01154-JGB-KK increasing the not-to-exceed amount from $100,000 to $150,000.
Attachments
Attachment 1 - First Amendment to the Professional Service Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for the representation in the David Miranda case.
Attachment 2 - First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo case.
Attachment 3 - First Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Bracy Hawkins Law, P.C. for representation in the Kendia Watson case.
Attachment 4 - Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont. LLP for representation in the Karla Moore case.
Attachment 5 - Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for the representation in the David Miranda case.
Attachment 6 - Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo case.
Attachment 7 - Professional Services Agreement with Bracy Hawkins Law, P.C. for representation in the Kendia Watson case.
Attachment 8 - Professional Services Agreement and Prior Amendments with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont. LLP for
representation in the Karla Moore case.
Ward:
All Wards
Synopsis of Previous Council Actions:
October 5, 2023, the Mayor and City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the David Miranda v. City of San Bernardino, Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2319034.
October 5, 2023, the Mayor and City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo for representation in the Christina Nedrebo v. City of San Bernardino, Superior Court Case No. CIVSB2402094.
October 16, 2023, the Mayor and City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Bracy Hawkins Law, P.C. for representation in the Kendria Watson v. City of San Bernardino, et al., Superior Court Case No.
CIVSB2209220
September 13, 2021, the Mayor and City Council authorized the City Manager to execute a Professional Services Agreement with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont, LLP for representation in the Karla Jenett Moore v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:21-cv-01154-JGB-KK.
April 17, 2024, the Mayor and City Council authorized the City Manager to execute the First Amendment with Carpenter, Rothans and Dumont, LLP for representation in the Karla Jenett Moore v. City of San Bernardino, et al., United States District Court Case No. 5:21-cv-01154-JGB-KK.